Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-30
CHAPTER XVI.

Dare went to her room so filled with tense expectance as almost to stop the beating of her heart. She went straight to the toilet table and saw, with no sense of surprise, a handful of field flow CTS laid loosely upon it. At her touch they fell apart, Hitting her eye rest upon a scrap of paper, bearing in Jubilee's best flourish:
 ''misS dare this Toe say, vii yo cum toe gait vii bee Thair twell Arfter Midnight ''
 Drawing her curtain, she looked out side. The ''gait" was almost half mile away You came through it from the highway that ran past Exeter. The dis tance was as nothing to her quick feet. Even had she not been absolutely fear less, all abroad was now such silver shining as mimicked day. But ought she to heed a message so vague? Her aunt, she knew, would disapprove. Did not honor forbid her to do under her roof the thing which would be against her wishes?
 But the case must be urgent, the need strong. to bring her thus a secret mes sage What had Jubilee to tell that the whole world might not hear? The boy was sharp, shrewd beyond his years, and Aliens sworn advocate and worshiper. In leaving Ridgeley her last word had been for him, bidding him bring her in stant news if anything befell the house. hold. Most likely that was what had brought him to this midnight confer ence. Still that face in the glass. Spite of her bravery, her firm nerves, she shiv- cred, recalling eerie tales of apparitions forewarning death or peril.
 She must go. Below stairs she heard the clang of closing doors. Running has tily down, she said to the servant:
 "I'll fasten the west door. want to sit on the small porch awhile and see the moonlight and the mists along the creek.
 "As you please, Miss Dare Better take de key outside wid yo'. De do falls shet sometimes. You might fin yo'- self locked out" Black Patsey said, adding after minute: "You don't look hk' yo mother. I member her. I hear 'em say, Aun' Jincey say yo' des de liv in image of her mistes, yo' gran pas mother, dat died so long ago"
 II am like her portrait more than any one else, Dare said, impatient to be off, but not daring to show it. After little she said, as though the thought had just come to her: ''Shut the door, Patsey; then nothing can get ill, no mat ter how moonstruck may happen to be. With the key can come in whenever I please.
 Young ladies mos giner' fly want ter watch de moon when good lookin beaux des gone erway," Patsey chuckled obe- diently closing the door. Dare dropped down upon tho steps and for o minutes watched tho faint ghostly mists writhe up from the babbling runnel and hover and waver in the full leafed tree tops.
 AS she stepped lightly to the grass low growl fell on her ear. She saw in the moonlight big, shaggy white cur standing full in her path, gently waving his tail and looking at her with the air of stern but loving guardian. With eyes full on his she went straight up to him and laid hand on his head, saying very low: Nice fellow! Big dog! Come and walk with mel"
 Half reluctantly he yielded to her i'm pulse, stood aside and at last walked soberly behind. Keeping we'll in shadow, darting from tree to tree, from covert to covert, Dare gained the carriage way and ran so swiftly along it that, almost before she thought of it, the gate barred her way.
 Not for long. As she stopped breath less and panting it swung open, and Ju- bilee's voice said:
 ''Oh, Miss Dare, if you please, pro- gress outside. Those dog is too expicious here tn the plain moonshine "
 In silence Dare followed him to the shade of big oak that stood little to one side of the highway. As soon as they were we'll within it she said very low:
 "What brought you here, Jubilee? Are you by yourself? Tell me quick. Is anything wrong at home?"
 My two feet brought me here, " Ju-~ bilee said, with grin. That is to say, I pedestrianed since 12 o'clock today"
 "Why did yon come? Is mammy sick, or grandfather or anybody in troublep" Dare asked hurriedly. That was only