The Bessemer indicator., 1893-06-03

AT ono Oh tne nclBhpOrS houses and
sent some one TO keep me com mSauy?n
she repined. ANDREW says thers ars
some nice girls ut Almondsley, down
the mountain, and he said he'd like
to introduce me to Marietta Mix,
who teaches Sunday school in the
South Cheating. and docs tpyewr,,ing
for the company on week days. I'm
sorry, now, that / tossed my head,
and put on airs, and said ! did not
care to iningle in the society hcrea-
bouts. l must have appeared hate
ful enough. Gracious, what was
that?'
1t was the clock striking nine, and
then Emily remembered that she had
had no supper, Ncrvously glancing
around her, sho tip toed to the cup,
board, and took Il glass OF milk and
little bread and cheese. As she re-
placed the tumbler on the shelf she
heard footsteps on the frozen ground
outside.
''It's my Imagination" she said,
after listening for second But
won't be frightened so. | will be
brave" She took hatchet, and
sallying forth, opened the cellar
door. "lf any one comes he'll sail
down there before he can get to the
door," said shc.
And with two prodigious slashcs OF
the hatchct she cut away the board
path which led across a series of rug
gcd boulders to the railway platform.
"There," she cried. hurryiug back
to the inside warmth and brightness,
as il whole brigade of pursuers
were at her heels, that's done.
feel safer now But I must hang the
lantern out before Uncle Absalom
comes back. | don't want him to
fall down and break his dear old
neckn
She had just seated herself with a
sigh Of relief when something like a
big freely blazed on her vision-for a
brief second only; then it was gone.
"a dark lanternn' she said to her
self. II am sure now that hear
the sound of feet on the platform.
There are two or three people there
perhaps more. They have learned
that am alone with all that moneyn
She clasped her hands over her eyes,
and shivered as she heard p crash, n
smothered exclamation. suppressed
| buzz OF voices, "Somc ono has fallen
down the cellar. Oh, how fortun-
ate it was | thought of that"
And now u low whisper came up
through the carelessly- Joined boards
of the floor. She could distinguish
| the words, Hold on, Be careful,
The front door is fastened, for
tried it. You can all of YOU get
down cellar. and come up that way ;"
Emily's heart gave an exultant
jump. The cellar door, a mass OF
timber in which she had the fullest
confidence. was securely bolted. She
peered out into the stormy darkness.
By the occasionally displayed CLEAN
OF the lantern she could see a hud-
dlcd mass of figures creeping down
the cellar steps
Last of al. disappeared the lantern
itself, one leisurcly step at time;
and then, consummating plan which
she had long been concocting in her
mind Emily made 4 dash out into
the night, closed the two divisions of
the cellar door with bang, barred
them, and fed painting into the house.
By this time there was u brisk
knocking at the cellar door, crying
out OF, "Opcn the door. Let us i'm
But to these calls Emily Elkton
paid no heed, and it was only when IL
hand was suddenly laid on her
shoulder from behind that she ut
,Nian,t,,rr
her presence OF mind.
why Emmy!' exclaimed famll-
lar voice. "Why, child. what's the
matter?"
"Oh, Uncle Absalom, how you
frightened me! Oh, dear, the cellar
is full of burglars and robbers. Reach
down your gun! Get the hot-water
kettle.''
burglars, eh?" said Uncle Absa-
lon. "Robbers' Why. whar on yarth
did they come from? Sure We amt
mistook, sissy Anyhow, I'll be
ready for EN-
He advanced towards the cellar
door with his loaded revolver in his
hand.
"Whoever ye be-" he shouted,
"tcll us what your business is or take
this, Dent hold my arm, sissy
There can't no more II one at n time
come up these ere cellar stairs. and
reckon I'm match for that much,
if be old an stiff"
To Emily's infinite alarm he un-
bolted the cellar door and flung il
wide open.
There, crowding on the narrow
wooden steps, stood Andrew Mark
ham, the Miss Almondslcys, Lconidas
Mix and sister Marietta, and Doctor
Cities two chubby daughters.
We came" said Markham, rather
shamefacedly, "to give Miss Elkton n
birthday surprise. We are sorry
that"
walk in-walk in" cried Uncle
Absalom, his face one full moon of
broad smiles, mo need OF boin'
sorry for nothin'. You're all well
come! How on earth did ye know it
was Emmy's twentieth birtbday9'
Marietta has baked cake" said
Lconidas. land the ClifTe girls brought
n jug of leme made, and it was broken
when | tumbled down collar. and"
"Oh, that don't matter none!'
heamcd Uncle Absalom, We're aw-
ful pleased to sec you-ain't we,
Emily''
In this auspicious manner began
Emily Elkton's first acquaintance
with the young people who were des-
tined to be her lifelong neighbors.
But really" she said half crying,
half laughing, Il thought you were
all banditti."
ats my fault, acknowledged hon.
est Marietta Mix. II was determined
that you should have surprise.
Andrew wasn't half willing, but in
sisted. You see, didn't think there