Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-05-06
She had jus. seated herself With a sigh

cne 0al JUST Seaee1 aerseU VITA sign
OF relief when son-tasas .l2 b.. ire
hy blazed oa her vision 20. a bs.ct ec.
/ ond only, then i, was gone.
IA dark lantc.a." Sd. said % herself.
~ am sure now ,ha. hear the sound OF
feet on the platform. Taerc arc two or
three people there perhaps IN ,re. They
have learned that an soae with all
that money! She clasped her haads
over her eyes, and shverc a. she heard
. crash, a smothered exclamation, q sup
pressed buzz OF voices, "Sone one has
fallen down the cellar! Ga, how for
tunate 1t vas thought OF that"
And now NV whisper came up
through the carelessly joined boards OF
the hoor. She could distinguish the
words, "Hold on! Be careful. The
front door is fastened, for tried it.
You can all of sou get down cellar, and
come up that way
Emily's hear, gave an cxultant jump.
The cellar door, mass o. timber !n
which she had the fullest confidence. was
securely bolted. She pe-ed out into
the stormy darkness. By thc occasion
niIy displayed gIeam o: the lantern shc
could see huidied mass of hgufes
creeping down the cellar steps.
Last of all disappeared the lantern it.
| self, one leisurely step at time; and
then, consummating plan which she
bad long been concoctin, IN her mind.
Emily made a dash out into tie night,
clesed the two divisions OF the cellar
door with bang, barred them, and hed
painting into the house.
BY this time there was brisk knock.
ing at the cellar door, crying out Of,
"Open the door! Let us iu!"
But to these calls Emily Elkton paid
no heed, and it 'Sas oaiy wnea hand
Vas s>>;a5anly laid on her shoulder from
behind thet she uttered piercing
scream and lost all her presence Of mind.
"Why, Emmy" exclaimed a familiar
voice. "Why, child, what's the matt.r1"
ooh, Uncle Absalom, how you fright
ened me! On. dear. the cellar is full of
burglars and robbers. Reach down your
gunl Get the hot-wate7 ket.le!"
"Burslars, eh2" said Uncle Absalom.
"Robbersl Why, whar on yarsh did
they come froms Sure yc amt mistook,
sissyl Anyhow, III be rcady for EN- :"
: BE advanced toward tae cellar door
with his loaded revolver an his hand.
"Whoever ye be-" he shouted, tell
us what your business is or take this !!
Don't hold my arm, sissy There cant
no more'n one at time come up these
'ere cellar stairs, AMI | reckon I'm ,
match for that mucl, II | oe old an
stiff!"
To Emily's infuitc alarm he nnbolted
the cellar door and fun. it wide open.
There, crowdiuy on thc narrow wool
en- steps, stood Andrew Markham. tho
Miss Almonnslevs. Leonidas NIX and
Sister Marietta, and Dr.. Cltfe two club
By daughters.
1--WE came said MY-khen. rather
shamefacedly. "to give Mss Eal,oa a
birthday surprise. We're sorry that"
"Walk in-walk in. crie1 Uncle Alb.
salon, his face one fu.l moon Of broad
smiles. "No need OF baia' sor!7 fox
nothin'. You're all welcome how Oh
earth did ge know it was Enmy's TWEEN.
tieth birthdayl"
"Marietta has baked cake" SAID
Leonidas, ''and the Ciitfe girl, brought
a jug OF lemonade, and it was broken
when l tumbled down cellar, and"
"Oh, that don't matter none." beamed
Uncle Absalom, "We'rc awful pleased
70 see you-sin't we, Emilys"
/ In this auspicious manner began En-
lily Elkton's first acquaintance with the
souns people who were destined TO be
her lifelong neighbors.
J. "But really" said she, hall crying,
bali laughing, Il though: you we're all
banditti."
"It's all my fault" acknowledged
honest Marietta Mix. ~ was deter
mined TIA. you should have surprise.
Andrew WASH, half willing. ou: IN.
sisted. You see. / oidn's think Their
would ever he aay other wsy .: ges.lnc
acquainted with ron. Miss E.k;on. And
ue knew that Andrew was 50 interested
in you
"Sonsense." cried Emily. blushin9.
els !. nonsense, though re,o.sod
Marietta ''Well, tine w.Il show"
And time di i show. SIX months a.
IL