The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-06-02

conneoted ~ plpes Win Inc spring
IN ths spruce glen above.
why couldn't Miriam hays stoppsa
at one Of the neighbors' houses and
sent some ono to keep mo companyw
she repined. "Andrew says thers are
some nice girls ut Almondsley, down
the mountain, and no said he'd Nike
to Introduce me to Marietta Mix,
who teaches Sunday school In the
South Cheating. and docs tpye-wrtling
for the company on week days. I'm
sorry. now. that / tossed my head,
and put on airs. and said l did not
care to mingle in tho society herea-
bouts. / must have appeared hate.
full enough. Gracious, what was
thatP"
1t was tho clock striking nine, and
then Emily remembered that she had
had no supper Norvously CHANGING
around her, she tip-tocd to tho cup.
board, and took glass OF milk md
little bread and cheese. AS she re-
placed the tumbler on tho shelf she
heard footsteps on tho frozen ground
outside.
Az Ahy bnO Eulu,
after listening for o second. but j
won't BIO frightened so. l will be
bravo" She took hatchct. and
sallying forth. opened tho cellar
door, "If any one comes he'll sail
down thore before he can get to tho
door," said she.
And with two prodIgious slashcs OF
the Ratchet she cut away the board
path which led across series Of rug
ged boulders to the railway platform.
There" she cried, hurrying back
to the inside warmth and brightness,
as II whole brigade OF pursuors
wore OF her heels. that's done. ]
feel safer now. But I must hang the
lantern ont before Uncle Absalom
comes back. don't want him to
fall down and break his dear old
neck!"
She had just seated herself with
sigh OF relief when something like n
big FREELY blazed on her vision-for
brief second only; then It was gono.
"a dark lanternr she said to her
self. 81 am sure now that hear
tho sound OF feet on the platform
There are two or thrco people there
perhaps moro. They have learned
that am alone with all that money!"
She clasped her hands over her cyos,
and shivcred Us she heard crash, q
smothcrcd exclamation. u suppressed
buzz OF voices. "Somc one has fallen
down the cellar! Oh, how FORUM
ate 1t was thought Of that"
And now low whisper came up
through tho carelcssy- Joined boards
OF the floor. She could distinguish
the words, "Hold on! 30 careful!
The front door Is fastened, for
tried II. You can all OF you get
down cellar. and come up that way"
Emily's heart gave nn exultant
jump. Tho cellar door, n mass OF
timber in which she had tho fullest
confidence. was securely boltcd. She
pecred out into the stormy darkness
by the occasionally displayed CLEAN
OF the lantern she could see n hud-
died mass OF figures creeping down
the cellar steps
Last OF ali disappeared the lantern
Itself. one leisurcly step Mt u time:
and then, concentrating plan which
she had long been connecting in her
mind, Emily made dash out into
the night. closed the two divisions Of
the cellar door with bang. barred
them. and fled painting into the house
BY this timc there was u brisk
knocking Mt the cellar door. u crying
out OF. ''Open the door! Let us I'M"
But TO these calls Emily Elkton
paid no heed. and II was only when a
hand WIS suddenly laid on her
shoulder from behind that she ut
tered piercing scream and lost all
her presence OF mind.
"Why, Emmy" exclaimed n fnmil
lar voice. "Why. child. what's the
matterp"
"Oh. Uncle Absalom. how you
frightened me! Oh. dear. the collar
Is full OF burglars and robbers, Reach
down your gun! Get the hot.watcr
kcttlom
burglars. eh?" said Uncle Absa-
lon. "Robbers? Why. whar on yarth
did they come from Sure ye amt
mistook. eissy' Anyhow, I'll be
ready for EN-
llo advanced towards tho cellar
door with his loaded revolver in his
hand.
"Whocycr yc no." he shouted,
"toll us what your business Is or take
thisl Don't hold my arm. sissy.
There can't no moro n one ut II timo
come up these Gro cellar stairs. and
! reckon I'm match for that much.
II be old an s,iiIm
To Emily's infinite alarm he un-
boltcd the cellar door and flung IL
wido open.
There, crowdin- on the narrow
wooden steps. stood Andrew Mark
ham, tho Miss Almondslcys. Lconidas
Mix and sister Marietta. and Doctor
Clinc's two chubby daughters.
1--WE came" raid Markham. rather
shamelGccdly. "to give Miss Ells,on a
birthday surprise. We arc sorry
that"
walk ln-whl, In" cried Uncle
Absalom, his face ono full moon of
broad smiles ''No nced OF bcin'
sorry for nothln, You're all wei.
comcl How on earth did ye know II
was Emmy's twentieth birthdnyp'
Marietta has baked cake" raid
Lconidas. "and the Cliifc girls brought
n Jug Of lem nndo, and IL was broken
when tumblcd down cellar. and"
"oh. that don't matter none'n
bcamcd Uncle Absalom. Were aw-
ful pleased TO sec you-ain't We.
EmllyP'
In this nuspicious manner began
Emily Elk,on's first acquaintance
with the young people who wcro dos.
tlnod 10 DO her lifelong nolghbors.
''But really sbo said. half crying.
half laughing. 81 thought you were