Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-10

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only; then it was gone.
"A dark lantern ~ she said to herself
"fes, and | am sure now that hear the
sound of feet creaking on the platform
There are two or three people there-pos.
sibly more. They have somehow learned
that | am alone here with all that money
She clasped both hands over her eyes a
chill quiver went through her veins.
Suddenly there was a crash--a muttered
exclamation, suddenly suppressed buzz
/ of voices.
Somebody has fallen down cellar - she
thought. "Oh. how fortunate it was that
| thought of that"
And then low, deep whisper came up
through the carelessly Joined boards OF
! the floor. She could distinguish the very
| words.
] Hold on there--be careful, The front
J door Is fastened, for tried it. You can
! all of you get down cellar and come up
! that way"
Emily's heart gave a great. exutant
! jump. The cellar-door, mass of timber,
! in which she had the fullest confidence,
was securely bolted.
Cautiously she peered out into the stormy
darkness.
BY the occasionally displayed CLEAN Of
the dark lantern she could see a huddlcd
mass of figures, creeping stealthily down
the cellar steps.
Last of ali disappeared the lantern it
self one leisure step at time And
then, consummating plan which she had
long been concocting in her mind Emily
made dash out into the night, closed the
ilap-like divisions of the cellar door with
bang, barred them tight shut and fled
back into the house, painting for breath
BY this time there was a brisk knocking
at the cellar door-s cry ing out Of =
open the door Let US in"
But to these calls Emily Elkton paid no
heed, and it was only when hand was
suddenly laid on her shoulder from behind
that she uttered piercing scream and los;
her presence Of mind.
why, Emmy. cried familiar voice
why child, what's the matter:
"Oh, Uncle Ahsa,om, how YOU frightcn-
ed ne O dear. the cellar is fun of bur
glars and robbers Reach down your
shotgun Get the hot water Kettle"
Burglars, eh: :" said Uncle Absaloln
Robbers Why, whar on yearth did they
come from Sure We amt ni>took. Sissy:
Any how, I'll hc ready for en-"
He advanced toward the cellar door,
with his loaded revolver III hi, hand
Whoever We be-" shouted he, "telt ~
what Your business i, or take this, Don't
hold my arm, Sissy. There can't be
more'n one al time come up these ere
suller stars, an reckon I'm a match for
that much, II oe old an >tili."
To Emily> infinite alarm he uubolted the
cellar door and swung it wide open.
There, crowding on the narrow wooden
steps, stood Andrew Markham the Miss
Almondleys, Leondas Mx and his sister
Marietta, aud Doctor CAh : two chubby
daughters.
We came " said Markham, rather shame
facedly, ITO give Miss Elkton birthday
surprise. We're very sorry that"
Walk in, walk in cried Uncle Ab-a.
lom. his face one full moon OF broad
smiles mo need . being sorry for moth
in. You're all welcome. How on earth
did you know it was Emmy's 10Th birth
day?'
"Msric,ta has baked cake. said Leon.
ida~ and the Gin girls brought juG Of
lemonade, only il was broken when tum-
blod down cellar, and"
"oh, that don't matter none" hcamed
Uncle Absaom. We're awful pleased to
soc you, amt wc. Emily:"
And in that inauspiciou> manner began
Emily Eikton'> first acquaintance with the .
young people whn Were destined To be her
lifelong neigh5ors.
But really, said she half crying. half
laue hing, Il thought You were ali ban
ditu."
Its my fault" acknowledged honest
Marietta Mix II was determined that ,
you should hsve a sur rise Andrew
wasn't half willing, but | insisted You .
see, didn't think there would ever be any
other way Of getting acquainted with YOU.
Mis-, y thtcrN -,,tr ia ,,'I.
Nonsense" cried Emily, blushing.
Is it nonsense. thought" retorted Ma /
rletta We'll. time will show"
And time did show SIX month, after
after all, where l. the u-e Of \
turning over the leaves Of the book Of I
fate: Let all guess for themselves how .
the matter ended.
But" Emily acknowledged, in her turn, /
Il was never ~ frightened in my life a.
at first, and never 80 happy a was at
last"
And she never returned To the "etfete
civilization of the East. = Sd'urily Ntght 4