The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-15
he Captive Maiden

By HELEN FORREST GRAVES,

II wager nobody troubles themselves
much to walk with herr"
But she isn't to blame for being so
old and SO yellow. and so disagree.
able. Frank. She can't help it," plead
ed Meta. with an innocent federation.
which made Georgiana Triptons fin
gers CULVER to box her pretty little pink
ears.
she einnot help being so ill-tem-
pered and venomous. suppose? But
come. Meta dear, don't let us waste our
precious time talking about such an
old vinegar cruet as she is. Sit down
here in the shade OF those fragrant
honeysuckles. and let us enjoy the
sweet air and the birdsongs."
on" cried Meta. with a slight start
what changing noise was that?
"Only the gate of yonder gray old
vault swinging in the wind" Meta
ooked earnestly toward it.
"Oh, Frank. l am sure 1 saw some
thing move back there in the shad-
ows."
Nonsense, Meta! what could posi-
bly, be there but the dead bones Of
some ancient Dutch burgomaster:"
And Meta could not but join in the
merry laugh at her own childish folly
and forget it.
They sat there some ten minutes
watching the sun go down into the
river below, in red panoply of bright
ness and to Miss Georgiana's intense
disappointment, saying not word of
lovesick sentiment. such as she had
longed and expected TO hear; then they
rose up and strolled away down one
OF the broad graveled paths that led
to the eastern gates of the cemetery.
"Poh!' thought Miss Tripton, discon-
tentedly. THAT wasn't worth listen
ing to-"
But as she essaycd to unlatch and
open the iron vault gate, she discoy-
cred, to her dismay, that it was fast.
Some unsee or unsuspected catch in the
iron mechanism of the gate had Gagged
her safely in the recesses of the dis
NAL old vault.
In vain she sho>k the fasteninrs-
the stone and iron were too firmly
welded together to admit of any tam
| pcring with their "ivets.
Dear. dear" thought Miss Georri
ana. beginning to tremble all over with
a sense of the very disagreeable posi-
ton i'll which she had placed herself.
What Shall l do? They can't have
gone far. I'll scream
Sln lifted I'm hor voio, T.,
nine scream-"Help. le-e-lpw But
only the rusting of the leaves and the
piping of the summer insects replied.
She screamed again. this time at the
very top of her voice; still no answer,
And then Miss Georgana, forgetting
all her strong -mindedness and self.
praise, sank down all in q heap in the
corner of the vault and began to cry
piteously
Its growing darker every minute
she whispered. "and l shall have TO
stay here all night. with the ghosts
and the spiders, and the horrid. horrid
dead mems bones. All night. and to.
morrow is Sunday, and the cemetery
gates will be locked. and who knows
but shall die with fright and hunger
before l can get out Of this hideous
| place. Oh dear dear. I'll never. never
listen again. Iii let Meta marry whom
SHE likes, and never Interfere. if only
l get alive out of this dismal vault
Why did | come here? Why couldn't
l have minded my own business? Old
Aunt Polly Parkes always said
should come to grief prying into othe'
peoples affairs, and her words have be
come gospcl-trle at last,'
And once more, in Il paroxysm O:
despair, Miss Georgiana raised ep:
voice and walled aloud for help.
Meta Graham, who was pausing at q
little waysidc fountain, where a crys
tal-clcar stream of water bubbled into
4 marble basin. whose edge was nearI,
hidden in blossiming water-hags ant
aquatic plants, stopped to listen witt
the tin cup at her lips.
Frank" she said. =ravcly. 81 Ger
tainiy do hear som"ihng.'
so do T. said Mr.. Elles!e. II heal
the water dripping into the fountain
and the sound of the wind rlshtn.
through the tr"oiopg. and two black
birds singing in the hodges
"But hear Il hunan voice crying ou
for help
"Nonscnse"'
Meta rurscd up her lips and nodded
her head.
Listen for yourself. Frank" sh
urged. 'llark. there it is again."
"Wcll, it does sound like a voice,
admitted MIR. Ellcsic. "Slail we e
back? Perhaps SOiEr one has lost hi
: way in the winding PATHS, Or" ant; bi