The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1895-10-11

| stage OF the performance, and when
were keenly critical OF every actor on
II. Across the road beyond the green
paiings and the close-cropped lawn. be-
mind the curtains of their creeper-
framed windows. sat two old ladies
MISS Bertha and Miss Monica Williams
looking out AS from private box at all
that was being enacted before them
| The growing friendship of the three
families. the engagement of Harold
| Denver with Clara Walker, the engage
| ment of Charles Westmacott with her
sister. the dangerous fascination which
the widow exercised over the Doctor
the preposterous behavior of the
Walker girls and the unhapplness
which they had caused their father, not
one of these Incidents escaped the
| notice Of the two maiden ladies. Bertha
the younger had smile or n sigh for
the lovers. Monica the elder a frown or
shrug for the elders. Every night
they talked over what they had seen,
and their own dull. uneventful life took
n warmth and coloring from their
neighbors as blank wall reflects n
beacon fire.
And now II was destined that they
should experience the one keen sensa-
ton of their later years. the one MEM
orable incident from which all future In
cidents should be dated.
j. was on the very night which sue
ceeded the events which have just been
narrated. when suddenly into Monica
Williams head. as she tossed upon her
sleepless bed. there shot n thought
which made her sit up with thrill and
gasp.
Bertha" said she. plucking at the
shoulder OF her sister. II have left the
front window open"
mo, Monica. surely not" Bertha sat
up also. and thrilled in sympathy.
81 am sure OF It. You remember had
forgotten to water the pots. and then
opened the window. and Jane called me
about the jam, and l have never been
In the room since"
Good gracious. Monica. 1t Is mercy
that we have not been murdered in our
beds. There was n house broken Into
at Forest Hill last week. Shall we go
down and shut it?''
81 dare not 20 down alone. dear. but
II you will come with me. Put on your
slippers and dressing gown. We do no,
need candle. Now. Bertha. We VIII
go down together.
Two little white patches moved
vaguely through the darkness. the
stairs crenked. the door whlned. and
they were at the front room window.
Monica closed II gently down. and
fastened the snlb.
what n beautiful moon" said she,
looking out. I'VE can see as clearly as
II It were day. How peaceful and quiet
the three houses are over yonder! II
seems quite sad to see that TO Let card
upon number one. / wonder how num-
Der two will like their going. For my
part / could better spare that dreadful
woman at number three with her short
skirts and her snake. But. oh. Bertha,
look! !ook!! look,!r' Her voice had fall
len suddenly TO a lulverlng whisper and
she was pointing to the Westmacotts
house. Her sister gave n gasp OF hor-
ror, and stood with clutch at Monica
arm. staring In the same direction.
There was n light In the front room.
n slight, waverng light such as would
be given by small candle or taper,
The blind was down. but the light
shone dimly through. outside in the
garden. with his figure outlined against
the luminous square. there stood n man.
his bnck to the road. his two hands upon
the window ledge, ana his body rather
bent as though he were trying to peep
In past the blind. So absolutely stlll
and notloniess was he that In spite OF
the moon they might well have over
looked him were It not for that teli-talc
light behind.
Good heaven" gasped Bcrthn. II, is
burglar"
But her sister ret her mouth grlmly
and shook her head. I'VE shall see.'
she whispered. 1T may be something
worse"
Swiftly and fur,lvciy the man stood
suddenly erect. and began TO push tho
window slowly up. Then he put one
knee upon the sash, glanced round "a
zee that all was safe. and climbed over
into the room. As he ala 20 he had 20
push tho blind inside. Then the two
spectators saw where the light came
from. Mrs. wostmacott was standing,
as rigid MS n statue. In the center OF
the room. with lighted taper In her
right hand. For an instant they caught
n glimpse OF her stern face ana her
white collar. Then the blind fell back
into position. and the two figures dlsap-
pcnrcd from their View.
"oh. that dreadful womnnl' cried
Monica. "That dreadful. dreadful WON.
ami She was waiting for him. You snw
II with your own eyes. sister northai"
Hush. dear, hush and llatenr' said
her more charitable companion. They
pushed their own window up once more,
and watched from behind the curtains,
For n long time NIL was silent within
the house. Tho light Sun stood notion
lees ms though Mrs. WrHtmncott 70.
-.
from time 10 time shadow passed In
front OF II 10 show that her midnight
visitor was pacing up and down In
front OF her. Once they saw HIS outline
clearly. with his hands outstretchod M
II In appeal or ontrcaty. Then suddenly
there wnH a dull sound, n cry. tho Noise
OF fall, the taper was oNtlngulHhed,
| and dark figure Ned In the moonlight,
rushed across the garden. and vanished
amid the shrubs NJ the farther side.
Then only ala the two old ladies un.
deratand TINT they had looked on whilst
u tragedy had been enacted, "iielpp'
| they cried. and "iieipi" In their hiHh,
| thin voices. ,imidiy nj FIRST, but gather.
| Ing volume as they went on. until the
| Wilderness rang with their shrlebs,
| Lights shono In all the Windows oppo-
site. chains ratified, bars were unHhpt.
doors opened, and out rushed friends 60
| tho rescue, Harold. with Htlcki the
Admiral. with his sword. his grey head
ana bare feet protrudlnE from either
| end OF long brown ulster. finally, Doc.
tor Walker. with poker. NIL ran 10 the
| help ~ the wcstmnootts, Their door
had been already opened, ana they
crowded tumultuouHiy Into the front
room.