Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-10-10

performed, Little Musgrave seized the
mess of burning cloth, aud with one
hand quickly swept the flames down off
it, and in an instant more all was calm
again except for the "oh's" and .'ah's"
of relieved feeling that resounded from
all sides. |, of course, could not rest
until had gone round to the spot aud
examined Lucia for myself, to see that
she was really uninjured, which proved to
be the case except for little tremble in
her voice and rather pale cheeks and
lips.
But soon the fire began to die down,
and as we stood watching the lessening
blaze and taking in the beau ty of the
enchanted picture, the Squire gave the
signal for starting, and we re luctantly
turned our back upon the dying embers,
while the mooa slowly rose over the tree
tops to fill the place with her cool rays
instead of the ruddy beams of the fire.
As we came up to the starting place
heard the arrangements being made for
Lily Bartlett TO ride home with the Cap
tain and saw Ned Villars helping Lucia
up to the drivers seat, while he clam
bered up after her, the seat holding
three persons.
1t was delicious drive back through
the woods and the moonlightei road
and the vision of that bonfire danced
before my eyes all the way home and
even far into my dreams that night. At
our gate the party separated aud Lucia
aud | going into the house ahead of the
others, turned in the hall, and looked
at the girl. As l caught sight of her
brilliant, cleaning eyes and the tremu-
lous scarlet of her cheeks, | could not
resisting putting my hands on her two
arms and exclaiming:
"Lucia, you have done it! Which
one is it2 Tell mew
"Nonsense, you gocsiel neither of
them" AMI then she tipped my chin
up with her foreinger and kissing me,
turned and ran up stairs to get rid of
the burned and dilapidated habit. l did
not believe her, and when she had come
down, fifteen minutes later, dressed in
soft pearl colored tea gown, and Tom
had taken his cigar round on the little
side piazza, slipped into tho library
and dropped into the big armchair by
the window to think it over and dream
about the fire. Presently heard foot
fall on the gravel outside, and looking
out from the darkened room, saw two
figares meet and stand beneath the shade
of the TROLLS over the gate. could dis
tinguish the flowing folds of Lucia's
gown, but the deep shadow cast by the
woodbine hid the outlines of the other
figure. Then l saw Lucia bend her
pretty head and lift hand-not her
own-to her lips. knew | was viii
liam, but for the life of me could not
help looking for that one moment. fit
had been light | should have torn my
eyes away; but which was it? Was it
the Captain or could Ned VilIars have
slipped away and around from the piazza
so quickly2 BY conscience fairly pricked
me like needles. | started to cover my
eyes, but just then tiny Whit of wind
blew the leaves of the vine and shower
of silvery moonlight fell through. It
lighted up the other figure. 1t had not
the broad shoulders of the Captain, but
neither had it the blonde beard and
slender height of Ned Villars. l stared
for one instant and then fell back in my
chair, limp with establishment. 1t was
Little Musgrave. Etrm, Field and
CIocbHnan