Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-07-02

was spared on music, refreshments, dec
orations and fireworks. And even now,
while he was only pale shadow Of him
self, he insisted upon preparing for the
usual entertainment.
The only house of any pretension in
the whole pretty village where cards
were not left was Mrs. Ely's. Grace
Melville had run in at dusk one night to
make hurried protestation Of her own
and her mothers innocence of the omis-
sion, and to tell her dear Lefty of Jacks
grief and rage, which had to be re-
strained because of the fathers critical
condition
1t was a clear, balmy Fourth of July.
Screened by the luxuriant vines which
yelled the parlor window, Lefty sadly
watched the guests go by, their faces
bright with the promise of pleasure in
which she could have no share.
Night fell darkly, with no light but
the soft gleam of stars. The fireworks
would have superb setting of black
ness. Heavy foliaged low growing
trees, forming what the neighbors had
always called the grove, covered that
part.of Melville Court which touched the
widows garden Creeping after night
fall under the dense shadow, Lefty stood
with black waterproof thrown around
her to obscure her white dress, and
watched the preparations for a grand
pyrotechnic display. The music of the
band at first prevented her hearing any
other sounds, but when it ceased, and
the dancers poured out Of the hall door
to join the guests who were crowded on
the terraces to watch the fireworks, she
was conscious of voices whispering very
near Without the aid Of her eyes she
knew that James. the new butler, was
one of the speakers
Remember he was saying hurried
ly "you are not to let yourselves into
the little side door till you see that light
60 out in that diamond shaped window
on the third floor Keep your eyes on
that, mind
''An' after we's got ourselves inter de
! house how's we goin' to be sure we don't
run into nobody" said brutal voice.
Because the moment the first fire.
cracker pops there won't be a living sin
ner from cellar to garret that won't run
out to see the fun, that is, except Mr..
Melville. He amt near as well as he
thought he'd be. Everybody thinks he's
in the crowd somewheres, but I've just
helped him into bed an must run back
to stay within call Here's the key of
the missus' closet in the dressing room
an the key of Miss Gracie's bureau.
But you're not to go near the squire, it'll
be killing if you do. for shock will be
his death"
Then James hurried off and Lefty list
ened, petrifed, to a conversation which
showed that the two men near by were
quite aware that the squire's room, from
which they were warned off, contained
much the most promising booty, and
were not to be deferred from entering it
by any consideration for his life. On
the contrary, they planned to surprise
and threaten him with their pistols if he
did not surrender to them certain bonds
they believed to be in his private safe.
"Never, under any circumstances,
shall Lefty Ely enter this house again.
was the sentence. the squire had pro-
nounced in reply to Grace's intercession
for her brothers sake, and now the
words were viyidly present to Lefty as
she stole away from the grove, and
skirting the fence to the right, hastened
with the speed Of deer to the house.
She entered into the hall by the back
way, flew up the stairs, ran along the
halls and into Grace's room. It was
empty; so was her mothers sitting room
beyond.
A quick step sounded in the distance.
1t was James going down the stairs. He
had been up to darken the diamond win
dow. From behind portiere she
watched till he disappeared
She fingered uncertainty, hardly know.
ing what to do next. Should she run
down stairs again and out on the lawn
to summon help? Perhaps even in the
time she was gone the squire's room
might be invaded Before she could
make herself decide upon some plan of
action, shabby, rufianly figure came
in sight at the other end of the long hall,
and hand was lifted to turn out the
lamp that hung there. Lefty drew back
unnoticed into the doorway behind her,
and running through the room softly
opened the squire's door and stepped in,
locking and boiling it behind her. Glid-
ing across to the other door, she bolted
it also. She turned around then, with a
curious sensation of fear that the real
danger had not given her, to confront
the surprised. indignant eyes Of the
squire.
The lights were turned low, but the
room was filled with the ruddy glare of
an eruptive Vesuvius in full play on the
lawn. He had wrapped dressing gown
about him and was watching the display
from his window Perhaps he could not
think Of words ireful enough to voice
his wrath for he looked at her in cold
silence.
A real or fancied sound in the next
room brought Lefty to her Senses.
Walking.cl to Mr.. Melville she softly
and quietly explained the position, re-
serving the unquieting fact that the en-
emy was already upon them.
For Lefty it was easy to climb out OF
the window, and from the balcony to an
ornamental roof, from which she gave
the alarm to a group Of guests, who quick
ly disappeared into the house. Under
cover of the intense darkness that fell
after the going out Of the last set piece,
she descended the iron trellis work that
projected each side of the front door,
and slipping through the edge of the
crowd, she flew to her own house un-
noticed Having gained its safe shelter
she treated her alarmed mother to the
only hysterical attack she had ever had.
She had gone through the chill and the
sobbing, and the half laughing, half cry
ing recital Of her adventure, and was ly-
ing back white and tremulous in an arm
chair, when Jack came with fervent
message of thanks from his father, and
an entreaty, which sounded almost hum
BILE, that she would forgive and forget
He threw the blinds open as he spoke
Look over there, Lefty, and think what
might be the condition if you had not
been SO brave and generous Those
wretches, with that scoundrel James, are
safely locked in the stable with willing
band of watchers guarding them, and we
Melvilles are all agreed in blessing you.
Surely, darling, now You will take back
the stern refusal, with such welcome
waiting for you?"
The wild excitement of the evening
had interrupted the pyrotechnic per-
g. l.. IL 4.