Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-11-14
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aud the good nights had all been said.
and the Montelths' big stone house. ra-
diant only few hours ago with light
and laughter. was now grImly dark
and silent.
But excitement had set the maid Of
honor's pulse TO throbbing. and she
could not sleep. over and over again
she went through her part of the state
~ ceremony TO the SLOW. majestic mu-
sic of the wedding march
Over and over again she remembered
that endless. measured walk down the
Of roses everywhere and the trembling
consciousness Of the best mans gaze
fixed unwaverlngly upon her
And she recalled all the pretty things
he had said to her afterward that she
was like dream girl come true, that
she was more beautiful than the blush
Ing bride herself. What shameless
hefcsy. when the bride was his very
own sister.
Wedding. nights. sighed Elsie. were
much like IIallowecns one dipped into
the future and saw sweet visions. but
only visions. after all. Yet still she
sat IN her shimmery green maid Of
honor frock. the moonlight shedding n
wondrOus frost upon it, From some
distant point clock struck twice. She
rose with determination. then suddenly
Became tense and rigid. Her heart was
IN her mouth
In the room just diagonaliy across
the hall. which was The upstairs sitting
room. she had distinctly heard win
dow opened. II flashed across her In
siantly that burglars had come after
the wedding presents. Her own door.
the night Icing sitting warm. stood
part way open. but she was too para
lyzed with fear to run and lock IT,
She listened with strained ears for
any further sound II soon followed.
The burglar stumbled against some
thing. For few minutes after that
MI was horribly still Then. with cat
like step. Elsie heard him coming into
the hall
NIt NtiFilii tTHN itlfti W. JUL
could not Her voice stuck in her
throat"
BY the aid OF the moonlight, Elsie
could make out dark form creeping
past her own room toward the stairs
Thank goodness he was not going to
bind and ga. her or hold her up nj the
point Of pistol
But the wedding presents. Should
she let him steal them without trying
u give nm alarm Yes. size would
The bride and groom could not hc so
very much attached Ia theln. They
had not had them long enough. aud II
WAS an awfully long way down the
hall 10 Mr.. MonteitlI's room.
There was no one near her except
two of the bridesmaids. and n precious
This reflection had the effect of stlmu-
lating her own latent courage. No: he
should not carry OF those wedding
presents she. Elsie Laurie. would see
that lie did not
She was relieved to find that she
could really move She tiptoed TO the
door and listened Not sound. So
she ventureG stealthily out into the hall
and even peeked over the balustrade
still no sound and as dark rs Il pocket
Could she have been dreaming? Be
fore she reused the house she would
make quite sure. Creeping down to
the landing of the stairs. she crouched
behind the balustrade and waited. her
heart humping rapidly.
suddenly the dining room portieres
parted, and man holding a lighted
cigarette stepped out from behind them.
Elsie gave frightened cry Of Rob
ert- and tainted
When she recovered she was choking
over something very strong and burn
ing that some one was pouring down
her throat. She opened her eyes and
recognized Robert Montieth bending
over her.
Did you catch the burglar" she
asked him weakly
Elsie. IN. poor child" he said. lift
ing her gently till her head rested
against MS SuOulicI, lntEc WISH l
any burglar. II was just me. I'm 80
sorry"
She looked dazed. as II she could not
understand
You must have been awfully scared.
dear" he went on tendcrly I'm tell
you how II happened. chased the
bride and groom, you know. TO find out
where they were going. and when !
finally got back here remembered |
hadn't any key. So | climbed up over
the porch and got In through the sit
ting room window. thought you
were all asleep. and knew II | did
that wouldn't disturb anybody" he
ended. with 4 somewhat sheepish smile.
Elsie smiled little too. she was he
ginning to see the humor of the situa-
ton. BY degrees she told him her side
of the story.
You're the brayest girl in all the
world. dearest, and r.
Did you stub your toe against some
thing just after you got in;" she inter