The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-02-16

induce her to enter the tower, SO She
would be of no assistance la case Of a
search Oh, If Olive were only here!
And then Dora thought her wisest plan
would be to go down stairs and lock the
tower door, leaving the old place alone
with its secret. So she rose and went
slowly toward the door, and then gather
ing courage, peeped in the closet, which
was partially opened No pallid ghost
or burly form of midnight burglar met
her view; only the bright, cheerful face
of Vincent Chorley, that seemed ready
to banter her out of her fears. For many
moments she stood irresolute, then made
hasty examination of the place. 1t was
not possible for any one to be concealed
there. What il she were mistaken, after
all? Perhaps Olive might have taken
the window out. and the noise in the
night might have proceeded from some
other cause. She went cautiously around
the study--it was quite reassuring to
find nothing unusual there.
Then she entered the passage, and con-
sidered whether she should go down or
up. It would be an advantage to satisfy
herself thoroughly; then she would not
be in momentary fear of causing her
mother sons sudden alarm. Without.
any positive mental decision, she began
to mount the steps slowly, and on reach
ing the top drew a long breath Of sat
isfaction. The morning sun poured
through the eastern window in golden
Aoods--the whole place was full of filny
radiance.
How Dora Bertrand FIRST became aware
she was not the only inmate of the place,
l can hardly tell It was vague inn
preston at first, something shadowy and
almost inperceptible, then it grew into
fear, and next reality. Spellbound
by terror, her own respiration seemed
almost to stop, while every instant the
others breathing became more regular
and distinct. The intruder was certainly
asleep There was but one place shielded
from her observation--the quaint carved
wooden settle, whose high back was
towards her. 1t seemed hours before
she could command sufficient strength
to take another step, so slowly passed
these dull moments of terror. Atlength
the point was reached. and she saw
something real and physical, but not
the generally received idea of house
breaker.
A young man of six or eight and
twenty, in q careless but graceful posi-
ton, one arm under his head for pill
low, the other dropping over the edge
OF the settle, and displaying a firm
white hand that would not have
shamed lady. His hair and beard
We're Of sunny brown, the upper part
of his broad forehead clear and fair as
girls, but the rest Of his face many
shades darker. the fervent color of the
sun'stropical touch. twas handsome,
manly coantenance. and losing her fear.
she began to consider where sine had seen
it before.
A pleasant, familiar face, one on which
she could place the smile, and remember
precisely how the eyes would look when
the dropping lids were raised. Where
could she have seen it? She had no
fear of it now, and longed inpahently
for him to awake. lie seemed in no
hurry, though; but presently the sun
rays began to steal over his face, and
then he stretched, yawned and began
slowly to open his eyes They did not
rest on Dora Bertrand for some mo-
ments, however, and then he sat upright
suddenly, as if he had received an cleo
trio shock. his face growing perceptibly
paler every instant She stood quite
still, unable to speak or fly.
.'Are you Olive Harton?y he asked, at
length, in a constrained tone.
mo" She remembered, then, how
she had come to know the face so we'll
and added but you are Allingham
Chorley."
Il cannot deny it," he said, with
naughty gesture, and may be confess
ing to friend--er foe"
There was silence of some seconds;
then he began:
Elbow did you come here this morn
ing9"
81 live in the house," and Dora longed
to add something more assuring, yet
scarcely knew what to say.
''Indeedr' he said, in surprised tone.
81 thought the house was empty. Ibid
not know Mr.. Harton would dare to let
it, and there was perceptible sheer on
his lip and in his voice
1--WE came here in May" Dora added.
II was here in March and heard then
it had never been tenanted. Mr. Har-
ton IS home, of course?'
''No, the family are all away and viii
not return in several days"
II must beg you to pardon me" he
said, rising, ''for thus entering your
abode. II had been aware of your re-
siding here or of Mr. Harton's absence. l
shonld not have chosen this course
There are reasons why do not care to
have my presence here known; yet, be-
ieve me, | would not on any account
have disturbed or alarmed you. Hay
trust that have not given you too severe
fright
Dora could not but smile at thus find
ing herself on familiar terms with per-
son who short half hour ago was the
object of her deepest solicitude and fear.
AS if interpreting the smile, he held out
his hand frankly, and said, in deep, hon
est tones that carried faith with them:
s'Let us be friends. need friend
here sadly, for am an unwilling alien
in the house of my fathers. / will prove
to you some day that am not utterly
unworthy of confidence"