The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-09-09

her from time to time. Having pro-
ceeded in this manner for a hundred
yards or more, the Captain returned to
his seat when 1t appeared that the
worst had been passed.
At the instant that he started the
horses there came q sound that caused
him to stop them suddenly. 1t was a
woman singing. There was in the
voice weird plaintiveness that the
startled listeners attributed to the
weirdness of their own surroundings
the darkness, the bleak olate hills,
the wild locality, the ho.r and their
own anXieties.
"a mansion In heaven we see,
"And a light in the window for thee;
"A mansion in heaven we see,
"And light in the window for thee.
"Then on, perseveringly on, brother,
"Till from conflict and suffering free;
bright angels now beckon you over
the stream,
There's a light in the window for
thee"
"A mansion in heaven we see,
"And light in the window for thee;
"a mansion in heaven we see,
"And a light in the window for thee"
Poor creature! She sings as though
she was lonely and sad" said Miss
Carrie.
1T is only because of our own cir
cumstances and our own feelings that
it so strikes us"
81 feel as If it were some one in dis
tress appealing to us for help; only
one doesn't cry out for help by sing
ing hymns"
1t is doubtless some lonely squatter
who sings to kill time. 1t is late
hour for country people to be up and
that shows that Providence has in
spired her to sing that song as mes
sage to us! On, perseveringly on!' We
should not waste time for our dear
child is anxious Bright angels now
beekon you over the streaml Bright
angels; our dear Stella the chief among
them! We are sure'to find her in the
first house beyond the next stream!
She is sure to wait for us there, just
over the stream, with light in the
window to signal to us! Carrie, my
child, take heart! That is a message
from Providence. Be sure that we
shall find our pet lamb safely harbored
in the sheltering fold of some good Sa-
marian of the hills!"
They made all the speed they could,
yet their progress was slow and the
Captain became so nervous in his anx-
iety for haste that he was almost wild
and Miss Carrie experienced the great
est difficulty in soothing him, being
frightened lest he become frantic.
They had advanced about a mile and
a half in an hour, when they crossed a
small stream over which was no bridge
and almost Immediately there met
their sight, only few rods distant,
the glimmer of a light shining through
window.
"She is therel She is there' the
Captain cried as he hurried the hors-
es; Ion, perseveringly on!' Bright
angels beckon!' There's light in the
window"
He stood erect and dashed the horses
to gallop shouting at the top of his
voice:
"Stella Stella! My child! My child!
We are here! We are herel Stella!
Stella! Stella!"
Miss Carrie succeeded in taking the
reins from him and getting him to give
her the whip and she was able to stop
the horses near the hut from which
the light came.
A pair OF horses and buggy stood at
the door and as Miss Carrie stopped
her horses the door opened and Miss
Letson came out, accompanied by a
gentleman.
Where is Stella? Stella? My
child! Come to your father! Here is
Carried" the Captain cried, running to
the door when he saw that she did not
come out of the house.
"Have you not met her? How could
you have missed herr" said Miss Let
son.
why did you let her go?" Miss Car
rie asked.
"Oh, Carrie, don't blame me!
cannot bear it; | tried all / could to
keep her; l can never forgive myself
for this, for | induced her to go out
there, and to please Mrs. Zenith and
Mollie | stopped her watch and took
her purse so that she could not go
home on the train. When she deter
mined to walk l did everything that !
could to prevent her from doing
SO, | did not give her her purse be-
cause | was ashamed and thought that
| would afterward pretend to find it
and would send it to her Oh, Carrie,
Mr.. Zenith! l cannot forgive myself!
And yet l only wanted to do what
would please Mrs. Zenith and Mollie;
for thought they ought to know what
was best"
"And among you you have killed her
by your treachery; for If she is lost in
this wild region this night she will die
of fright if she is not killed by other
means; and you are her murderers!'
the Captain said.
oh, Captain Zenith! Forgive me
my wickedness and treachery! | had nc
bad wish or wicked intent! God knows
that had not and that | love the dear
girl who is always SO bright that ev-
erybody must love her. Do not break
my heart and drive me crazy with your
censure! My grief is already almost
more than l can bear!"
Miss Letson had thrown herself on
her knees at Captain Zenith's feet. Her
escort and Miss Carrie raised the re-
gretful girl and placed her, sob
bling, in the buggy and while
Miss Carrie soothed her as well as her
own grief would allow, the gentleman
returned to Captain Zenith and they
discussed their further course. He in
formed the Captain of all that he had
learned. The occupants of the hut
had seen Miss Stella late in the evening
walking in the direction of Minersvale.
There was no doubt of her Identity,
the description being exact. She had
been closely scrutinized because it was
an extraordinary event in the dull life
of the jewellers along that unfrequent-
ed road to see traveller and the sight
of lady travelling on foot there was
unprecedented. 1t was not at all prob
able that she had turned back when SO
far on her way; but to take as few
chances as possible it was decided that
each party should retrace its way and
at short intervals call loudly the name
of the missing girl.
The Gentleman rpiOinad Miss ,ptSOO