Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-12

to have such niece" said Clifford.
nsore charmed every moment by the
girls amusing mixture of shrewdneSs
and simplicity.
ITS very nice for your uncle. he
added. after a little pause. but is II
--" he hcsita,cd. afraid of seeming
i:nnertineni. lis il quite as pleasant
FOR you. to I've out here. ] mean. SO far
f-om-from
"CiviliZation:" asked Nell. smiling.
There are some disadvantages. GER
tainly OF course | know what you
really mean. and what you don't like
To say But when the choice les be-
tween living with my old uncle and
helping him. and going away 10 please
myself. is there any doubt what l
ought to do? Miss Theodore. who is
the best woman in the world. says 1
ought to sray-I am right 10 stay
Clifford reluctantly agreed with her.
and allowed her to prattle on about
her uncle and his goodness. and Miss
Theodora and her goodness. until the
light of the sunset began to fade in the
sky
When he reluctantly rose to take
leave. he found that some heavy drops
of rain had begun 10 fall and he al
lowed himself 10 he persuaded by the
landlord and his niece 10 wait until the
rain had cleared off. AS. however. in
stead of clearing, the weather gradu-
ally became worse. until the day ended
in Il steady downpour which threat
cned TO last all night. Clifford asked
whether they could put him up for
the night: and being answered in the
affirmative. decided TO spend the night
1t the inn.
The room they gave him was small.
hut beautifully clean. and was at the
front OF the house. with an outlook
over the marshes TO the sea. Clifford,
when he retired to Il late that night.
raised the blind and tried to peer
through the mist OF rain which blurred
the view. He began to feel that he
wanted TO spend his life in this spot,
digging Nell's cabbages for her. trim
ming the hedges Of her garden. water
ing her roses. doing anything. in fact.
so that he might be near her.
He was in love. more seriously. too.
than Willie had ever been. or than he
himself had even been before. He
asked himself what sort or n spell it
was that this young girl had been able
so quickly TO cast upon him. and he
told himself that it was the sweetness
of her nature. the purity which shone
from her young soul through her blue
eyes. which had enabled her to be-
witch him as no mere beauty OF face
and person could ever have done. He
looked at his hand. and saw again in
imagination the little soft. white hand,
smoother and fai-er than any girls
hand he had ever touched. which had
lain for moment In his as she babe
him good night. He felt again the
satiny touch which had thrilled him
when the little fingers met his. He
sat caressinS his own hand which had
been SO honored. intoxicated with his
own thoughts.
1t was late before the dying candle
warned him TO make haste to ned. AS
he turned TO the door to lock it, as
was his custom in a strange place, ne
found that il had neither lock nor bolt.
And the words of the young fisher
man. his warning about the character
of the house. flashed with an unpleas-
ant chill through his mind
The next moment he was ashamed
of having remembered them OF
course. there was possibility. then
whispered his common sense. that
ven the house which sheltered a god
dcss might also contain Il man or n
mlld-seryant who was common
thief. SO. as he had a very handsome
watch with him. ana nearly twenty
five pounds in his purse. he tucked
these possessions well under the pill
low. and went to sleep. thinking of
Nell
lie was awakened out of a sound
sluiuber by the feeling that there was
some one in his room
He felt sure Of this. although for n
few minutes. as he lay with his eyes
closed. he heard nothing but the tick
Ing Of the watch under his pillow. AZ.
ter that he became conscious that in
lie darkness there was 4 shadowy
something passing and rcpassiag be-
tween his bed and the hcavily-cur.
tanned window. His first impulse was
10 shout aloud and alarm the would be
thief. as he could rot init suppose the
intruder TO be. The next moment,
however. he decided that he would
wait until the theft had been actually
committed. and take the perpetrator
red handed
He waited, holding his breath.
To be Continued