The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-08-11
THE SECRET.

Nv brother gave his work a hna'
polish, and then viewed the Valua be
articles approvingly before placing
them in their softly-padded case
Think they look we'll, little wo'
man." he2sked.
II think they DO indeed" l an
swered in unqualified admiration, lor
Ted was a capital workman, and had
mended the pretty trinkets Ve:y
skillfullv. II am sure Mr.. Bailey
WILL be pleased. The owner herself
would be puzzled to detect where she
damaged them"
Ted smiled: then, as he did not ln'
tend to take them back to the shoE
until the return Of his EN- 2loyerr
which would not be till the morrow,
he dep sited both the -eWelled brace
/, lets in his customary 'non-burglar'
proof safe" as be jokingly called a
small, strong. sQua e box which ne
had tied with lock and key, padded
inside and out and covered with
chintz to match our so a. he MADE
me use this as footstool, saying
that evil-disposed persons would De
the less likely to examine It: and
many jest he had about his placing
gems under my feet, and about my
be ng a small person with a high
mind, for set my foot upon gold,
and like nonsense. Dear old led
He was so clever at his trade, ana sc
trustworthy, that he always had
more work than he. could get through.
He was very 1Ond OF me-aIs poor
little crippled sister-Wpu'd never
allow me to sit too long at the
needle, and shared with me in every
possible way the little duties neces>l'
tated by our humble 1nenage: so he
and l logged along very peaceaoly'
We lodged in two rooms In quiet
street on the outskirts OF Bridgeport.
Our landlady was kindly old body
who had known our parents long be-
fore either Ted or l found ourselves
Un this worlds stage.
Having put away the bracelets
safely, my brother next paked uI
three or four watches he had been
tusy setting to rights, and prepared
to 90 10 the shop in Bridgeport which
usually employed him. l watched
him putting on his ove:coat, for the
day was very cold, but he seemed
slow in his mo ;ements. and l thought
he was reluctant to leave me alone,
for, though | was generally active
enough. considering my indrnltY,
one OF my bad spells was now on me,
when as he knew, l found moving about
a pain ana ditfultv for some days.
1t happened, too, that Mrs. Brown
our landlady had gone out for the day
"a very rare occurrence.
Can l do anything else for you be-
fore l go:" he asked.
No, Ted dear thank you"
"Make sure, look round and see il
everything is put handy for you, D
id my brother, placing my crutch
little nearer"
1--we ything," l replied cheerIully.
, "!.nd I've such lot Of work to get
th. ough, shall find the afternoon
short"
Il don't half like y. UT being left
alone so long; for l may not be back
before D." said Ted, cycling me du
biouSly. "tousin Mi!ly would come
roaud if asked her."
; Yes, aud bring her baby, whC
would hinder ray work sadly. don't
like bab es when Pm busy. Go away,
Ted, you dear old fellow! Don't
bother about ne / shall be all right.
; "Well, good-by, little woman," he
said, STOPPING 10 kiss me; Ill be
home as soon as 1 can. And, Bessie, .
he added pausing in the do rway, "be
sure you don't tou- the window to
dav. The sash line snapped thl:
. Il orning; I must send ca penter tt
see to it. You will remen ber?"
: | promised that I would, and my
brother departed. / heard him gt
down stairs aud shut the street door.
At first the usual quiet OF the house
was rather depressing: but l soon be
came too much eDgroSscd in sewing
to pay attention to that, and stitched
away bus ly at some things l was
completing for lady who was kinc
enough 10 praise my needlework. pre-
ferring it, as many others did, Il
machine-stitched articles Presently
| thought I heard slight noise
downstairs, Ike the opening of
! window; but, as al! remained quiet
afterwards. 1 put it down 10 my i'm
agination, and w-nt en- tran .uilll
with my work. After some time
was startled to hear step. stealthy
: but distinctly audible ca the land
Ing outside, while under the door ap
peared the shadow Of some one NOV
Ing.
perhaps Mrs Brown has re
turned" was the thought in my mint
! IS ! sat gazing at the door; but theI