The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-23

testing the solidity of every stone, con-
tinued to ascend the stair.
The tower, / should have said, was
square, and in every corner the step was
made of great stone of a different
shape to join the flights. Well, 1 had
come close to one of these turns when
| feeling forward as usual my hand
slipped upon an edge and found nothing
but emptiness beyond it. The stair had
been carried no higher; to set stranger
mounting it in the darkness was to send
him straight to his death, and although
thanks to the lightning and my own
precautions was safe enough) the mere
thought of the peril in which 1 might
have stood and the dreadful height /
might have fallen from brought out the
sweat upon my body and relaxed my
joints.
But / knew what wanted now and
turned and CROPPED my way down again
with a wonderful anger in my heart.
About half way down the wind sprung
up in clap and shook the tower and
died again, the rain followed, and before
had reached the ground level it fell in
buckets. I put out my head into the
storm and looked along toward the kitch-
en-. The door, which had shut behind
me when I left, now stood open and shed
a little glimmer of light, and thought
could see figure standing in the rain.
quite still, like man hearkening. And
then there came binding flash which
showed me my uncle plainly just where
l had fancied him to stand, and hard
upon the heels of it great towrow of
| thunder.
Now, whether my uncle thought the
crash to be the sound of my fall, or
whether he heard in it Gods voice de-
nouncing murder, 1 will leave you to
guess. Certain it is, at least, that he
was seized on by kind of panic fear,
and that he ran into the house and left
the door open behind him. followed
as softly as I could, and, coming I'M
heard into the kitchen, stood and
watched him.
He had found time to open the corner
cupboard and bring out great case
bottle Of aqua Vita, and now sat with
his back toward me at the table. Ever
and again he would be seized with fit
of deadly shuddering and groan aloud,
and carrying the bottle to his lips, drink
down the raw spirits by the mouthful.
stepped forward, came close behind
him where he sat, and suddenly clap
ping my two hands down upon his Shout
ders-"Ahw cried 1.
My uncle gave kind of broken cry
like sleeps bleat, flung up his arms
and tumbled to the floor like a dead
man. was somewhat shocked at this,
| but had myself to look to first of all,
and did not hesitate to let him lie as he
had fallen. The keys were hanging in
the cupboard, and it was my design to
furnish myself with arms before my
uncle should come again to his senses
and the power of devising evil. found
a rusty, ugly looking highland dirk
without the scabbard. This concealed
inside my waistcoat and turned to my
uncle.
He lay with one knee up and one arm
sprawling abroad, and he seemed to have
ceased breathing. Fear came on me
that he was dead; then got water and
dashed it in his face, and with that he
seemed to come little to himself. At
last he looked up and saw me.
'Come, come" said 1; "sit up"
"Are We alive?" he sobbed. 80 man,
are we alive?'
"That am" said I. "Small thanks
to your
''It's the trouble" said he, reviving q
little; 81 have trouble, Davie. It's the
heart"
set him on chair and looked at him.
1t is true felt some pity for a man that
looked so sick, but was full besides Of
righteous anger, and numbered over
before him the points on which 1 wanted
explanation-why he lied to me at every
word; why he feared that should leave
him; why he disliked it to be limited that
he and my father were twins (''is that
because it is true?" asked); why he had
given me money to which was con-
WINGED / had no claim; and last of all
why he had tried to kill me. He heard
me all through in silence and then, in O
broken voice, begged me to let him go
to bed.
"Ill tell we the MORN" he said; "as sure
as death will"
And SO weak was he that I could do
nothing but consent. I locked him into
his room, however, and pocketed the
key; and then returning to the kitchen
made up such q blaze as had not shone
there for many long year, and wrap
ping myself in my plaid lay down upon
the chests and fell asleep.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Very Much Surprised.