Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-06-14


Miss Burton gently approached her,
saying, my dear Miss Hutton, you
have bad news2'
MY father is very ill--dying. per-
hapsl But how can l leave my
schoo'T
Il will be your substitute while you
are absent. / think can. | have
taught in a school before. And !
will go with you tonight and see the
rector
This kindness terminated Lucy's
mind. In a few moments she had
settled her plans and the two sought
the Rev. John Archer and had the
matter satisfactorily settled. Lucy
was to start on the 8 O'Clock train
and Miss Burton was to enter the
school IN the morning.
Hurriedly making other arrange
ments Lucy bade her new friends a
grateful good bye, took fly and was
driven to the station. The train was
ready; she entered 1t was only an
hours ride to her home.
Suddenly, while the train was
rushing through thick darkness, light
ed only bya cloud of sparks, Lucy
remembered her obtrusive admirer.
Il have escaped him! she thought,
with moments delight.
Anticipating her arrival she found
her iather's chase cart awaiting her,
the horse driven by her little brother,
Will.
How is father WillY
He is very Ill, Lucy
That night was a long and hard
one for the friends of the sick man
But at dawn, to the relief of all, the
physicians pronounced him out of
danger.
The morning sunshine found Lucy
pallld and exhausted. She was great
ly unnerved. They begged her to go
to sleep, but she could not rest. Her
eyes were heavy, her lips pale, her
hands hot She carried some spring
water, cool and sparkling to her room
to wet her throbbing temples and her
thick hair, the weight of which op
pressed her aching head. ..
While engaged in this she heard
knock at the door. Hurrledly coil
ing up her bright hair, she went down.
The door was open. She did not ap-
proach it, for, standing full in the sun
shine, upon threshold of her home was
the tall. gaunt, detested figure that
had haunted her, like nightmare, for
weeks. Covered with dust, his lank
hair struggling upon his shoulders, his
sallow hands extended, and his blood
shot eyes fixed upon her face. his ap-
pearance was repulsive, his presence
frightful. She shrleked and ran away.
Forgetting the invalid, she had
slammed the sitting room door behind
her, when she heard her name gently.
pronounced, and Henry Grayson
caught her in his arms. .
My dear Lucy what is the mat
ter?' h-Ar.
What an inexpressible relief was
his protecting embrace, and the gush
of tears which followed! She told him
what had happened.
Search was made, but there was no
appearance of any one near the house,
and gradually Lucy became assured
and composed.
1t was IL o'clock, when full of hap
py thoughts, Lucy Hutton went up to
her chamber.
The room was large; window was
open; gust of air rushed through
and extinguished her candle. She
paused; faint thrill of her old tim.
idty came over her. But she sum-
moned her natural courage, and say
ing, Il will not go down stairs for
matches; I will go to bed in the dark,
she closed and also
locked closet door which
yawned behind her, drew back cur
tain to let in the starlight and began
to undress. .. .....,. He /
Nothing unpleasant now mingled
with the girls happy thoughts, as she
softly unrobed herself. She had quite
forgotten the present in thinking of a
delightful future, when strange
noise startled her, 1t seemed like
struggling against the wall
Her heart leaped into her throat.
'Pshaw! it is only ratr she said,
the next moment
As she lay down, she thought she
heard the sound again. But after that,
all was still. She lay awake, occupied
with her busy thoughts for awhile,
but soon fell asleep. 5
It was late when she awoke; the
room was full of sunshine. Remem-
bering her fathers state, Lucy over
came feeling Of languor, rose and
hastily dressed. While doing so, she |
the experience of the
previous evening. A sudden thought |
came to her. s'...g. ..M
Il must have locked the cat in the
closet last night. Poor old Prue! |
She unlocked the door. Tae key |
turned with some difficulty. Fling
ing open the door, a stiff, dead human |
figure fell upon her, crushing her to
the floor. a sJ3# J2 1