Year: 1877

of impressirg ber fsvorably, related
all the battles with the Indians. and
i his own share in them, and all tbs
ether scrapes into which he ever got
and which, instead OF causing her tC
admire his qualities as q fighter
frightened her with his wickedness
and as, withal, his bright eyes were
surely burning their way into bel
warm heart, she felt greater need o
guarding that particular portion o.
her anatomy, and she grew more dis
tant and reserved every day as her
only safety.


1t astonished good Mrs Sauborn
to see the curious state Of affairs be.
tween these two but she wisely
concluded TO let matters take Their
own course, certain that in the end
they wouldtake the turn she hoped for,
as she thought no girl could help low
ing Nelson Mowry, and no man help
being charmed with Annie Austin.


Meanwhile bnrglaries seemed TO
become more frequent, and Chief
Burke was doing the best he could
to fad out the culprits, but SO far, it
was impossible to discover even a
trace.


Annie and Mrs. Sanborn felt per-
fectly safe now with the protector
they had, and did not send the plate,
jewels or money to the bank, as they
had intended


One day the business agent of Mrs.
Sanborn came to her and placed in
her hands money and notes to the
value of fifty thousand dollars, which
she, with smile of conscious safety,
/ put in small Japanese cabinet and
placed it in an unoccu pied bedroom.


When Nelson came in be was in
formed of the reception of the money,
and be, with boyish laugh and -four
ish OF his heels, asked to see it, as he
said he had never seen so much
money at once, and the sight would
do him "a heap of good" and to be
let hold it in his hands would
lifI him to the seventh heaven
His aunt then led the way and call
ed Annie to follow, which she did
with reluctance, for she felt herself
in danger whenever under the fire of
the dark ewes Nels playfully shook
handfuls of gold and chattered away
a while, regardless of sense, and then
closing the cabinet and handing the
key TO his aunt, said


"Aunty, | think you had best place
,hst money in the bankat once I;
it is too great a temptation for mortal,
and if you leave it here there is no
certainty but that it may be stolen" +"


81 am not afraid, Nelson, not at all;
and | think with you in the house,
no one would dare enter, and will
tako the risk. | am not cowardly at
all"


| do not think you are, aunty but
there is no necessity for your keeping
so much money il the house, and |
wish you would put it there"


"Yes, and the bank may break. l
never have deposited money in the
bank have always kept it in the
house, and ! am not afraid to keep it
here now nor would l have given
it second thought but for Anne"


That closed the appeal, and they
all left the room and went back down
stairs, where they found visitors
awaiting them, and among them
Jane Berger, with her hair got up in
way very surprising.


She engineered so skillfully that
soon she had Nels away off in the
embrasure Of a bow-window, and
talking to her in q very confidential
way. All the arts and graces of
which she was possessed she played
off for his special benefit, and finally
was led to the piano, OF which she
was perfect mistress


All this was gall and wormwood
to Annie, who, though apparently
engaged in conversation with
young gentleman and his two sisters,
saw every motion and look that pass
ed between them.


Jane had an air with her always
(when wishing to be irresistibly cap
tivating) of tender interest in the
conversation of her company, and it
brought many captives to her feet.


Annie did not know this and nat
uraliy inferred that some tender con-
fidence was passing and that proudly
guarded little heart of hers ached
very hard.


Jane Berger was splendid singer,
end her rich, sweet voice filed the
room as she sang tender old love-
song, that vibrated with an apparent
depth Of real feeling, as she raised
her eyes to the dark ones bent just
then on Annie's luckless young friend
with look that was very malig-
nant Jane felt aggrieved, but grand
ly kept on, and sang another little
ballad, which Nels, with a triumph
ant glance at Annie, requested her
to repeat. She did, and he still look
ed at Annie as these words were
sung


Vert thou, my love, the wild nigh-wind


That blows o. er stormy sea,


And the rich, sweet breath of Spring,


I'd follow where it listed thee.





No storm 50 fierce, nor wind so cold,


Could tear me from thy tender breast,


For would mingle with with thylife


Until we sank to silent rest.


Nels then went to Annie and asked
her to sing, but she refused, and, as
Jane was still at the piano, be went
back to her and there remained dur.
ing the entire time she stayed, and
accompanied her home when she
went.


Annie, after her friends had de-
parted. went up to her room in no
enviable frame of mind, and her lit
tie heels clicked viciously as she
walked through the hall, and when
at last the solitude of her room was
reached, she gave way to ber anger,
and stamped her feet and bit her lips
to considerable extent Then she
opened her bureau with o flourish !
and took out the picture before men,
toned spitefully. as if she intended
the Immediate destruction of IL Rnt |