The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-07-25
Select STORY.
A CHANCE CHECKMATB.
From Chambers Journal.

Three years ago was girl of sixteen,
unemancipated from the school room. My
father was-and is-a banker at Siston.
The town lies in valley, and by great
many people is thought unhealthy Hav-
ing kinsman whom he can thoroughly
trust as acting manager, papa these many
years since has abandoned the red house
in Siston Broadway, and resided at the
Manor, Walnsey This is, however, twelve
miles from his place of business-eight by
rail added to four by road. The Manor
has one other drawback-it stands in a
very isolated situation. Our nearest
neighbors are our namesakes, the Escotts
of Walnsey Cross; and Valentia Lodge, the
countryseat of Captain Milne Escott, lies
westward across the wilderness we call the
Heath good three miles,
The month when my story opens was
February Fill-dike, and it was justifying
its name. OF storms we seemed to have
a ceaseless succession. Heavy rains and
high winds had been for several weeks the
prevailing meteorological conditions. Alice
my younger sister-and were prisoners
within doors; and we should have found
time drag more heavily than it did but for
the presence of Val. An only brother is
always a girls hero, and Val was ours. In
age he came between us, and his proper
place at this period of the year was Rugby.
But he had met with an accident at
Christmas, and was only just convalescent.
Hence, his holidays had already lasted in
excess full fortnight of the working
term. As perhaps Val may read this, l
will be candid, and add that there were
seasons when, owing to his teasing, we
heartily wished him back in the Midlands.
The Tuesday on which papa announced
his urgent summons to Ferris Court was,
however, not one of those occasions.
Boreas was doing his best to bring the
house about our ears. We could not pos
sibly go out in the tempest. We were not
ultra enthusiastic readers; and fancy work
was ever Alice's Jete noi; therefore, we
must have settled into tame subjection to
ennui but for Val. 1t was his business,
as he put it, to make things lively; and he
did.
| had yentured to demur to papa's
going. Surely it was my place to care for
him as mamma would have done had she
lived, and his health had troubled me Of
late, thoughtless as too frequently was.
at is dreadfully rough day, papa,"
said "Cannot Sir Hugo Ferris wait :?
1t is such distance, too, to Ferris Court,
and all across country. You can't reach
the place readily by rail-
"No; l wish that | could" papa an
swered. "But the journey is quite i'm
perative. Sir Hugo is one of our best
patrons. He telegraphs that his depar-
ture for Algiers is fixed definitely for
Thursday-an alteration of week in his
arrangements; and 1 have urgent matters
to discuss with him. He insists-fool-
ishly, but l cannot help it--on negotiat-
ing with the principal; he will have none
Of Mr.. Bellows" l suppose my face was
visibly lengthening, for before I could
reply papa added "Don't look so glum
about it, Maggie. You will be quite safe
here in charge of Mrs, Climber, our new
housekeeper, am convinced that, after
many changes and mishaps, we have Sc
cured treasure. I say this because it is
uncertain if l shall return tonight"
"Not to return tonightl" l echoed,
helplessly.
aNo," he said. II have decided to
take the horses the whole way, and as the
roads are in bad state Spence will put
the cattle up in the next village and then
drive me back the next morning. l shall
be sure Of comfortable quarters at Ferris
Court"
"Is it quite-safe2' r. I asked.
HFor me, do you mean n
"No-o; for us. This house is so lonely
and it is known that there are mamma
jewels-and the pictures sand the plate. y
Papa scofed at my fears
aWe are too far from the track of the
light fingered prowler to receive his atten-
tions, he answered.
But il was an error.