Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-05-30
CHAPTER Y.-tContinued.l

stVon't they SILVER in their shoes again
tonight" he muttered as he hurried
along. 1And by ST. Mark! the bells
rron't be far out, for the life of another
Fernieigh is hanging in the balance,
either Ernest Walton's or Reuben
COoper's."
After passing across the field, which
he had only chosen in order to avoid the
companionship of his employer, he
glanced round the dreary landscape to
see ii anyone was in sight, and then
doubled back in the direction of piece
of waste and rugged ground, in the CEN
ter of which stood a deserted house.
known as Rewards Folly.
1t had been built years before by a
man of that name, coming from no one
knew where, but having, apparently, a
decent amount of this worlds goods. He
had lived there for two years, with only
two old servants, seeing no one, and tax
ing no heed of anything that happened
in the neighborhOod. Then as suddenly
he went. The old house was left to the
mercy of wind and rain, and was grad
ually falling to decay. The fences were
broken, the gardens were q wild wilder
ness, the orchard was a paradise for the
Youthful thieves of Whichley.
In ordinary weather the place looked
like some ruined shanty of unusual size;
but now, with the snow heaped upon it,
and the moonbeams casting their weird
light over it. it had picturesque APP
pearance, such as would gladden. the eyes
of an artist.
1t was towards this spot that Carlo
the gypsy took his way, and, seeing that
the coast was clear, he boldly passed
along the deserted front garden, went
round by the side entrance, and reaching
the rear of the premises, pushed open
rickety door and entered the house.
He was evidently quite at home here.
Taking a little lamp from a niche in
the musty old hall, he lit it, and began
the ascent of the creaking Staircase
dangerous task, for here and there, as.
well as in the floors of the rooms above,
the wood had rotted away and the slight
est carelessness would result in an ugly
fall
"Where the deuce is that cupboard ?"
he mmmured, holding up the light as he
entered a ehamber-narrow and low
pitched-where the darkness seemed to
have settled, as it We're, and become
solid.
"Ah, there it isl Now to destroy the
evidences OF everything"
Perhaps he did not see the pitfall; per
hGps he pressed forward too eagerly.
At any rate, he had not advanced
many steps before there was crashing
of rotten timber, cry of fear, a fall,
and Carlo the gypsy disappeared into the
darkness of the room below, while q sec.
ond crash told the story of a further mis-
fortune
Then all was still and in gloom, for the
lamp shivered into atoms and went out
before it had chance of setting the old
building on fire.
Not so very far off a different scene
had been enacted-a scene of Joy and
tenderness.
Though the next night had been named
as the one which was to see the formal
reunion of father and son. Reuben knew
well that his claim was to be gladly well
coined, and so when he stepped into the
grounds of the old Manor to keep his
nightly tryst with Gladys, it was with
hghtness of heart and freedom from
distrust which had long been a stranger
to him.
The meeting of the lovers under these
circumstances was a happy one indeed
one that even the awful disaster which
had befallen the house could only dim
slightly.
Darling, how long for tomorrow
night" he said, after he had kissed her
rapturously, and held her to his breast
graceful little figure in her somber
black Il shall then stand before the
world in my right position, one in which
l can claim you as my bride"
But, amid all this you are forgetting
the awful accusation which may be
brought against you. 1t will break the
SOURCES heart if it does happen"
No, sweetheart" he said, tenderly, ct
will not know his courage. l know
from John Casson his perfect faith in
me. Fear not"
And then, as he bent and their lips met
once more in a sweet caress, the bells
tangled out once again-those bells of
tate which had already preluded such dis
aster to the house.
Reuben was brave enough; but as he
held the little trembling form in his firm
clasp nc was conscious himself of fore
boiling Who could be threatened next
if it was not he?
The wild chimes did not last long.
Their moaning died away amid one long
walling gust of wind, and the little
isolated chamber where they had met
lapsed once more into silence.
We'll, sweetheart, must go now" he
said at length, after last embrace; at
is getting late"
As he spoke there was knocking at
the door, not loud, but peremptory, and
an eager voice.
"Quick-quick, let me in, you are in
danger"
1t was Cora's voice, and in moment
she was inside.
Fly at once, Reuben!" she cried.
oh, miss, don't delay him. The con-
stables are here to arrest him. Let him
not be taken here"
Come this way" said Gladys, moving
towards the inner door, and speaking
with sudden accession of courage, al
though her heart was like a leaden
weight.