Year: 1876

Heathcote.


"By sitting up one half the night in
my room, whilst I sit mp the other, and
keeping strict look -oHt for the delin-
quent, whoever he may be-


s'Most willingly I will do so, or any
thing else, F." returned his friend. (Which
watch shall [ take p


''I'd rather that you took the last half
Of the night, if it's the same 10 you,
Frank, as it's during that time [ suspect
the shirts are removed"


So, after snatching an hour or two's
sleep before midnight, Heathcote pro-
ceeded to his friends room to take his
watch, when Jackson, without changing
the shirt he had on, went to bed and
was soon fast asleep, leaving his com
panion comfortably settled i'll an arm
chair, and reading novel by the aid of
Il night lamp which stood on a small ta-
BILE beside him, the light Of which was
screened from the sleepcr's eyes by the
thick curtains that were drawn around
his bed.


Absorbed in the interesting story he
was reading, Heathcote had taken no
note of time, and had we'll nigh forgot
ten the nature of the mission on which
he was employed, when his attention
was suddenly diverted from his book by
hearing a rustliug sound, as of persoD
turning in bed, and The next moment
he saw Jackson standing at the foot of
the bed, and in The act Of divesting him
self of his shirt !; this he then carefully
folded up, and having slipped himself
into n pair of drawers he opened the
chamber door, and with tho shirt under
his arm he descended the staircase in
the direction of the hall. Surprised and
startled by these strange proceedings,
Heathcote followed softly on the sleep
er's steps, and reached the halidoor just
as Jackson, after unfastening the bolts,
had passed out into tho open air !; dart
ing after him through the half open door
Heathcote pursued him across the lawn
into an adjoining flower garden, at one
end of which was q small building used
fer keeping garden tools. Entering this
Jackson took up a spade, and walked
straightway with it to distant quarter
of the garden here suddenly pausing
he commenced turning up the ground,
and after few minutes he drew forth
from the excavated ground large white
bundle, which, having unfastcned it, he
deposited within it the shirt he had
brought away with him from the house,
then closing the bundle again and COM
mitting it to the earth, he returned to
the tool-house, put back the spade he
had taken fro IN it, and retracing his steps
to the house, re-ontered the hall, closed
and bolted the door, mounted the stairs
to his room, and quietly got into bed,
when Heathcote thought he better leave
him whilst he took counsel of himself in
his own chamber as to how he should
act in consequence of the unpleasant re-
lation of which he had SO unexpectedly
become the eye witness.


Jackson with feeling something strong
er than that of a mere schoolboy friend
ship, but he loved his sister Julia still
more, and though he had looked forward
with the greatest pleasure to her marri-
age with the former, still after the dis
covery he had just made he felt he could
not reconcile it to his conscience silently
to permit her to ally herself to man
whom lie had found out to be sleep
walker he therefore decided to give his
sister circumstantial account of what
had occurred on tho previous night, leav
ing it to her TO determine, on leaning
the nature of the disclosure to be made
to her, whether the match should go on
or not, but before speaking to her he
thought it would be right that he should
see jackson aud give him also an ac-
count of what had happened. Having
thus sketched out his plan of operations,
Heathcote undressed himself and went
to bed, it being some hours yet before
any one would be likely to be astir, but
his mind was too much excited by the
occurrences Of the night to admit of his
thought his friend might be awake, he
hastily dressed himself and proceeded to
his room.


jackson was seated on his bed as
Heathcote entered, looking the picture
of despair. "It's gone, Frank, it's gone"
he exclaimed, with saddened air, as
the latter advanced towards him, ''they
have actually taken it off my back with
ont my knowing it but tell me-" he
continued, in accents Of sorrowful re-
proof, show could you Of all men have
had the heart to forsake ME in the hour
of my greatest need p


81 did not forsake you, Alfred, Us
Heaven can bear Witness returned
Heathcote, with an air of un~nnte3
gravity.


NOT lili aSieep III your Watcnf


'sNot for single moment"


land yoH saw nobody enter the
room 2"


''Not q soul, on my honor"


t'And you can form no idea then of
what has become of the shilt / had on
my back when L went to bed q


''Not SO, Alfred. Alas I know too
well what has become of it and of all the
others Also


''Good Heavens. can this be true 2"
avalaimad JootooD cto,t;po, e., I,s foot