Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-09-20
sHEPHERDsTOWN W. VA, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 1894.

floor creaked and gave way beneath
her weight. a futtering noise in one
corner made her heart turn chill, and
the next instant she perceived 1t was
but a dusky-winged bat, beating itself
against the beams and rafters.
She stole tremulously forward to
look into the black, yawning chasm OF
the mud chimney, the only place, as
it seemed to her, where anything as
large as the deacon's canvas bag could
be concealed. And as she picked her
way a board sprung beneath her Feet
"a board which had been loosely
laid across two beams without any
securing nail, Instinctively She stopped
and there before her, wedged in be-
tween the heavy timbers, over which
had lain the board. was the little can
vas bag.
She caught it in both hands, hug
ging it close to her breast, and hur-
ried toward the door But, as she
advanced out Of the close, moldy air
of the cabin into the November twi-
light, the strength seemed to die out
Of her limbs, the vitality to ebb from
her heart.
Surely, surely am no, gong to
perish now, she thought, wildly,
when the danger is all surmounted,
the peril all past, God will never
let me die in this lonely place ~
The half-murmured aspiration was
still on her lips when all sense and
feeling left her, and she sank utterly
unconscious ON the doorstep, with the
canvas bag still clasped to her heart I.
1t was quite dark when the old
Iumber-wagon rolled up to the door,
and Mrs. Osprey came into the house
carrying the extra shawl upon her
arm.
kitty. Kitty, Why, where IS
the child
In vain she called. The fire had
died upon the hearth-the pan Of veg
etables stood upon the table, Just as
the Girl had left 1.-THE doors were
open, and altogether, there was an
air of confused desolation about the
dark and dreary house.
Deacon Osprey, said the fright
ened matron, grasping her husband $
arm, "what does this mean
The deacon set his teeth tightly to-
gether, but made no answer He
walked silently up stairs into the back
room, and presently returned.
at means, wife, he said, IN a husky
voice
Hush" said Mrs. Osprey, with a
start. Whats that
Something at the door, said Silas,
rising to open it. And as he did so,
a slender figure, drenched with chill
rain and robed in soiIed, brier-torn
garments, tottered forward into his
arms, and the bag of gold fell to the
kitchen floor with a dull, heavy sound,
"Kittyr he cried mother 1t j.
Kitty, and she is dying"
But Kitty Clifford was not dying
she was only fainting from fatigue
and over exertion, and Mrs. Osprey
kindly care soon restored her tC
strength and animation. The deacon
listened silently to her story, and
when she had finished he stroked hel
bright hair down with gentle touch
MY little girl" he said, "you have
been very brave.
Were you not frightened, Kitty.
asked Silas, tenderly.
Eyes, but it was worse when came
to myself after that fainting in the
cabin on the hill. O, it was 50 darL
so dismal-so solitary, with OWL
hooting in the woods, and bat hylns
round and round close to the ceiling.
When Messrs Jim and Sandy Bill
came after their secreted treasures tn.
next night, their state OF mind ma,
easily be fancied. But they neye
suspected who the marplot was. Leas
Of all would they have dreamed o
pretty Kate Clifford, who was Just en-
gagged to be married TO Deacon Os
prey son, Silas
Wise Words.
To tell the truth is 10 teach 1t.
U.;--,.,.. >, ,,a,r,. than n H. To love