The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-10-12

should think her 20. Il wished very
much that I, could have just one look
at her face. and then-oh! Wretched
moment! my: wandering gaze fell upon
the open 4scuttle-way of the next
house, and in an instant the words
"top story front room-pretty picture
on writing table" flashed through my
mind.
I arose quickly and made my way
across the next roof to the opening.
The hall into which looked was dim
~ lighted, and could see that the
door Of the front room was ajar. There
was not a sound to be heard, and it
seemed to me that it would be such
an easy matter to run down the steps,
have look at my possible sister-in-
law, and return by the same way with
out any one being the wiser. In an
other moment I had started on my
wild venture.
I could hear voices from below, as
I slowly descended step by step, but
the upper part of the house was evil
IDENTIFY deserted. I pushed open the
door Of the front room, and as had
expected, found it empty. There was
sufficient light from the gas jet in
the hall to enable me to find the writ
ing table, upon which, as Fred had
said, stood a framed photograph.
I took it up and carried it out into
the hall that might see it more dis
tinctly. Yes, my brother was right.
Helen Preston was a pretty girl. The
wavy hair was arranged high on the
shapely head and curled in little nat
uarl rings around the face. The fea-
lures were small and delicate, and
there was certain expression in the
eyes which made the picture seem
strangely life like.
I suppose I must have stood for
some time contemplating this pleas
ing likeness of the girl who had be
witched my matter-of-fact brother, and
I had certainly lost sight OF the fact
that I was in a house where l had
no right to be. I was recalled to my.
self by the sound of footsteps on tbs
stairs
Hastily returning the picture to it's
place, I rushed out into the har
where I turned out the gas, hoping
that in the darkness I might escape
observation. Then terror-stricken, I
tried to find the steps which led to
the roof, but in my hurry I stumbled
and fell.
"Who is that?" asked a mans voice
quite close to me, to which question
I made no reply.
Then I heard the newcomer strike
match, and in another moment the
gas blazed up and / recognized my
brothers tall friend.
Are you living in this house?" he
asked in surprise.
Il shook my head in the negative.
Perhaps you are visiting some one
here,' he ventured again.
NO. I returned, not knowing what
to say or do next
did not wish to reveal my identity
which I should certainly have had to
do had I attempted to leave the house
by the same way that had entered
it. I was much relieved when Mr..
preston Said quietly:
LET me show you the way out;
and then in shame and humiliation I
turned and followed him down the
stairs
AS he reached. the front door he
stopped, with his hand on the knob,
and asked:
,''Have you taken anything that does
not belong to YOU"
Nothing" I replied, with convinc-
ing earnestness.
He opened the door, and slipping
something into my hand, said kindly:
Don't do it again, my girl
II never WILL I returned, heartily,
as I fled down the steps, not know
ing whether to laugh or cry at hav-
ing been taken for sneak thief.
concluded to do the former when
looked in my hand and saw that it
was a five-dollar gold piece that Mr..
Preston had given me.
Fearing that he might still, be