Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-13

50 sssurs did he feel in mis- own dsssitu-
tion. "a
Thsn, were his old eyes playing him
false, or was that . faoe-a bronzsd and
bearded face, eager and inauisitiys-
looking in at him from the bushing green
sryf
Il was gone in an instant. even If it had
bean there at all
Then rubbing his glasses again, he
turned his head, to perceive Miss VIM
ford, who had already entered, and closed
the door behind her.
My knock was not answered, said she,
$50 / made bold to think you in q doze.
/ came to say, Mr.. Alworth, that saw q
strange man lurking in the garden. But
you look startled, sir"
Man lurking in the garden, eh2 Bless
me, Miss WinfOrdl and mans face was
just peering in at me from there;" and he
pointed excitedly ct the ivy. THAT is, /
think there was. A wild, lost face-a
face that seemed 10 recall old memoriesl"
-Oh, Mr.. Alworthl are you sure?" ex-
claimed the housekeeper, claspipg her
hands; and yet her manner expressed
rather annoyance than alarm. Hardly
possible, think"
Here paper, weighted with o pebble,
came IN at the same window, dropping
lightly at Miss Winford's feet.
-Eh? What was that?" said the old gen.
tleman, bestirring himself, and rubbing
his glasses afresh. Didn't something
fly into the room just then?"
"A broken leaf, perhsps,' said the
housekeeper, placidly. There is high
sea-wind to-day"
As she spoke she hid the missiye with
kaR ali hfrf nj
perceived. This, too, though she had seen
more than the fight of the paper; even
the swift vanishing Of the hand that had
thrown it.
You must have been mistaken about
the face in the ivy, sir, said she, quietly
advancing to the window and leaning
out, during which she detached the paper
from its weight and read some words
scrawled upon it. -Yes," she continued,
drawing back, 1T was all fancy on your
part, siT. A man might crawl up between
the wall and the vines, without being
perceived from the garden, but it would
be feat of exceptional agility. ann sure
you may only have thought you saw q
face here.
very likely, very likely, Miss winfcrd," !"
said the old man, returning to his book,
and already forgetting the subject. @Ah,.
this is precarious world, Miss Win.
fordl"
She stood looking at him irresolutely..
She liked the old man and his daughter,
and with far more cause for doing SO,
than either Of them could have any idea.
of. Should she now say what she had
come to say-mereiy TO warn of the lurk--
ing strangers presence, and to tell the
Al*Orths to manifest no alarm thereat,
bnt even to keep the knowledge of it q.
secret-and Whist this air-borne missive;
addressed to the old man himself, had
rendered doubly significant.
No, she muttered to herself, after O.
pitying study of the bowed and venerable
head. The secret were hardly safe in
his keeping, much as ii might inspirit his
wronged and suffering heart. Gwendoline
to be sure, is discreet. But no; better let
them be hopeless till hope is assured"
There was a knock at the door, and she
slipped out behind Mr.. Groak Just as that
unique individual was bOwing himself in
to the room.
The words scrawled upon the mysteri-
GUS missive, which Miss Winford had
decided to withhold from the person for
whom it was intended, were these:
old AND DEAR FRIEND: Bear your cross
with patience for yet little while: the day
OF earthly reckoning is almost at hand.
rTHEDEAD ALIVE"
ET0n BH CoNTIrSUKD.l