Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-10-28

UscI thC Cvcutb VI tuc uoy a1U nCI lbooi>
tion. and in the end made up her mind
to escape and return to town at once. She
wrote a line to the effect that she was
going, and placed it ON the dressing table
by the window.
Her room was on the ground tiOor. and
the window wide open. She could cresy
| In and change her wet boots and clothed
and sit up In the easy chair till morning.
Then she could steal away again, walk te
the railway station and take the arst
train for the city.
From the time the girl cleared the
| straggling outskirts Of the town until
| she gained the high hedge and gateway
Of her destination she did not meet OF
| overtake a soul. With serious trepida.
ton, she pushed the gate open and enter
ed the grounds. She emerged from the
cover Of the trees and hastened acrOsa
the open drive. Thank heaven, the win
| dow was open. After q severe struggle
| she found herself in the room.
With great caution she searched where
she knew Ler trunk lay open, found the
garments she needed. and replaced hel
vet clothing with dry. She resolved tc
sit still. 1t was eleven o'clock. 1t would
be bright daylight In u few hours. Al
soon as the sun rose she should, II the
rain had ceased, leave the house and
wander about in the bright open daylight
until time to lake the first train for Chi
cago She sat with her back to the parti.
/ lion between her and the dining room
She had not dared to move the heavy
chair for fear Of making noise.
| Have you done. Oscar!
|, Yes. mother l have finished for ths
night"
Edith Grace sat UP In her chair and
gasped with terror The words seemed
spoken at her ear The voices were those
Of Oscar Leigh, the hunchback dwarf,
and his mother, Mrs. Leigh. the paralyzed
old woman.
"Yes," the voice Of the man said, Il
have made the rawlings and calculations.
1t has taken me time-a great deal OF
time, mother. but / am right. l have
riumphed. 1 generally am right, moth.
er. i generally do triumph, mother" Hs
spoke in a tone Of elation. But you are
tired. 1t has been a long day for you"
"No, Oscar. 1 am feeling quite well
and lively and strong tonight. For an old
woman, who mas lost the use Of her limbs
l keep very well. When you are with me,
do not seem 30 old, my SON.
"Oid! Old?' he cried. with harsh, EN-
paatic gayety. You are not old, mother!
You are young woman. You are q girl
compared with the old women l know. Ul
to sixty-five a woman ages faster than 9
man. but once over sixty-dve, women
grow young again. Mother, mean to as
tonish you soon. ] mean to marry q very
handsome wife. l have one in my eye
already. You know 1 never make up my
mind to do anything that In the end doea
not come off But before marry must
finish my great work. When have put
the last touches to 1t 1 shall sell 1t for Z
large sum, and retire from business, and
live here with You. mother. at my ease. "
':And when. my dear. do you think the
great clock will be finished? 1t 10 the
only thing in ths world ! am Jealous Of
Have you added any new wonders to It 2"
The fright had by this time died out OF
Edith's heart. She now understood who
the owners of the voices were, why the
speakers seemed GO near. Oscar Leigh
was talking to his mother In the dining
room. They both believed she was IN
deep sleep and could not hear, or they for.
got the thinness Of the substance separat.
ing them. Between the dining room and
where she sat was only the slight pane
Of q folding door.