The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-12-31

ssoH, john" SHE CRIED.
to the meeting, so that her absence might
not be observed and commented upon at
the conclusion Of the services, when she
heard q mans football on the steps out
side.
Her heart beat quick at first, for Mary
had read novels, and she knew that
lovers sometimes came to their sweet
hearts thus; but this was not the fearless
tread of hero.
1t was stealthy, SO stealthy that if her
ear had not been accustomed to every
noise about the familiar old building she
might not have noted 1t.
It was burglar, she was certain, af-
ter that first heart thump, for 1t was
known tho communion plate was Of sill
yer and worth at least enough to tempt
a rural robber, and everybody knew the
strong box of the chapel was strong
box only In name.
She was frightened nearly out of her
senses, but enough remained to warn
her that her only safety lay in hiding
behind the organ and giving the thief
the right of way to everything in his
path.
Slowly. she heard that dreadful step
s2pns s a,en aza tae ssale ssy sns y
her will to keep from screaming, and the
Slip slip-creak-creak came nearer and
nearer.
At the end of the aisle 1t stopped, as if
In doubt which way to turn, and her
heart beat slower; then it passed, still
slipping, over to the other corner, and
she gave q faint sigA.of relief.
She couldn't have prevented 1t IL she
had died for it, she was certain.
On the instant the sickening, awful,
invisible stepping ceased; then it seemed
to turn toward her.
Nearer and nearer It came, until she
could hear the breathing, until the
hands cautiously cropping in the dark
slid along the organ top and touched
her,
She shrank away, but there was q
quick start and two great hands clutched
her, and their fingers crawled up to her
throat.
She tried to scream then, but she
could not.
1t was as if she was in frightful
nightmare.
''Hold on! I've got you, you darned
thiefe' came voice, suppressed and ter.
rible, and with it came the last remain
ing vestige of poor Mary's wits.
sob, John!" she gasped.
Then she tainted dead away.
"Well, if this don't beat all!' ex-
claimed the marauder out of the dark
ness. Then: "Mary, Maryp he called,
shaking her vigorously. Scared the
poor girl to DEATH. I'll bet corner lot, !"
he soliloquized in a ludicrously fright
ened voice, with the vernacular of the
east and the west contending for mastery
IN his words.
He picked her up, now almost as nerv-
GUS as she had been only few moments
before, and carried her outside.
He looked down upon the still, white
face as the light from the snow shone
upon it, and with great bound in his
heart he stopped and kissed her.
Then how all the little stars did
twinkle, twinkle, and Mary opened her
eyes.
The next moment she was on her feet
and mad.
Mary's head was triumphing now.
"Come," she said, "there's watch
meeting at the hall, Mr.. Marston, and
should be there; not here"
"With your hand in mine, Mary" he
answered her, standing fast.
She put her hand in his then, and thus
they walked back, and as the watchers
rose from their knees with song of re-
joicing and praise, John and Mary, hand
in hand, came in with the new year.
"It's funny" said Mrs. Marston q
month later on the local train west,
"that John should have noticed the
chapel door ajar on his way from the
depot that night, and thinking thief
was inside had come in and caught me
there, wasn't it,"
''Yes'm," responded the conductor,
who had known her from childhood,
"and if I hadn't been late that night
there's no telling what wouldn't have
happened either, is therer
And there isn't.