The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-14

ing, descended about a dozen. steps and
then--a Whit from a broken pane blew
out his candle. John felt for his match
es. He had left them in his room. There
was nothing for6 it but to retrace- his
steps as carefully as possible in the dark
Eess. Nothing daunted he set out afresh,
taking care this time to shield the candle
with his hand in passing the open win
dow. Arrived at this point he crossed q.
large room, with deep windows along its
southern side, then unlocking a door he
found himself at the top of another
flight of stone steps. The knocking was
once more repeated this time the sound
being quite near. John hurried down the
steps, undid an old fashioned latch, open
ed the door prepared to meet he knew not
what, and beheld-Jean. the woman he
loved, seated upon an old oak chair.
Jean, my darling. what has brought
you here?' he exclaimed.
The girl struggled to speak, but over
wrought feeling checked her utterance.
John put down his candle and went to
her side. He took her cold hands in his
own, but when he looked again into her
sweet face she had tainted. The sudden
relief from her Imprisonment, added to
4 the loss of food, had been too much for
her strength. John put his arm tenderiy
round her, and brushed back the soft
brown hair from her brow. He felt at
loss what to do. To fetch water or
brandy frem his room would mean leav-
ing her with the chance of her waking to
find him gone. Gradually, however, he
saw signs of returning animation, and
in few minutes she was herself again.
.'Have 1 frightened you. jack, said
she, softly.
.sYou are better now, darling said he
helping her to rise mo wonder you faint
ed in this lonely cold place. said he. ten
derly. but, come, l will help you back
the way 1 came, and call Mrs. Belmont
You must tell me how 1t all happened, but
not now"
Wrapping her cloak more closely round
her he helped her by slow degrees up
the stone steps, and along the dreary pas
sages of the west wing. They found the
fire not quite out in the drawing room'
so Jack led her there, and placed her IN
the coy depths of large chair. then
lighted the lamp and went in search OF
food. He returned shortly with bread and
wine. which he made her take slowly.
.sYou look more like Jean Graham
now" said he at length, as he put the
glass and plate upon the table. NOW l
will go and wake George and Helen, and
then you must tell us how you managed
to be a prisoner in that cold little vault OIL
rooTn
a
returned. quickly followed 10y the Bel
monts.
.My poor child" exclaimed Helen, rush
ing in in her impetuous manner. Tell US
how it all came about.
well, to begin at the beginning, SAID
lean, who had by this time begun to feel
something like herself, forgot TO
change at the junction. was reading at
the time. and did not hear the porters call
cnd l.
-tior I found what I had done, but just
then. as luck would have 1t, we drew up
at Burton. Quick as thought decided to
get out there, and walk across to Tne
Towers / had never been that way De-
fore. but knew it could not be any great
distance AS l stepped out at the last
moment | had no time to see to my lug
gage. which was all in the carriage with
me- But did not trouble much about
that. as it was labeled all right. 1t was
getting dark, so / FASTENED across the
fields. finding my way after only inquir-
hing once. 1 rather enjoyed the walk, and
laughed to myself as l thought of your
surprise when you saw me come quickly
in AS I neared The Towers it began to
rain rather heavily, and as l had no UNI
brella l entered at the west gate Inc
lamps were lighted in the grounds, as IL
was by that time dark. entered by the
first door. thinking it led into the back
part of the house, which I knew a little.
Closing the heavy door behind me cross
ed a kind of tagged hall, which was not
dark, as the lamp-light shone through the
window, opened another door. with curl
| GUS old fastener, slipped across the TIRES
hold, when heavy spring on the back
of the door pushed 1t to with a bang, and
was a prisoner The latch would only
open on one side, found. and all my
in in
.sMy poor darling.' said Helen fondly.
"And to think we were so near you all
/ the time =
Il did not enjoy the darkness, Jean
went on. but / knocked away at tbs
door, expecting someone would shortly