Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-05


" That crash of the closing door did no,
awake Beatrice only; it woke both Elizabeth
hnd Mr.. Granger. Elizabeth sat up in bed
ktraining her eyes through the gloom to see
Ehat had happened. They fell on Beatrice's
bed-surely-surely-
Elizabeth slipped out, cat like she crept
Rcross the room and felt with her hand at
the bed. Beatrice was not there. She sprang
p the blind and drew it, letting in such light
p there was, and by it searched the room.
ehe spoke: Beatrice, where are your
No answer
"Ah-h," said Elizabeth aloud; II ander-
stand. At last-at lastl"
What should she dot Should she 60 and
PAL her father and put them to an open
#hamel No. Beatrice must come back some
Pine The knowledge was enough; she want
b the knowledge to use il necessary She
uld not wish to ruin her sister unless in self
Defense, or rather for the cause of self adj
fancement. Still less lid she wish to injure
Peotfrey, against whom she had no grudge.
p she peeped along the passage, then re-
Burning, crept back to her bed like snake
hto hole and watched.
. Mr.. Granger, hearing the crash, thought
-
fe lit candle and went to see.
4 But of all this Godfrey knew nothing, and
teatrice naturally less than nothing.
A She lay senseless in his arms, her head rested
p his shoulder, her heavy hair streamed down
Is side almost to his knee He lifted her,
bached her on the forehead with his lips and
hid her on the bed. What was to be donei
Bring her back to lifel No he dared not
lot here While she was thus her helpless
less protected her; but if once more she was
living, loving woman here and so-oh, how
|ould they escaped He dared not touch her
b look towards her-till he had made up his
bind. 1t was soon done. Here she must not
Ele, and since of herself she could not go,
|hy, he must take her now, this moment.
eowever far Godfrey fell short of virtues
fricter standard, let this always be remem-
pred in his favor.
He opened the door, and, as he did so,
bought that he heard some one stirring in
Pc house. And so he did; it was Mr.. Gran
pr in the sitting room. Hearing no more,
Feoffrey concluded that it was the wind, and
/ ming, CROPPED his way to the bed where
teatrice lay as still as death. For one mo- |
fent a horrible fear struck him that she |
light be dead. He had heard of cases of
Emnambulists who. on being startled from |
PER unnatural sleep, only woke to die. 1t |
fght be so with her. Hurriedly he placed |
r hand upon her breast. Yes, her heart |
Irred-faintly, indeed, but still it stirred.
Re had only swooned Then he set his teeth,
r. placing his arms about her, lifted her as
Eough she were a babe. Beatrice was no
Epof girl, bat well grown woman of full
Re He never felt her weight; it seemed
<thing to him Stealthily as one bent on
dnight murder, he stepped with her to the
Or and through it into the passage. Then,
porting her with one arm, he closed the
H with his left hand. Stealthily in the
ON be passed along the corridor, his bare
making no noise upon the boarded floor
u De reached the bisecting passage leading
~ the sitting room
ns glanced up it apprehensively, and what
saw froze the blood in his veins, for there
ming down it, not eight PAGES from him,
II Mr.. Granger, holding a candle in his
"a What was to be donel To get back
us room was impossible-to reach that of
[elflce was also impossible With an effort
collected his thoughts, and like flash of
u II passed into his mind that the empty
IN was not two PAGES from him. A stride
ne had reached it Oh. where was the
laiei and oh, if the room should be lockedl !
mereiful chance it was not He stepped ,
o1sn the door, knocking Beatriceis feet
Nnst the framework as he did So closed it !
smut It be had no time-and stood gasp
behind it !
ne CLEAN Of light drew nearer. MercifuI |
easi ne had seen-the old man was COM
What could he sayi Tell the truth, 1
- va an; but who would believe such !
- ny. 1t was one that he should scarce
Ie TO advance in court Of law. Could (
s4peet father to believe it-a father
- man couched like a thief behind a
-. = The dead Of night, with his lovely :
sD'ef senseless in his armsi He had al