The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-09-13
so. LONDONDERRY VT THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 49, 1885,


Meanwhile. poor Lucy Hildeburn,
sitting at her piano, continued to draw
forth such melancholy strains that tn,
tears rolled down her cheeks.
~ must go away from here" she said
half aloud. II can't bear it much
longer; indeed, I can't, seeing him day
after day, loving him as do, and
knowing that matters can never DO ad.
justed between VI. He is as proud as ]
-.-but, oh. dear what am thinking of
1t wants just two minutes Of eight. ]
must 90 down and close the furnace
| DOORS"
Thereupon she lighted tho lantern,
aud proceeded down stairs.
Ughl What a chill draught wa.
blowing in through ono of the graf.
ingsl
And there were strange noises all
around.
Lucy's heart thumped SO violently
she was tempted to turn and run up
stairs again.
But goodnessl The furnace was
dreadfully, dangerously hot.
Lucy summoned up all her resolution,
and, STOPPING down, closed the doors.
They swung to with bang, and
when she essayed to open them again
she found the effort beyond her strength.
What was to be done in case of the
fire needing more draughti
She might after while find it nee.
essary to put on more coal, and that it
would be well to put on more draught.
But while she was debating with her.
self much more seriou, mishap oc-
CURED, for the inside of the lantern
suddenly achieved the most mex plicablo
somersault, and she was left in utter
darkness.
Moreover, to complicate the miseries
of her situation, she now heard stealthy
footsteps descending the cellar stairs
Poor Lucy stood quite still, with her
hands clasped together over her heart.
This was burglar, undoubtedly. He
had seen all the male inmates of the
house going out an d the lights lowered,
and had thus chosen his opportunity to
come In and conceal himself in the cell
lar.
The first idea that suggested itself to
her was to creep under tho steps and
remain there until Mrs. Collins return.
Ere she had time to do this, however,
a mans form became visible in tho dim
semi-twilight that was shed from the
kitchen door above.
Lucy, with desperate instinct of
seif-preservation, put up both hands,
exclaiming:
"Have pity on mel Oh, have pity
and spare my lifcl'
Upon this tho burglar drew back,
very much surprised.
Miss Hildeburnl he exclaimed, as
he struck match. "Whdt arc you
doing here, and how can ] serve your
Now, poor Lucy completely unnerved
and dreadfully ashamed of herself, sat
down on reversed coal scuttle and
burst into fit of weeping.
Than Mr. Sangster knelt dowa beside
her, and confused interchange of ex-
plantations of various kinds eusued.
The result was that at tho expiration
OF half an hour. Mr.. Sangster took
Lucy in his arms, and kissing the tear
stained face murmured:
"God bless you for this promise, my
own darling"
When Mrs. Collins came home two
hours later the house was very quiet.
tho furnace in good order, and neither
Mr.. Sangster nor Miss Hildeburn visi-
BILE. But the following day Lucy con-
fidcd to her secret, and Mr.. Sangster
absented himself mysteriously for about
three weeks. After that Miss Hide
burn also disappeared.
"Gone to visit her cunt at Swath-
more" Mrs. Collins explained to the
other boarders.
But a fortnight later the carrier
brought some wedding cards to tho
house.
ut was all brought about through
the furnace" said Mrs. Collins, with
gleeful chuckle.
But Miss Jano was infinitely disgusted.