Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-06

"somebody has fallen down cellar"
she thought. "Oh, how fortunate il
was that l thought of that!'
And then a low, deep whisper cam2
up through the care!essly- joined
boards of the floor. She could distin.
gush the very words:
"Hold on there-be careful! The
front door is fastened, for I tried it.
You can all of you get down cellar and
come up that way"
Emily's heart gave a great, exultant
Jump. The cellar-door,a a mass of timber
In which she had the fullest confidence,
was securely boltcd.
Cautiously she peercd out into the
stormy darkness.
By the occasionally displayed CLEAN
Of the dark lantern she could see hud-
died mass of figures, creeping stealthily
down the cellar steps.
Last of all disappeared the lantern il
self, one leisurely step at time. And
them, consummating a plan which She
had long been concocting 10 her mind,
Emily made a dash out into the night,
closed the faplike divisions Of the cellar.
door with bang, barred them tight
shut, and fled back into the house, pant
ing for breath.
By this time there was brisk knock
ing at the cellar door-a crying out Of;
"Open the doorl Let us in"
Bat to these calls Emily ElNton paid
no heed, and it was only when a hand
was suddenly LAID on her shoulder from
behind, that she uttered piercing
scream, and lost all her presence OF
mind.
"Why, Emmyl" cried familiar voice.
Why, child, what's the matterl"
ooh. Uncle Absalom, how you fright
ched me. Oh, dear, the cellar is full Of
burglars and robbers. Reach down
your shotgun Get the hot water
kettle"
"Burglars, ehl" said Uncle Absalom.
"Robbers! Why, whar on yearth did
they come froml Sure ye amt mi'took,
Sissy9 Anyhow, I'll be ready for EN-
He advanced toward the cellar door
with his loaded revolver in his hand.
"Whoever ye be- shouted he, "tell
us what your business is, or take thisl
Don't hold my arm, Sissy! There can't
no more'n one at a time come up
these ere suller stairs, an l reckon I'm
a match for that much, if l be old an
stiff"
To Emily's infinite alarm, he unbolted
the cellar door and flung it wide open.
There, crowding on the narrow
wooden steps, stood Andrew Markham
the Miss Almondslcys, Lconidas Mix and
his sister Marietta, and Doctor CliiIes
two chubby daughters.
"We came" said Markham, rather
shamefacedly, "to give Miss Ekton
birthday surprise. We're very sorry
that"
"Walk in, walk in" cned Uncle
Absalom, his face one full moon Of broa"
smiles. "No need o bein' sorry for
pothin'. You're all welcome! How
on earth did ye know it was Emmys
twentieth birthdayl'
"Marietta has baked cake said
Leonidas, ''and the Cliffe girls brought
q Jug of lemonade, only it was broken
when I tumbled down cellar, and
"Oh, that don't matter none" beamed
Uncle Absalom. "We'rc awful pleased
to see you, amt we, Emily9"
And in this inauspicious manner began
Emily Elkton's first acquaintance with
the young people who were destined to
be her lifelong neighbors.
"But really" said she, half crying
half laughing, 81 thought you were all
banditti!"
otis my fault" acknowledged honest
Marietta Mix. 81 was determined that
YOU should have a surprise. Andrew
wasn't half willing, but insisted. You
see didn't think there would ever be
any other way of getting acquainted Tith
YOU. Miss Eikton. And we knew that
Andrew was so interested in you"
"Nonsense" cried Emily, brushing.
sis it nonsense, thought" retorted
Marietta. "Well, time will show"
And time did show. Six months after
ward-but, after all, where is the use OF
turning over the leaves of the book OF
fateY Let all true lovers guess for them
selves how the matter ended.
"But," Emily acknowledged, in her
turn. 81 never was so frightened in all
nv life as at first, and never so happy as
| was at last"
And she never returned to the "effete
civilization of the East. ."-Saturday
: Night.
pniaon of Toads and SaIamalders.