Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-20
sack sealn Het.n he growled.
-fe<. Jchn,r . replied the girl; I" and
Two brought company with mav

ms is my hNlher, Mr.. auce.f y
said Hetty, manifeSting some little
perturbation.
The man looked surprised, and
muitered something under his breath.
The word broth - evidently dis
pleased him; but Hetty gave him a
quick, significant look before he could
object 10 IL in any manner.
You're welcome, Mr.. Vance, he
said. grunly.
"I found him at the ford, john"
the girl explained. He seemed at a
loss what to do. He was going to
Danbury, and the road is none Of the
safest at this hour, you know. |
thought best TO bring him home with
me.a
You did right. Het,r growled
john, who had been examining Philips
gold chain and diamond studs as
closely as the iiickering freight would
permit.
He drew up chair TO the hearth,
and then went out to stable the horses,
but not before a second glance of
peculiar significance had passed be-
tween him and Hetty.
This little by-plaA was not lost upon
Philip. lie grew anxious and uneasy
as he sat before the fire and watched
the girl fitting noiselessly about to
prepare the evening meal. Somehow,
she seemed sudd, My stripped of the
glamor with which his romantic fancy
had invested her.
She was young-not more than
eighteen or twenty years old. Not
withstanding this fact, the odd sus-
Dicion occurred TO him that she might
be Johns wife instead of his sister.
If this was so, she had deceived him.
If she had deceived him, it was with
some ulterior object in view.
For some minutes he felt dazed and
bewildered, thinking over the singular
predicament in which he found HIM
self. But he managed to maintain
perfect equanimity, and soon his
natural good sense came to his aid.
:" have made a fool of myself once
Tonight" he thought. and 4 am not
going to cut up the same caper a
second time. I'll just keep my eyes
open and close tongue in my head
for the present"
When John came in from the barn
he found his guest cheerful and smil-
ing and quite ready TO enter into
desultory talk. But all attempts TO
dIaw him out resulted in signal defeat.
Philip had told everything in regard
to himself that he felt disposed to tell.
Hetty appeared presently to an
nounce that supper was ready"
The meal was served in the lower end
Of the same apartment. The girl
poured out the tea, and looked so
bright and sweet and winning while
engaged in this duty that Philip mem
tally called himself fool for having
doubted her.
She can't be wicked and calculat-
ing,o he thought. "Pn throw my
suspicious to the dogs.n
This was not so easily done, how
ever. He ol served that Hetty was
very particular with the cups, and
presently when she extended one of
the number, steaming with fragrant
Hyson, some feeiag over which he
had no control Induced him to drop
his uplifted hand and say, Thank
you, no warm drink for me. will
only trouble you for glass of water"
She bit her lip and turned pale.
John, who sat opposite Philip at the
table, turned his eyes upon the young
man in a stare of half-angry suspicion
But the latter buttered his bread
serenely, in apparent ignorance of
being made the object of his regard.
He was now thoroughly convinced,
however. that all was not as it should
be. The cup Of tea that had been
proffered him might be drugged for
aught he knew to the contrary. At
any rate, he was glad he had refused
it.
Hetty soon regained her composure,
and was as blithe and smiling and
cordial as ever. Indeed, Philip now
thought she quite oyeracted her part,
and tried to appear too artless and un-
affected.
The hour was still early when he
was shown to a small but taStefully
furnished bedroom in the second story.
Instead of retiring Immediately, as he
would have done had his suspicious
been less fully aroused, he examined
his pistols to be sure they were ready
for use. and then blew out the light
and sat down by the window to reflect
upon his somewhat f0rlOFn situation.
At least an hour must have elapsed
while he sat thus. and then he heard
the roll of wheels in the distance and
carriage quickly approached the
house and stopped before it.
"Who can it be at this hour of the
night 20 he muttered anxiously. Have
my worthy hosts received reinforce
ments, or is it some belated traveller
like myself ~
His room appeared to be at the back
of the honse, and he could see nothing
from the window. But slight hustle
md the murmur of subdued voices camt
up from below. The sound drove him
nearly frantic at last. and he resolved
TO learn the worst as quickly as pos
sibIe.
Thrusting the pistol into the pocket
of the coat he wore, in such manner
that they could be made of use at q
moments warning, he let himself out
of the bedroom and stole softly down
stairs. The kitchen door was closed,
but he put his eve TO the keyhole and
peeped in. The apartment was now
occupied by two persons other than
Hetty and the man John. One of
these was a heavy-built. hang-dog
looking fellow. who stood with his
back to the FIRE, glowering half saw
agely about him. The second Ter
sonage, to Philips infinite surprise.
proved t0 be a young and surprisingly
beautiful woman.
She sat little apart from the rest,
with her lovely eyes cast down. There
Were traces Of tears upon her cheeks,
and her dainty hands were lied to-
gether at the wrist with cotton hand
kerrhfef.
philip nearIv cried out as he became
aware Of this latter fact.
c. T.~~s4s.. - -