The Worthington advance., 1899-12-22

4
1--WE must make all the noise pos
sib1e. Some one will be sure to heal
U.S." said Allen, hopefully. /
They called out as loudly az they
could, beating againxt the side OF tn,
chest, but the sounds were not heart
| downstairs.
Dilsey had carried down her last arm
full of garments, and was busy, will
her mother, sorting them into piles fol-
the winters use, or to be given away.
The other servants were sure to b.
even further downstairs at that hour
and Alice and Nanny had no doub
gone to their mothers room.
Katy's cries had died down into ,
whisper, and Allen began to find hi
efforts to shout very painful.
ut Is so dark, and am so tired. L
I could only stand up! Oh, Allen, d.
you think we will ever get out of thi
chest?''
And Katy began to cry.
"Poor little Katy?" said Allen, ten
derly. "Some one may hear US. lie
us say our prayers together"
"WiI God hear us in this chest ?
asked Katy, growing weak and bewil
dered.
Eyes, indeed"
They said the Lords Prayer to
gether.
II am so tired" Katy complained
"And, oh, it is SO hard to get my
BREATH"
Allen took off his jacket, not with
out great difficulty, and made pillow
for Katy's head to rest on, bidding he
to lean against him, and to put he7
mouth to the keyhole, that she nigh
get all the air possible to breathe. Ever
that small quantity revived her enough
to enable her to say:
"Poor mamma! How sorry she will
be! And Alice and Nanny will b.
sorry, too, that they gave us up
SO soon; that is, if We are ever found.
Meanwhile it was growing so darl
Mrs. Stewart had asked more than ono,
where Katy was, but felt no anxiet.
since she heard she was with Allen.
1T is so stupid in them not to SHOW
themselves since we have given then
up," Alice said.
Dilsey had finished sorting the win
ter woolens, and went to the garre
to close the windows. In the room
where the red cedar chest stood, sh,
heard faint scratching.
There's mousse" she muttered
''I'll soon catch you, my friend, by tn
help of the cat
She put down the windows, and JUS
as she was about leaving the room, she
stopped to set some things right thai
the children had disturbed in thci1
play, grumbling little at the trouble
they gave.
The scratching she took for a mouse
still went on, only It was growing faint
er and fainter. 1t seemed to come from
the red cedar chest, although il
stopped entirely when Dilsey went tc
it, which made her all the more conf
dent that the mouse was there, since
they are always so quick to hear ever
| the smallest sound.
The lid of the chest was down, and
Dilsey hoped to capture the thieving
mouse without the help of his enemy
| the cat.
She put down the lamp, and raised
the lid of the chest cautiously, peerine
in to find the mischievous mouse. In
her fright and surprise, old 'Dilsey
came near dropping the lid, for there
lay Allen white and motionless, as il
dead, and leaning against him, her head
pillowed on his jacket, and her mouth
close to the keyhole, was little Katy
faint pink in her cheeks alone robbine
her of all appearance of death.
Dilsey's first act was to lift the win.
dows she, few moments before, had
been so careful to lower. Then she lift
ed Katy out of the red cedar chest, and
laid her on the floor where the night
wind could blow ON her.
It was far more difficult to drag Allen
out of the chest that had nearly proved
his deathbed, but love and fright gave
the old woman strength, and Allen had
the full benefit of the fresh, life-reviv.
ing air.
The color was deepening in Katy's
cheeks, and Allen had sighed and
stirred, when Dilsey managed to be
heard and had their mother called, and
had also sent in hot haste for the near
est physician.
"You happened to open the old ceda,
chest just in time. Five minutes later
and the game of hide-and-seek would
have been FATAL" the doctor told Di!
sey.
And after that-why, Mrs. Stewart
had spring-locks abolished in the house
as dangerous, and Dilsey found that
she had gotten rid of her great antip
athy to mice. Indeed, thenceforth she
regarded them very much as those o1
the name of Bruce look upon spiders
with the gratitude one feels to deliv
erer from great peril.-Golden Days
A Society Gradation.
| The ladv residing in A. 14-stOrv Ao1