The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-11-25
| found The door Of INV sisters room

found the door of my sisters room
shut. | knocked gently at it, fearing thu
worst
is that you, Tom !" I heard Bertha
ask
''Yes," Ireplied, trying to keep my voice
from trembling. l was astonished to hear
her speak so quietly and calmly. As faI
as l could recognize there was no change
from her ordinary tone.
"All right" she said quite cheerfully
~ will be down in another five inmates. .
What could it mean? There was nc
trouble apparent in her way of speaking
neither was there any special joy at my
return.
| could not make it out at all.
| went to my own room and hastily di-
vested myself of the hated garments had
been forced to wear for the last twenty
four hours.
Then felt like myself once more.
| quickly made my way down stairs, and
met Mrs. Russell, who was coming from
the kitchen.
''Good morning, sir, she said cheerily.
''Glad to see you back again
'What do you mean? 2 lasked. "W here
do you think | have been? ?"
well, sir, | suppose you have been stay
ing at Moreton for the night. | suppose
John will be back soon"
| looked at her in amazement, and was
preparing to cross-examine her, when Ber-
tia entered the room, looking much better
than when | left her the day previous.
'Good morning, Tom" she said, kissing
me. ~ am sorry to be so late to break
fast; in fact, it is lunch time, is it not?'
at is turned twelve o'clock" said,
scercely knowing what else to reply at the
moment.
"Weil the fact is, she continued, 81
was so i'll night before last that | felt must
not pass another bad night so took a
sleeping-draught early last evening, and
went to bed at seven 1t has had its full
effect, for only awoke half an hour ago.
These are dreadful hours to keep in the
country" said Bertha, with smile; ''but
really you see it is not my fault"
| cannot describe how thankful | felt at
hearing this announcement. All my anxiety
on her account was pure waste, after all.
If had only known this before, could
have endured the troubles and privation
and annoyance | had gone through with
comparative light-heartedness.
considered for time whether | should
ever tell Bertha all the adventures which
| had undergone AT first | was disin-
clined to do so, for the figure | cut was by
no means an heroic one.
Having regard to the fact, however,
that our host and hostess would hear the
whole story on their next visit to the vii
lage. and that it would inevitably reach
Bertha's ears, thought it best to confess
the whole circumstance.
made as light of it as | could; in order
not 10 terrify her; but she was greatly dis
tressed at the recital of my woes. In fact,
il made her so nervous that from that day
our excursions to the moor were stopped,
and soon afterwards we left the neighbor-
hood.
John turned up in the course of the day
The trap, as I had imagined, had broken
down hopelessly, not long after | had left
him. He had been caught in the storm
and forced to take shelter at an inn near,
where he had stayed the night, returning
with man to fetch the trap next morning
Ny strange companion, The escaped con-
Wet. was made to disgorge the watch and
other valuabies which he had stolen from
me; and felt, must confess, much sat
isfaclion in hearing him condemned to an
additional term of Imprisonment for having
broken prison, and for murderous assault
on the warder, who narrowly escaped with
his life
1t afforded me still further qualification
to learn that he had been captured because
of the strange figure he cut in my gar
meuts. He attempted to get fresh pair
of boots in village shop. The shoemaker
had noted the state of his awkwardly fit
ting clothes, for the coat had split right up
the back
The news of a convict's escape had
reached the village SO that suspicion was
naturally aroused The village constable
was quietly sent for, and when the man
left the shop, he was at once arrested and
safely lodged in Jail, He is, in all prooa-
bility there still.