The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-04-21
az t5reiiaIGeottS



self"
"Nonesense ?" said Fanny Clifford,
| who was too much accustomed to Sa-
| ina's sights andmyst cries to pay much
attention 10 them. Who should be
| in tile woon shed and What should lie
be there for -
For no good. mem. you may bevery
sure saiA SaIica. connressing her
/. thin lips. "HEln't better go over to
/ Millions ard borrow 'neir big dog -
Certainly nol." s. / Fanny, leaning
back in hes cnai% to i" = liza on the effect
of that lat blue spl .%h GA the petals
IF ,he iris that she was painting in
water colcrs. You said there was Il
tramp hidden in the coa!.cel ar last
! week; and dav before yesterday you
had Mrs. Mifton's hired man up with
lantern to go through the barn, be-
cause you were certain some one was
there"
And I'm certain of it now, men,
said Salina, standing very straight,
with her elbows tightly grasped il
both hands. But Josiah, he's that
stupid, Il coaciland-four could ha'
driven out before him and he not see
It. And as for the my sterious sounds
IN he coal-cellar, int Ill, how was | to
know thar it was the cat knock'n'
down six hyacinth glasses? Noise is
noise, whoever movesit it. But this zine,
mem, I'm morally certain"
"Oh, don't tease mam said Fanny,
adding touch more of nitromarire to
tue EXTREMIST edge of her flower.
I'VE may re all murdered in cur
beds" gloomily observed Salina, with
Mrs. Dedhrook's diamonds in the
L.. La
which told you they WAS to be cent
here was tempered with ~
"Oh, Saiina, don't be ridiculous ~
said Fanny.
"fou know Mr.. George amt accom-
ing home tonight said Saiina.
"Why, OF course l !tnow it! Didn't
YOU hear him tell me- SO - retorted her
mistress.
And me, and you, AID Miss Abby
is all alone i'll the house ~ persisted
the woman.
Yes" said Fanny abseutly. ''Sa-
lima, you may make u ID little choco-
late for supper, aud broii these trout
Mr.. George brought in; and rs its
chilly evening, Salina, we will have
some nicely Drowned griddle cakes,
with maple syrup"
Salina tossed her head.
well, mem, just as you please" said
she. only don't say as you haven't
been warned"
No. Salina, won't,n said Miss Cliff
ford, with provoking Indifference.
The two Misses Clifford and their
| brother had remained longer at the old
stone house tGan usual, this autumn.
| Ordinarily il had been their home fer
| the three summer months, ever since
old Uncle Griffith CriffiIapd had died,
| and bequeathed it to them. The fur
niture was odd; the odd little three
cornereG rooms were small and neon
venient; large zine trees shut ou0 the
daylight from the lozeuge-shaped win
dows; but in spite of all these dlsad-
vantages the air of ancestry" that
fingered around the place was very
euticing, a, d George Clifford decided
that he could do his writing at Tower
| Pines as wei. as in the city; while Fan
ny and Abby, a brace OF very enthns-
iastic young artists, delighted in cir
cular-walled studio, where they could
have fire in the great, open chimney
place, and there was 81 north window
overlooking the distant simmer of the
sea. Sc there they were, now that the
chill winds of early November were
|
trees, to the infinite disgust of SaliEa,
the superstitious, vino much preferred
a city fiat.
That domestic damsel had just van
ished down the winding stairs, which
she declaYal were destined some time
or other t. be the deGth of her." wheI
an opposite door opened, and in raj
Abby Clifford, the younger sister,
tall, red-cheeked g'rl, with hair Il!
black anu thick as an Indians. spark
ling brown eyes, and d huge bundle
under her left arm.
1t was too dark to work longer upoI
the blue rises, and Fanny WAS sitting
in reverie before the red glow of thu
burring longs. she started up at Sigh
of her sister.
I've got it, Fan ~ said Abby, wav
ing the bundle around in the air
1.-The whole suit, complete, with thu
dearest sold canvas hat into the bar
ggin. They used to belong to Mr. Nit
TOMS uncle, who was a wh& Ter, ant
finally died at sea-his Sunday suit.
SIS it too late to dress him up 7" salt
Fanny, with animation.
But he's down in the library"
"Well, We'll go there" said Fanny
"We can work there as well as in TIN
studio; and we shall Iun less risk of Sc
lina's interference. Salina never cal
forget that we are no longer little girl
of ten and TWELVE
The supper served up in the littl
round room, before the dying CLEAN Q
the logs, was exceptionally nice.
Fanny and Abby were in eXuberan
spirits, and praised the chocolate. trou
and griddle cakes with enthusiasm
Saliua was as gloomy as a prophecies
II only hope We shall get throug
this night alive" said she.
But as she had made the same re
4 mark, on an average, three hundre
out of the three hundred and siXty-fiv
DAYS of the year, neither Fanny nc
Abby paid much Il tention to it.
But as she passed out, with the las
dish from the table, Saiint- passed clos
to F. my Clifford, and asked, in
sepuIchral whisper:
"Are them diamonds locked up ?"
"They are in my DESK said Fam,
indifferently.
Salina lifted her eyes okyward.
In your desk ?" she groanet
Hadn't you better take 'em and pr
' 'em under my pillow -
Certainly not" her young mistre
answered, sharply. "Do, Salina, lea,
me to manage my own affairs ~
And Salina vanished in huff.
"Ill 30 10 bed early" she said grin
Z ". to herself. at amt no use sittil
a.. 81, 80 L..