Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-21
CHAPTER XX1v.

gave one cry as I found myself in the darkness and then felt my way up tho ladder out of that dreadful cellar into the store-room above. l closed the trap door, groped my way to the passage, locked the storc-room ard then crept slowly along until 1 reached the great baize covered door which swung open to my push. Never did I feel more devoutly thankful than when l found myself ill the lighted hall.
 On the table beside me lay an envel- ope addressed in Mrs. Manners hand writing, to "Miss Christie, Tho Ald- crs," which lay on the table beside mo. tore it open, and scarcely glancing at her kind little note saying that she had received the inclosed when she called at tho BeaconsburSh post-otiice that afternoon, pressed Eaurence's letter to my lips again and again before I opened it. It said:
 "NICE. Friday.
 "My OWN SWEET v1oLET.-I had hoped to find Il letter from .ou waiting for mo on my arrival here; but know very well it is not your fault that 3a am dis dsappGn,ted eEen if will never doubtm my darling again. l have had the battle with my mother Prematureiy. and ga ned the victory. l intended, as you know, to break my resolution to her gently; but she herself hurried tho dcnotemcni. We broke the As soon as we got there, I opened my writing case and wrote a tiny note to my darling. I thing to cat, with my letter closed up and di- rooted 10 you on the table, ready to be in % found my W mother % there; she she had % torn Open open my letter and was reading it. Then we had a scene. asked for my letter. and she tore it up and flung it into the fire place, with son o words about you that sent my forbcar.nco to the wincs. and told her that she was speak, ing about my future wife.
 HsYOur f1tnro wife answered Hho draw, ing herself upto her full height and rolling out her voice in way that always reduces my father to nothingness, is Miss Langham, of G e,tower5.'
 ".l ou havo been msinformed, mother. In such mat.er it IS always best to get your information at first hand. Your future daughter-in-law is Miss Violet Christie, tho most beautiful girl in Norfolk or out of it "i cxpect,sd a, lot more nonsense; s @ but she broke the back of the difficulty: and now, though she receives all my attent. ons frgidly ply. she knows her control over her eldest son 1 is at an end. l onl, W. sh. my darling. that my telling her tn s while we were still in En. ' gland for l begin to fancy this journey for for there were two in t-for getting me away from you: However, 1 suppose l must live promised if her "9 she II keep npT me to that S ] And en1reat sney you to comply with l,,I1 this my letters to any one to post-don't even post them yourSelf-Out E.ve them 10 my oungest Stcr to send on to me. She teaches in the Sunday-school. Get Mrs. Manners to send you up to the Hall on some pretext on Sun day; get Maud alone, and you will find she W Il do what you ask. Tell her to remember her last promise to mo in the conservatory, and Il remember mine.
 Keep this letter where no one can get it. not in desk-if you don't tear it up. feel already such hunger for a sight of your sweet face-1 can't tn nk Of the touch of your Ittic clnging hands about my throat without the tears rising to my eyes l think l must means of getting back to you sooner Good, bye; Heaven bless you! Write to me; don't forget: Keep safe and well, till you are once agan in the arms of
 "H0urs dev0'edly for ever and ah.asssc,r exss
 It was new life to me, it was heart felt unuttcrable joy, to read this and put my check against the signature, to tuck it inside my gown and feel that 1 was in possession of the most precious treasure the whole world could produce, the first real long letter from the man 1 loved.
 went into the dining room, took it out again. and began kissing each line in turn, was so silly with happiness. 1 had got to the middle of the second page in this fashion when the iron bar which fastened the shutters fell down almost without noise. I thrust my letter hastily into my gown, when one of the shutters slid back and MT. Ravner was in the room before I could
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