Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-14

in down there about the same time,
and be obliged to strike match in
more'n one sense of the word"
And even while indulging in this
pleasing reflection, Mrs. Collins
tapped at door on the second floor.
Her summons were responded to by
a pleasant-looking young man, who
just now, however, wore a very de-
jected countenance.
"Lal Mr.. Sangster, didn't expect
to find you at home this evening""
,'I didn't feel like going out to-
night" replied the young man in
weary, listless tone.
"Well, since you are going to be
at home" said Mrs. Collins, "would
you be so kind as to look after the fur
mace? I've left the lower doors open,
but I'll be very much obliged if you
go down at about eight and close 'em.
And you needn't take alight. There'll
be one down there"
Mr.. Sangster readily promised to
comply with the request, and Mrs.
Collins went away, hoping for what
she considered "the right results"
Meanwhile, poor Lucy Hildeburn,
sitting at her piano, continued to draw
forth such melancholy strains that
tears rolled down her cheeks.
81 must go away from here" she
said, half aloud. 81 can't bear it much
longer, indeed can't, seeing him day
after day, loving him as L do, and
knowing that matters can never be ad-
justed between us. He is as proud as
but, oh dear! what am L thinking
of? 1t wants just two minutes to eight.
And how hot the house is getting I
must so down and close the furnace
doors"
Thereupon she lighted the lantern
and proceeded down stairs to the cell
lar.
The house was very quiet, and the
lights all burned with a dim, spectral
lustre that only served to produce
strange shadows throughout the rooms
and passages.
Every one seemed to have gone out,
and poor Lucy glanced nervously about
her at every step.
At length she reached the cellar.
Ugh What a chill draught was
blowing in through one the gratings!
And there We're strange noises all
around.
Lucy's heart thumped so violently
she was tempted to turn and run up
stairs again.
But goodness! The furnace was
dreadfully, dangerously hot.
Lucy summoned up all the resolu-
ton, and, STOPPING down, closed the
doors.
They swung to with bang, and
when she essayed to open them again
she found the effort beyond her
strength
What was to be done in case of the
fire needing more draught?
She might, after awhile, find it
necessary to put on more coal, and
then it would be well to put on more
draught.
But while she was debating with
herself concerning this, a much more
serious misbap occurred, for the
candle inside the lantern suddenly
achieved the most inexplicable somer-
SduIl, aHo SIe was lSlG III utler dufh-
ness.
Moreover, to complicate the miser-
les of her situation, she heard stead
lily footsteps descending the cellar
stairs.
Poor Lucy stood quite still, with
her hands clasped together over her
| heart.
This was a burglar, undoubtedly.
He had seen all the male inmates of
the house going out and the lights
lowered, and had thus chosen his OPP
portunity to come in and conceal him
self in the cellar. He would, of course,
murder her. Burglars always did that
when they found any one awake.
The first idee that suggested itself
to her was to creep under the steps
and remain there until Mrs. Collins
returned.
Ere she had time to do this, how
ever, maa's form became visible in
the dim, seml-twilight that was shed
from the kitchen door above. The in
truder drew nearer until he stood
within a few yards of her, and seemed
to be fumbling in his vest pocket for
something. A dirk, doubtless.
Lucy, with a desperate instinct of
self-preservation, put up both hands,
eXclaiming:
"Have pity on mel Oh, have pity
and spare my life!"
Upon this the burglar drew back,
very much surprised.
"Miss Hildeburn!' he exclaimed. rs
he struck match on the box he now
produced from his pocket. "What are
you doing here, and how can L serve
you?"
Now poor Lucy completely unnerved
and dfeadfully ashamed of herself sat
down on reversed coal scnttle and
burst into fit of weeping.