Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-19

cold air from the Srounu-noor OF the
house. and dashing quickly out upon
the landing. he came face to face with
Nell herself. as she ran up the stairs.
Now il Ii had not been for the
strange occurrence of the night Cliff
ford would have thought nothing of
in the country. and Nell had the live
stock to attend to. as sne had told him,
taking her turn with tine servants. The
fact of there being a visitor in the inn.
too. would have explained SATISFACTORY
~ the care she took not to make any
noise.
But with his mind full OF the agony
of unwilling suspicion. the young man
could not help noticing that Nell looked
guilty and frightened. that the colo-
suddenly left her cheels. and that she
stammered in her efforts TO give him
greeting.
"You-you get I'M very early. II
had not expected to see you down be-
fore eight O'clock" she managed to
say at last
And there was in her eyes. as she
looked shyly up at him. an unmistak-
able anxiety which made his manner.
as he answered. short and cold.
Il was disturbed in the night" he
said. stiffiy.
Aud he avoided her eyes as steadily
as she avoided his.
"Dis-turbedw exclaimed Nell. faint
ly.
And then she looked IN quickly in
his face with a glance so full o; in.
Quiry. OF fear. that. against his wish
and his will. ClifIord's own eyes met
hers with a suspicious frown.
What was it that disturbed yoa:"
asked the girl.
He hesitared. Surely this candid
anxiety was a proof of innocence. not
guilt! Surely thief would nave been
ready with glib speech. with 2 look
o. overdone surprise. Ee looked away
again. absolutely unable TO frame. 10
her. the story OF his adventure.
"0h. don't know. 1t was nothing.
1 suppose" he answered. ccnfusediy.
He felt the girls eyes were upon
him. but he would not meet them. He
must speak about his loss. OF course.
but it should be TO he: uncle, nos TO
her
What are You going 10 90 with
yourself till breakfast rime:" sac
asked. pleasantly. I'VE have no nice
garden where you could walk about
on a pleasant lawn and pick roses.
U"fu f4a1T.Sh
battle in the sea? l could show you
the way to the ferry. o. would ii he
too slow for you to watch US turn the
COWS out:"
Innocence, Surely this was limo.
cence. Clifford only hesitated for
moment. During that moment he told
himself that he would conquer his
feeling 10; the girl. that he would moi
run the risk OF becoming more infat.
uated than he was. But the next mo-
mcnt the girl conquered. and looking
down into The fair. sweet :ace. he was
ready 10 think that his own senses had
lied 20 him. that she hand which mad
robbed him could not he Neil's.
So ne followed her out into the fresh
morning air. helped her 20 turn the
bolts and draw the bars 10 LEI out the
COWS for their days wanderings ever
the marsh. and 20 look for the eggs
which lay warm in the nests OF the
fowl-hoUse.
Long before breakfast time The oc-
currence OF the night had become 4
haif-fcrgotten nightmare. and Clifford
was enjoying Nells unaffected. lively
chatter as much as on the previous
day Only when his hand touched
hers, as she took the basket of eggs
from him. did Clifford remember. with
4 shudde-. that it was the same touch
which he had felt in the night. the
same smooth. soft skin. the same slen-
der little fingers: so that he was
bound. before he met the landlord. to
come back TO his old theory that Nell
was somnambulist.
1t was a disagreeable business. that
OF making known his loss TO George
Claris. But il had to be done. and as
soon as ne had had his breakfast
Clifford followed the landload to the
front of the house. where he was tax.
ing down the shutters. and told him
he had something unpleasant to relate
to him.
The young man At once perceived.
by sudden change to sullen eXDec-
fancy in the landlords manner. that
he was NOT wholly unpfepared for the
sort of story TO which he was listen
ing. He heard with attention the
whole story, and only looked up when
Clifford described how he had actually
touched the hand rs it was withdrawn
from under his pillow.
You touched it. you say:" said
George Ciaris. sharply. Then why
on earth didn't you hold on and
shouti"
Ard Cefanily. incrcduiously. the
mar. with mis- red. honest face full o.?
suilen anger. turned to face MS visi,o-.
Clifford hesita;ed IL" had SAID
nothing aooat the sort OF hand il was.
and be hogan to feel thai h. would
rather lose all chance OF ever seeing
watch or money again than formu-
lace. however eupnemistically. me
fearful accusation
ut vast was Il shock. you know ="
he stammered. meekly. "Thc hand
was sn3tched away as soon as | felt
H."
Well" crumblcd Claris. with APP
parent suspicion 6:i lis aide Il; seems
10 ne strange thing that man
should feel thing like thai withoat
calling ou,. It's the first thing = man