Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28

pouN could KNOW what might happen. and
SO she clapped her hand to her mouth.
She sprang back, however. She could
not help that, and ut the same moment
the man stepped into the hall.
You are right" he said in whisper
and looking at the hand which was still
over Margcy's mouth. Il understand
won't make the least noise in the world.
Let me shut the door. l can do it very
quietly"
If the cold air which rushed in through
the open doorway had frozen Marcy as
stiff as a statue, she could not have been
more incapable OF speaking or moving
than she was at that moment If she
had dared to cry for help or tried to run
away, she would not have been able to
do either. She stood and stared. whittier
than the moonlight. The man was re-
fastening the door, and as he did so n
ray of blessed relief came into the mind
of Marcy. lie hid put down on the
floor n valse and an umbrella Surely
no burglar. no wicked man Of any sort.
would go about with a valise and an UNI.
brella. and he seemed to know all about
fastening doors without making a noise.
The ray of relief was n very little raw.
but it revived Marcy sufficiently to en-
able her to drop her hand from her
mouth.
The man now stepped toward the H.
brary door, and with one finger on his
lip he bcckoned to Marcy. She was so
astonished at this action that almost
without voition she followed him. She
was so thoroughly frightened that she
could do nothing herself She had not
even the strength to disobey. hut as she
stepped into the library she Rugged to
her heart the thought of the umbrella
and the valise. The man took from his
pocket a box of matches, and. striking
a match, he stepped without the slight
est hesitation to the corner of the man
telpiece, on which stood a great candle
stick, and lighted the candle. Then he
quietly closed the door.
Il do that" he said, because il your
aunt should hear our voices and be star
tied there is no knowing what might
happen"
How could he know that?" Marcy
asked herself. and a third ray of com
fort was added to that furnished by the
umbrella and valise. In the light of the
candle Marcy could see that the man
was rather short, very well wrapped up
and wore fur cap, which now, however.
he removed. showing a head of reddish
brown hair little curled and with
some streaks of gray on the temples.
His face looked as if he had lived out
of doors good deal in all sorts Of wealth
er, but his eyes were bright, and there
was pleasant expression about the
mouth, as if he would be glad to laugh if
there were anything TO laugh at.
1T was very, very good of you" he
said, still speaking in an undertone, ito
come down and let me in. You must
have seen me from your window. was
afraid there was no one awake in the
house. / heard you at work at the bolt
and the chain, and knew why you were
so slow and so quiet. OF course | can
not be mistaken in supposing you to be
Miss Griffith"
Now Marcy found her voice-that is,
a little of it. Yes" she said. "and who,
beg of you. sir-who are you?"
Il am John Brunder, your uncle's
brother. Surely you have heard of ME 2"
"A very little" said Margey.
And how much, may ! ask?" he said,
showing some surprise.
Il never heard you mentioned but
once" she replied, "and that was one
day when | found Aunt Ellen in one of
the bedrooms which | had not seen be-
fore, the door having always been lock-
ed"
Had it a bedstead in it," said he,
with a curved footboard?"
Yes, it had" said Marcy, more and
more relief coming into her mind each
moment.
A nd Il A
way of sporting articles-guns, boxing
gloves?"
yes" said Marcy. "There were box
ing gloves and fois on the wall at the
head of the bed and two guns on a
rack, and there were some cases in the
corner which looked as if they held fish
ing rods. | was surprised to see these
things and asked Aunt Ellen to whom
they belonged. She said that the room
used to be occupied by Uncle Horace's
brother John, but that he did not live
here now"
is that all she told you?" he asked.
Every word" said Margey
He gave his head a little nod. "Per-
haps it was as WELL" he said. There's
no use in raking up disagreeabl things
before young people. But ! am glad to
hear that my old room is kept just as it
used to be. That's a good sister-in-l law
of mine, and I hope l may not do thing
TO startle her, knowing as / do that no
one could tell"-
What might happen" added Marcy
involuntarily.
But you ought to know all about me-"
said he. 1T will not do for you to be ig-
norant any longer, especially as you were
so good as to come down to let me in"
"But | didn't" said Margey. 81 didn't
come down to let you in"
'Then who, in the name of common
sense, did you ask to come in? There was
nobody but me on the porch"
81 opened the door for the New Year
to come in" said Margey
John Brunder stood and looked at her
n amazement, and then Marcy, who had
almost recovered her self possession, told
him all about it.
well, WELL wellr he exclaimed.
"You're the kind of girl l like. | knew
that niece of my brothers wife was liv-
ing here, but had no idea she was such
a-such a girl as you are! What is your
name?"
Marcy"
miss Margey," said John Brunder, ex-
tending his hand, 81 wish you a very hap
Ply New Year"
THE same to you, SIR" said she, Civ
ing him her hand.
And now you want to know why l
don't live here" said John Brunder.
You certainly have a right to know, and
will tell you in as few words as possible.
! was born in this house and have lived
here good DEAL off and on, and the last