SATURDAY NIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 15, 15 December 1883, Page 2

SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE FIRESIDE, : ■ — -'■- m — l_ SAVED. EMMA C. YOGELGESANG. She was sitting m her cosy little library, this pretty jounjj.jieiresj',,. I^VL. "RayiierJ" withner guardian, old lawyer Hartley. The young lady gave an impatient tap wij^herjittle fopjtj, the lawyer rubbed his spectacles vigorously, placed them carefully upon his nose, and then, unable to restrain himself -any longeiy exclaimed, " When a girl makes up"tier mind" to be a fool, one may as well let her go. I told yojur father just ho*v it would be, but no, Ihe would have it that you should be given entire control of your money and lands. I knew some scamp would come along Jand fool yOu with his find' promises and -handsome face ! A woman is always that way. A man may be a rascal, unprincipled, anything, if he oiily has a ..handsome face, a tender pair of oyes, aSid insinuating manners." --— Lois sprang to her leot. "I don't : know ho Wj you talk, sc^" alio said. "If yoii know anything ; dreadful against -ttalph Ricker why don't you say it and prove it ? Tou know - 1 will never marry a villian if I know him to be that; neither will I break my promUe because of slanderous rumouvs. Tell me what dreadful thing he has dove !" '' Yes, hero was the rub. He had done so many little things which explained his character 1 fully/ an J yet to ihe- woman tiOtfKo^so-^B^ly^ar |hem a wiy that th/e old man realized he had nothing ujiohyvsrhich to stand. Mijs Lois looked very pret|y as she sloojd 'before hep guardian With heightened .--colour and flashing eyes, nervously pulling at(sie &oft! foldsf'of /liSr ciitrifcon housjß: dvef-s. «.* What has he done that is so dreadful V* she repeated. "There are some things, Lois, which we know f but cannot explain," saidlawor Hartley, m '''■ Softened 'tattles. V<l Tou think me harsh;'but wAat'l havje said was prompted by love of you. You think riie prejudiced,and£^iidw- my wqrds have been wasted, so 1 I -may as yell y 'say ! ff6bd-night." ; ;r •. '"_, Sh*jhear ! d the heavy door bang- after nim, and then she drew •Mer,liitteochatr - before the open fire — it waa'i. chflly .October night—and sat down" to tshihk. A fierce- storm raged outside, ; %he wind shook th'el trees, rattled tho - Endows,; and rocked the house, :bflt heeded, it hoi The tall trees' 1 by ! the ; library, window ere iked m the winld,.tH^'fightning flashed, the rain fell nr torrents/ still she sat before the" fire' fancying pieces jja the bright -flames." jiarlc I', I What peculiar sound was that? She listened and heard if iffoi-e distinctly -T-i^'wasa burglar picking the L safe. The. '{rounds ceased. she-; ;^hqugiit)^has recurs This btioty." y '"7 ,The strong room in^*which' the? -safe, ijfas'kep^-was across the half 'lr^h^Hftie,; lisrary. ; The servants' ramis we\*ie-ibJ another part of the house, too far away to rouse j before the burglar ebuld es-j cape. Naturally courageous she flungy . op en .the dooi\and stepped into the hall,-: "and as.'.sne;" ilia sd J "there 'w*a§ a gtis't* of. wind, a sudden, rush, and all was stilLy M Shd"jSpi'a*ng 1 baiid»-+he-^ibpary,--and^ dashed operrthft »vjip*lpw. > and peered outo into the storm ana 'darkness. — There was a vivid flash of lightning, and she; spied the burglar., Hehad turned as if.to give one last^'iook at the honse. Their eyes mefcpan&jLois saw her lover,, Ealph Ricker^Sh'e mosed the window.in a dazed ma^fir.^^he had asked for-, proof of hia|w^ce|n^ and surely ihie had it. Thiia s|e thoo/ghl, as she sobbojd oat the nignft.inVangiush. The next day he sent her a not^, telling her he waslforc&l to have money for debts, and/he had thottght she would never know^ In answer, 'she sent him •back-L-M jcing >i and years^afterwavds she heard of his death ma ' did&nt '■■ ibvra. .(gossips i wondered; why .the, .encasement " was broken, bub, she would explain nothitlgV Una 1 ■ > irnßlly T 'Tn'amea lawyer Hartley's son. "Wai sho happy ? To be sure she wis.' , It'is only m nomsAhat ! healthy,.! sensible- wSmch fiin^' for^ckle scamps^. Of course '"foi? * a while, but pride aided ire? ' m crushing h^uch of it^ . , { :.';• * 'Ax Tho old lawyer never knew tne truth j neither did his son until their 'first 00$ began to toddle al>6ufc, when m a burst of Happiness Lois confes'sedyal.l, .and blessed the one thoiLsan<t. dollars, whieb £he ; losj tfaab^hjhv.uas.the r best invest* < ment she. ghaid, , oyer , < in^e^^olce , O of Masonry. "~ ' !