The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-30

"The farm is only mile further on.
her mistress.
Norah went out
Soon a figure clothed in rags went by the
open window.
The man turned and SHOOT, his clenched
fist at the astonished lady.
'Of all things The impudent thing ~
she gaspeh.
ooh, but aunt, Pm sure he has heard all
that we said about that horrid money -
faltered Kate.
Mrs. D1iscoll's face told the concern
which she felt, bat she turned her back
upon her niece and took up book.
Darkness came.
The lights IN the house were extinguish-
eG at the usual time.
Kate could not sleep. In vain she count
ed slowly from one hundred to one, and
said the letters of the alphabet backward
She heard the village clock slowly strike
the hour of midnight, than one, two and
three
Hates apartment was dark, but the
moon shone dimly into her aunts room
just across the hall
Suddenly form stood in the doorway,
then vanished within.
Was it the tramp? Was that something
in his hand, a knife?
Kate stole softly through the doorway,
listening hreGthlessly. Then she darted
into a small room, near Mrs. Drisooll $
door.
Suddenly the door was uoiselessly closed,
and a man stood so near her hiding place
that she could hear his hurried breathing.
The faint odor of chloroform told why
the door was closed.
What if he gave an overdose?
Kate loved the stern woman, and, not
outstanding her timidity, that thought
nerved her to action.
She sprang from the room with a shril
cry, clutching both hands in the hair of the
Intruder. 1t is needless to say that he was
startled out of what little common sense he
possessed.
He threw her violently aside with NUT
tered oath and fled. But be left generous
lock of hair in her hands.
Her head struck corner of the door in
falling, and it was dawn when she awoke
to full consciousness of what had happened
Womanlike, she rushed to see if the iron
box was still safe. 1t had not been dis
turbed. Then she threw open the door of
Mrs. Driscoll s room. That lady was I'M
conscious, but breathing evenly. Kate's
courage returned.
Silently she opened the window, letting
the fresh morning air draw freely through
the room. Then she crept into her own
bed to wait Developments.
Before sunrise Mrs. Driscoll awoke.
"Mercy on us ~ she screamed "Norah
did not shut the window last night. l
shall get my death cold Kate ~
But Kate did not stir until her name had
been called several times then she answer
ed drowsily
Get up, child It's your wedding day,
too, and in danger Of pneumonia, f" called
her aunt.
Kate shut the window and helped the
irate lady to dress, touching her hair with
dainty, soothing fingers as she arranged it.
The household arose and went about its
tasks. Visitors came and went. Kate kept
her secret well. The ceremony was over
which made her wife. The bridal dress
was exchanged for travelling costume.
81 shall take the iron box to the bank as
we 20 to the train, auntie," Kate said as
she babe her good-by.
LAS you please. Pve had my say about
it, and no harm came of it, either" was
the tart reply.
No one knew of the tragedy which did
not take place in the silent watches of the
night
No one knew until Kate, nesting in her
husband S arms as the train sped onward,
told him the story in her own way and
time.
''But the hair-did you save it? 1t is
clew," he said, quickly.
81 burned it," was the calm reply. |
did not need to save it, for knew whose it
was. | always thought he liked aunt's
money better than me. Now | know that
he coveted the dowry more than the bride.
But the money is safe in the bank, and
wasn't it strange that he should be there to
see it deposited 2"
"Not George Travis" calculated Harry.
eyes. Let him co. she whispered,
softly, nesting closer. "Think what he
lost-what you gained, Harry dear. Let
his own conscience punish him-if he has
any. Well never let aunt know. Well
keep our first secret together"
Harry Winship was man. He could
not refuse his wife's first request, and Mrs.
Driscoll does not know to this day what
danger menaced her.