The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-06-19

ly, "you are not TO lot yourselves into the
little side door till you see that light go
out in that diamond shaped window on
the third floor. Keep your eyes on that,
mind"
"Au' after we's got ourselves inter de
house, how's we goin' to BIO sure we
don't run into nobodyl" said brutal
voice.
"Because tho moment the first fire
cracker pops there won't be a living sin
ner from cellar to garnet that won't run
out to SEQ the fun, that is, except Mr..
Melville. He amt near as well as he
thought he'd be. Everybody thinks he's
in the crowd somewheres, but I've just
helped him into bed, an must run back
to stay within call. Here's the key of the
NIissus's closet in the dressing room an
the key of Gracie's bureau. But you're
not to go near the Squire, it'll be killing
if you do, for shock will be his death. "
Then James hurried off, and Lefty
listened petritied to conversation which
showed that the two men near by were
quite aware that the Squires room, from
which they were warned, contained much
the most promising booty, and were not
to be deferred from entering it by any
consideration for his life. On the con.
trary they planned to surprise and
threaten him with their pistols, If he did
not surrender to them certain bonds they
believed to be In his private safe.
"Never, under any circumstances,
shall Lefty Ely enter here again." was
the sentence the Squire had pronounced
in reply to Graces intercession for her
brothers sake, and now the words were
wildly present to Lefty as she stole
away from the grove and skirting the
fence to the right, fastened with tho
speed OF a deer to the house. She en-
tered into the hall by tho back way, flew
up the stairs, ran along the halls and
into Graces room. 1t was empty, so was
her mothers sitting room beyond.
A quick step sounded in the distance.
1t was James going down the stairs. He
had been up to darken the diamond win
dow. From behind the portiero she
watched till he disappeared.
She fingered uncertainty, hardly know
ing what to do next. Should she run
down stairs again and out on the lawn
to summon help9 Perhaps even in the
time she was gone the Squire's room
would be invaded. Before she could
make herself decide on some plan of ac-
ton, shabby, ruffianly figure came in
sight at the other end of the long hall,
and hand was lifted to turn out the
lamp that hung there. Lefty drew back
unnoticed in the doorway behind her,
and running through the room softly
opened the squire's door, and
stepped in, locking and boiling
it behind her. Gliding across
to the other door, she bolted it also.
She turned around then, with curious
sensation of fear that tho real danger
had not given her, to confront the sur
prised and indignant Squire. The lights
were turned low but the room was filed
with the ruddy glare of an eruptive We
suvius in full play on the lawn. He had
wrapped a dressing gown about him
and was watching the display from his
window. Perhaps he could not think of
words ireful enough to voice his wrath
for he looked at her in cold silence.
A real or fancied sound in the next
room brought Lefty to her senses. Walk
ing close to Mr.. Melville she softly and
quietly explained the position, reserving
the unquieting fact that the enemy was
already upon them.
For Lefty it was easy to climb out Of
the window, and from the balcony to an
ornamental roof, from which she gave
the alarm to group of guests who
quickly disappeared into the hoese
Under cover of the intense darkness that
fell after the going out of the last set
piece, she descended the iron trellis
work that projected each side of the
front door, and slipping through the
edge of the crowd, flew to her own house
unnoticed. Having gained its safe shell
ter she treated her alarmed mother to
the only hysterical attack she had ever
had.
She had gone through the chill and
the sobbing, and the half-laughing, half
crying recital of her adventure, and was
lying back white and tremulous in an arm
chair, when Jack came with q fervent
message of thanks from his father, and an
entreaty which sounded almost humble,
that she would forgive and forget.
He threw the blinds open as he spoke.
'Look over there, Lefty, and think what
might be the condition if you
had not been so brave and gencrous2
Those wretches, with that scoundrel,
James, are safely locked in the stable
with willing band Of watchers guarding
them, and we Melvilles are all agreed in
blessing you. Surely, darling, now you
will take back the stern refusal with
such welcome waiting for you?'
The wild excitement of the evening
had interrupted the pyrotechnic perform
ances, but now, late though it was, some
young men, remembering that the Fourth
Of July comes but once a year, fired the
fuse of the framework of the grand
finale, which, after representing a fiery
equestrian figure of George Washington,
serene and glittering amid fountain of
sparks, melted into brilliant portrait of
Abraham Lincoln, with scroll above it,
on which scintilated the motto: "With
malice toward none"
Lefty and Jack had gone to the win.
dow, and as the noble words famed the
sky, he repeated them softly, and in their
glowing light he searched Letty's swec.
eyes, reading in their clear depths nc
stern refusal. -Epoch.
Thunderstorm Hours.
mi. Il L r ,