Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-09-02


scholars in china painting to give her
: two hours at home in the middle of the
day and practiced assiduously. And in
the evenings the curate of the neighbor-
ing church-who called four times q
week and would have called eight if he
had received sufficient encouragement
brought over his cornet and joined
her in duets Hammond, having found,
to his great modification, that Lucile's
version of ooh, Promise Me" was the
correct one, changed his piece de resist
ence to 'SHenrietta," and took an in
sane delight in playing the melody just
when the curate was putting in his very
best solo effects.
But the curate. poor deluded man,
was living in an atmosphere of such
ecstatic happiness that he wasn't an
moved in the least. Never before had
Lucille treated him so graciously.
Never before had she taken such an in
terest in heSunday-school, or so longed
for information about the missions.
And though on certain occasions he
was treated to a rapid and startling
variation in mood, and beheld his atten-
tive listener metamorphosed into an
absent-minded and distrait damsel, he
was not an observing man, and failed
utterly to associate this change with
the slamming of a'front door and the
appearance on the street of tall
young man in light overcoat.
I,o., frn1 u
concert-the only dissipation which the
curate ever INDUCED in-they met the
same light-overcoated young man, this
time in cycling costume, accompany
ing a girl with pink and white COM
plexion, who had not yet attained such
proficiency in the art of wheeling that
her escort was able TO take his hand
from the handle-bar.
"a pretty girl" remarked the curate,
as they passed.
'Pretty enough; but until could
ride we'll enough to ride by myself l
wouldn't ride at ALL" snapped out Luz
Gle, rather unreasonably.
April came and went; and it was on
one warm afternoon in May, when Aunt
Henrietta had been bundled off to q
relative in Staten Island for breath of
fresh air, that Hammond and Lucille met
again. He was standing in the second
story hall, cleaning his bicycle, and
whistling refectively to himself.
She hurried past to keep him from
seeing the foolish tears that were blind
ing her eyes.
Hes going wheeling again with her,
I suppose" she said bitterly to herself.
"She has everything now. Wealth and
beauty and-love. Well. perhaps she de
serves good fortune, and II never Gid"
That was as she was inserting the key
in the lock. The next moment she
sprang back-outside the door-her
hands clasped, her breath coming in
gasps. There was a man in her room!
There could be no mistake-a man, re-
posing comfortably in the easiest chair
of the darkeaed apartment, and sleep
ing heavily.
She didn't scream. She thought Of her
great-great-grandmother, who, in IT'S,
had guarded her house against whole
regiment of British soldiers, Thea che
went to the head of the stairs, leaned
over the banisters, and called softly:
Mr.. Hammond! Mr.. Hammond"
'Were you speaking to me?" he in
quired, appearing at The foot OF the
stairs.
"yyho else should I be speaking TOP"
demanded Lucille. with a littlc ssS@'on-
able irritation. (When one is acting s:.e
part of a heroine, these trivial inquiries
are out of place.. There's a burglarin
my room!"
az burglar!" cried Walter, incredu-
iously.
"Don't call the police. He's fast asletp
II think he must have been pursued in
same way; perhaps he's wounded"
went on Lucille, calmly. "Just bring
YOUR revolver, and we can catch hzs1
ourselves
"Ourselves!" gasped the young man,
He looked at the tiny figure in the BLACK
dress, and his lips parted in an involun-
tary smile. "What can you do about it|'
BIND MIN, answered. Aucl4S' @'s4t
decision. 81 always knew could bind
a burglar if had chance, and now
I'm glad I've got it. Hurry up with the
revolver"
Three minutes later Walter was
standing on the stairs beside her.
SWhere is he?" he asked.
I'm the front room, asleep in chaira "
responded Lucille. in -<ase whisper.
$50 softly, I'D he'll never hear you I'M
til it's too late"
The burglar vas fat man in white
flannels. He opened his eyes as they
entered, and rose to his feet in censider=
able agitation.
"What the dickens are you doing
here?" he exclaimed.
Gust what we'd like to know" was
Walters equivocal answer 'Have you
any explanation to offer before you are
marched of to jail?"
-, - 49,.
The fat IMAM rubbed his eyta. Then
ba ooze6 nhout the room. and Ills Jaw