The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-11-28

Inere was the sound OF fierce blow
struck upon some resounding substance
and suddenly a sense of peace and
safety. 1t seemed as if she were lying !
in a field at home where she used TO
play. There was no more danger or
trouble. She would have been happy
lying there but for the strange pain in
her throat, happy and content TO lie
there looking up at the stars. The
stals2 Why, to be sure There they
were, blinking down at her, and she
was not in that field, but on the roof
of q house. Some one was crouching
beside her and holding her head on
his arm.
"You're alright, now" he said.
tell you it was a hard fight. But don't
you worry. Here's your watch. | pick
ed 1t up off the floor"
He propped her against some small
structure on the roof and put the watch
IN her lap. She could see his face clear
ly. II was a lark, handsome, manly
c~Ountenance. The voice was no long
er rough; it vas of a deep register, but
soft and sympathetic in tone.
"You risked your life to save me %
she cried.
"Well, L couldn't leave you there in
a dead faint, you know" he respond
ed almost apologetically. "Thcre are
some things that a fellow simply can't
do"
81 don't see how you can do any
thing that isn't right" she said. "You
don't look capable of it,"
HNnl arn uary katharine ~ ha rn-
piled. "And now you won't be fright
ened if l leave you here alone2 We're
quite a long way from the fire. tvc
carried you over three or four roofs.
Ah, here come some people,"
A scuttle in the roof was lifted and q
mans head appeared. We climbed out,
another followed. There was quite &
party, both men and women, who had
come 10 watch the destruction of theil
neighbours property. The rescued
maiden appealed to their sympathieE
and they all volunteered to accompany
her to the street to look for her friends
One of the men assured Der that al
, had escaped from the house and tina
no one had been injured.
"I'm going to slip away" said he
rescuer in her ear, elf you need me nj
longer"
. She stepped aside with him ant
; gave him her hand. 1t was Il hare
:, situation and she could not find tn
words TO match it.
I'VE cannot talk now" she said, I"
. cannot thank you as ] would wish to
: Promise me that you will give me an
other northumberland IN
your name
D "Promlse me that you wont men
l ton it," he said earnestly. "There ar
reasons"-
G eyes, 1 fully understand. l prom
s ise."
u .'My name is rather grewsome," sal
}. he" "It's Graves-Davld Graves
i, Don't tell on me, please. L couldn'
:, stand 1t to get into the papers,"
- "You need have no fear that l WI
c betray you,' she replied. 81 feel i
regard to you more than l can sa,
/ Promise me that you will let me sc
you again. My name is Edith Mason
and-and 1 don't live anywhere now
of course, but you car always addres
me at BurtOn's conservatory Of music
y Indeed you can see me there. Prom
Use me you will"
l. 81 promise gladly" said he.
"And meanwhile" she continued
"don't let anything drive you to-
g that again."
"To what 2"
"Burglary," she whispered, quakins
cit must be nm terrible need tha
Il forces a man like you to such a life
| can help you. My family and m
G friends will do anything for you if 20
will let me tell the truth. l have N
money, IA told you, but-but won
o you take my watch? 1t was so goo
n of you to restore it to me. Take it an
u sell it ard pay your way until you an
l can talk and come to some decisio
about what you can do. Please, pleas
take 1t |"
She thrust her treasure into hi
l hand. He sank back on the low part,
! wall dividing that roof from tn
next.
0 "Im afraid don't quite understand
I he said feebly. Are you sure YOUR
: quite right in-in your mind 9? Dread
full shock, you know. Wouldn't yo,
? better go down into this house and &c
/. some rest 2"
, Ono, no; 1 am alright % she cried
, Don't hesitate to take the watch.
really mean to give 1T to you"
"But L couldn't take such q reward
he gasped. "And as for money and do
ing things for me- Why, Pm no
poor. Pm quite well off,"
"Then why-why did you do it p
she WhisDered franticalIv
"Do what ?" he demanded.
"Why, what you did tonight p, she
gasped. "That awful trade That
weapon |"
"My poor child" he said tenderly
"this has been a great deal too much
for you, hasn't it? l can readily un
derstand how you're upset. But this
burglar business really is queer, you
know"
"You don't mean to deny" she
whispered, "that you broke into that
house and set it afire by lighting
matches IN the basement and held a
pistol IN my face''-
"Did-did somebody do that 2" he
exclaimed.
"Don'tI Don't speak so loud |
DENIAL Is useless and'-
"Miss Mason" he said very gently.
81 am or was-your neighbor. i
mad the room back of yours in that
house. 1 had just come in when the
lire broke out. l al into the hall.
| Your door waa oman eow ool ~