La Junta tribune., 1899-03-25

to my house-despoiled the dead
took from my mothers corpse relic
beyond price
''Despoiled the dead---he surely can
not--you must wrong him. young sir"
No. no. II is the fact. lady-and
l must have. You know not what de-
pends upon it,
Wait. young sir" replied the maid
en-. Il will soon return"
Philip waited several minutes. lost
in thought and admiration; SO fair
creature in the house of Mynheer
Poots. Who could she be? While
thus Eliminating. he was accosted by
the silver voice OF the object of his
reveries. who. leaning out Of the win
dow. held in her hand the black ribbon
to which was attached the article so
dearly coveted.
Here is you relic, SIR" said the
young female: Il regret much that my
father should have done deed which
well might justify your anger; but
here it is" continued she. dropping
it down on the ground by Philip; "and
now you may depart"
Your father. maiden, can he be
your father?" said Philip. forgetting
to take up the relic which lay at.his
feet.
She would have retired from the
window without reply. but Philip
spoke again:
stop. lady. stop one moment until
j beg your forgiveness for my wild.
foolish act. / swear by this sacred
relic" continued he. taking 1t from
the ground and raising 1t to his lips.
that had known that any unoffend-
ing person had been in this house
would not have done the deed. and
much do / rejoice that no harm hath
happened. But there is still danger,
lady; the door must be unbarred. ana
the jambs, which still are glowing. be
extinguished. or the house may yet be
burned. Fear not for your father,
maiden; for had he done me thou
sand times more wrong. you will pro-
tect each hair upon his head. He
knows me well enough to know ! keep
my word. Allow me to repair the in
fury have occasioned. and then l Will
depart"
NO. no: don't trust him." said
Mynheer Poots from within the cham
ber.
Yes. he may be trusted" replied the
daughter: land his services are much
needed, for what could poor. weak
girl like me, and still weaker father.
do In this strait? Open the door, and
let the house be made secure" The
maiden then addressed Philip: He
shall open the door. sir, and l Will
thank you for your kind service.
trust entirely to your promise"
II never yet was known to break
my word, maiden" replied Philip; but
let him be quick. for the flames are
bursting out again"
The door was opened by the tremb-
ling hands OF Mynheer Poots. who then
made a hasty retreat upstairs. The
truth of what Philip had said was then
apparent. Many were the buckets Of
water which he was Obliged to fetch
before the fire was quite subdued; but
during his exertion neither the daugh-
ter nor the father made their appear
ance.
When all was safe. Philip closed the
door, and again looked up at the win
dow. The fair girl made her appear
ance, and Philip. with low obeisance,
assured her that there was then no
danger.
II thank you SIR" replied shell
thank you much. Your conduct. al
though hasty at the first. has yet been
most considerate."
Assure your father. maiden. that all
animosity on my part hath ceased. and
that in few days / will call and sat
isfy the demand he hath against me"
The window closed. and Philip. more
excited, but with feelings altogether
different from those with which he had
set out. looked at 1t for minute. and
then bent his steps to his own cot
tage.
(To be continued)