Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-05-27

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bad ridden over the same road-but
not alone.
II all came back to her that bright
May day with startling vividness. She
could see him as plainly as II he were
then at her side She met him the
first season she was In society" She
was young and pretty then, and he
made no effort to conceal his admira-
tion for her. Throughout those happy
months she spent In the city he was
her devoted admirer and when she
came home In response to q call from
her sick mother, he soon followed.
He stayed week, and 1t was arranged
that he should come again In autumn
for their marriage. She drove him
over the smooth yellow road to the
railroad station one radiant morning In
May.
That was the last time she saw him.
She never even heard from him direct
ly, but three months later the news
came through natural friend that he
had married girl in Canadian town
whittier he had gone ON business
Many times throughout the ensuing
months Miss Ellen assured herself
that her love for the man was dead,
but as she drove slowly toward the
village that spring day twenty years
after their last meeting the food of
recollection that surged over her heart
brought home the truth that affection
such as she had given cannot die and
that in her loneliness and loneliness
she had lost the very essence of life.
In the meantime Harvey, being in
stalled housekeeper at Latimer place
for the day, set about his duties. He
busted himself in the kitchen and cell
lar for an hour or more, then went into
the woodward and began to bring order
out of the chaos Of stovewood, which
Pat Henning had split the day before.
That done he went around to the porch,
and, sitting down in the shade, rocked
his long. lanky body slowly to and fro
until the shifting shadows warned him
OF the approach of noontime. Then
he started unto the house to prepare
luncheon. Just as he stepped over the
threshold he heard the clicking of the
latch of the front gate, and, turning
quickly round, he saw a man coming
down the path. The man was a
stranger, with a black beard, black
clothes and black straw hat
Good morning" he said politely.
Harveys tongue was benumbed and
he could not answer.
is Miss Latimer in?" asked the
stranger.
Harvey's voice was returning by
degrees and he said, NO" very family.
Twill she be here soon?"
mo, not till ACKNOWLEDGMENT"
quavered Harvey.
To the boys dismay the man sat
down on the edge of the porch and be-
gan to fan himself with his SLOUGH hat.
That's too bad" he said in tone of
genuine regret, but I'll wait till she
comes If have to stay week. / must
see her. My boy, I'm hungry. Do you
think you could get me something to
eat?'
Like flash Harvey's ordinarily dull
mind conceived the situation over
which he had secretly pondered for
many months and with equal agility
the few rays of his concentrated in
telligence planned a. way out of the
difficulty.
II guess can" said Harvey, forget
ting in his enthusiasm to repeat the
final word of his sentence
In less than an hour after the black
whiskered man had eaten his luncheon
he had fallen asleep on the sofa in the
sitting room. AS soon as his deep, reg
ular brething announced that he had
fallen into a stupor from which he
could not be easily aroused Harvey
quickly pushed the narrow couch into
the long dark closet that ran far back
under the stairway; then locking the
closet door, he took up his station be-
side 1t and impatiently awaited the
arrival of Miss Latimer. 1t was
o'clock when that lady came home.
Harvey heard the wheels when she
turned into the gate and went out to
meet her.
Miss Ellen" he said in an awed
whisper, The ca-ame."
What are you talking about?"
queried Miss Eileen.
THAT man came to steal your silver.
He wanted you, too-too-too. He said
he'd have you IL he had to stay a week
and his voice arose in
a shrill treble indicative of the excite
ment under which he was laboring.
Miss Latimer let the reins slip from
her nerveless fingers and regarded the
boy through film, which sudden fear
had quickly brought before her eyes.
my goodness, Harvey" said. And
not an officer in the neighborhood.
Which way did he 60? He'll come
back tonight and kill us, sure"
Harvey shook his hand. HE didn't
co." he said with unusually rapidity.
He's in the c,o-o-oset. put him to
sleep with dose of laudanum-"
Miss Latimer did not wait to hear the
termination of the series of "lauda-
NUNS" but drove around to the barn
and unhitched and stabbed the horse.
Now, Harvey" she said, hurry
right over to Pat Henning's house and
tell him to fetch the Sheriff as quickly
as possible. ''I'll stay here and watch
the closet door till you get back"
Harvey needed no second bidding.