The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-11-15
"If am intruding, Miss Nellie, why

give the word and I'll 60"
| Helen assured him, in a constrained
sort of way, that she was glad of com
pany, and went to prepare the little
supper herself, for in those days, as
| now, servants were rare and inefficient
in the West.
| After supper in an awarkard pause
of the conversation, Joe took up a
little case from the table and began
examining it's contents bright new
pair of handouts.
They were of new kind just from
the East, and Helen began explaining
the spring lock, which opened with a
skeleton key.
Somehow one of the bands was on
Joe's wrist as she slipped the other
bright circlet over her firm, white
hand, when 10 the lock snapped and
they were locked together.
Helen blushed crimson and COM
menced searching for the key in ner
vous haste.
But no key was to be found. Sud-
denly the truth dawned upon her. The
key was in her fathers pocket, and
he was on the other side of Crow
creek, which was now a foaming tor
rent and dangerous to cross in the
storm and darkness.
She tried to smile and treat the
matter lightly, but it was just the
ghost of d smile, and it was very
doleful voice that said: 81 am afraid
Mr.. Gordon, that we must break the
lock. Father has the key"
Joe felt tempted to indulge in a
hearty laugh over their queer situa-
ton, but glance at the distressed
face across the table sobered his mirth.
A great throb of sorrow came over
him. If she loved him she would not
care so much.
He gazed at the shining fetter on
her wrist so long and so earnestly
that Helen lifted her eyes wondering
ly, but dropped them again.
What woman ever failed to read the
story that she saw in the honest blue
depth of her humble young giants
eyes?
Her confusion encouraged Joe, but
there was almost a tremor in his
voice as he laid his great brown hand
over her fettered one and said softly:
"Nellie if you only loved me 1 would
believe it was fate that bound us
together. l would take it as an omen
that fate would grant me my dearest
wish. But, Nellie, dare not hope"
The girl looked up slowly into her
lovers eyes, looked steadily, though
she still saw the look in them. joe"
she said, 1T is fate"
The cool and cultured Mr.. Russell
would have marveled had he seen
"that queenly grip sobbing for very
Joy on Joe Gordon's shoulder, and
perhaps he would have marveled still
more had he known that at that mo-
ment the thought of him and his mil
lions did not once enter her mind.
When the sheriff returned in the
gray of the morning he found an in
teresting picture.
The lamp still burned in the corner
and the fire was still smouldering
away. On the board lounge by the
fireplace sat Helen and her lover
She had fallen asleep from sheer
WEAKNESS and Joe sat like a statue
lest he might disturb the fair sleeper
whose cheek was so near his own.
The old gentleman's face was study
When the truth dawned upon him he
flung himself into the nearest chair
and laughed until he awoke the echoes
likewise Miss Helen.
She was at first bewildered by her
novel position, but soon remembered
the true situation and relapsed into
silence, leaving Joe to tell the story.
"And now, sheriff. concluded he,
"you may loose these letters with the
understanding that they will soon be
replaced by more enduring ones. l
must not let my prisoner escape"
Helen's father had always liked
young Gordon, and his blessings was
forthcoming.
The announcement of the approach
ing nuptials gave Mr.. Russell a con-
elusive answer, and he settled up his
affairs in short order and returned
East.
The old Sheriff used to tell with
great gusto how Gordon won his per-
verse daughter and bow gracefully she
wore her letters after she was won.