Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-08
A WO vi AN OF NE Il v Z Z.
How She Get Out of q Scrape.
ICoNTINUED.7

1 must now proceed to state that Mrs Ar
nold's room was on the second floor, Just abeye
No. 40, and looking out upon Grsce-church
street itself. To it she went quietly on that
eventfui evening, at the hour of ten, just at
the time when l was sitting in my box at the
Opera thinking of her. Something made her
wakeful She sat down at her toilet bic and
talked awhile to the hsusekeeper. who had
come up with clean pillow-cases, and ask
many questions about the house and the fami-
ly. How they broached the topic, do not
know-but after q time, thcy began to think,
and to speak about that strange phenome non
called spiritual rsppings." The Cock Lane
ghost was brought upon the carpet, and vari-
Gus other stories told, till Mrs Arnold grew
nervous, and lsughingly declared that she
would hear no more. Then the honsekeeper
bsde her good night, and she locked her door
and began to prepare for bed.
The room was large, rather dark, and full of
corners and recesses. The light of the two wax
candles on the toilet-table only served to make
these corners visible in their shadowy gloom
The bed was high, and hung about with dark
crimson curtains, the furniture Of the room
was dark, too; and the cushions of the chairs
and the covers Of the tables red also Ii il a.
color which needs much light to set off 10 ad
vantage; 1t looked dismal enough to her lust
then. At one end of the room door led into
kind of large closet, which was unfurnished,
and looked out into the courtyard; but this
door opened out into Mrs. Arnold's room, and
locked on that side Sometimes linen was ke pt
there; and the housekeeper had evidently bee n
there that evening, for the key was in the lock,
and the door little sjar. Mrs Arnold vould
have preferred il, but she was too timid to
GROSS her room just then
She undressed slowly, singing in a low
voice, the song 1 had heard her sing that
evening AS she bent down to unlacc her
boot, she happened to cast her eyes towards
the closet (she had a vision like an eapIe) and
To her surprise and terror, she saw il move
dlsunctly-only the lower part Of the dosr for
she mad presence OF mind enough not to start
ana the bed concealed the upper part as she
was STOPPING. The legend of that woman who
saw the great boot of man under her bed vet
nsd the courage to stay in the room all the
evening, going on with her ordinary household
duties within reach Of the assassin's knife. till
her husband came, and she was safe, flashed
across her mind, and taught her how to act.
She yawned luxuriOusly, Interrupted her sing
Ing one moment, and then went on with a
steady voice. After she had prepared for bed
she folded her dressing gown around her,
brushed her hair before the glass. In that mir
Tor she could see The door move now and then
rs II her visitor was getting impatient; and
once 1t creakod. She started, naturally and
threw her slippers against the wall. az If to
frlghtep away the mice, and resumed her occu-
patton. When that was over she went to her
JeWel-case, which stood upon the toilet-table
and turned its bright contents out in a beap
before her. She held a spray of diamonds
against her hair, as if to try its effect; she
clssped and unclssped her bracelets, and toyed
with her rings Meanwhile, the door creaked
again, and letting an unset diamond fall TO the
ground, and stopping to pick ii up, she saw,
with rapid glance, that a burly, ill-lcoking
man was peering at her from behind the cur
tains of the bed. He started back, thinking
himself discovered; and in that moment of hor-
riole anxiety-that moment which, for aught
she knew, might be her last-what did she do
she could hear his breathing distinctly, sharp
ened as all her senses were, and almost felt the
cold steel In her heart; and so she made herself
mocking curtesy In the glass, and held the
diamond spray above her forehead.
duchess Of NemOursn' she said softly
And why not? 1 should look we'll with
oOronet wish my husband was dead ?"
one leaned her hand upon her hand, and
seemed to think. subdued rustling told her
that the robber was retreating. The door
swung softly together-she saw it in the glass
and her resolution was taken.
Two diamond rings and a diamond sprav. -
she said, counting the gems aloud, as she put
tnem back IN their case. "A ruby and an
amethyst bracelet, a ruby ring, and a garnet
-. But where Is the garnet necklace by
the way II W stupid of me to mislay it And
my husbands gift, too! l wonder if have put
1t in my trunk
The trunk stood very near the door sf the
closet She went and unlocked it, and tumbled
its contents out upon the floor, bending over il
with her light, while that man was within two
ieet oil her L wonder how she had the nerve TO
DO IL. Indeed, she said afterwards that she
knew be was bending down too and looE;no
over her shoulder at the trinkets a, she tu,nc3
them ovsr with steady hand and that her
greatest dithculty was 10 keep from breakino
outinto bystericai laughter and SO betravipS
that she knew Of his presence.
Ihs bracelet was not there. She pushed the
things aside impatiently, shut down the trunk
aud placed the candle on the lid. Tbcn she
stood up, with her finger on her lip, and her
head bent down.
:. Where can the necklace be %
Sne turned rs If to 60 by the closet, towards
chest oil drawers, that stood In the corner Of
the room made one step past it whirled spd-
denly; and, pushing both hands upon the door
with all her might, locked and double-locked
II IN second. She heard a terrific oath inside
ss the robber threw himself against H. too late !;
and, snatching up her candle sped out for help.
She found me as have described, while was
coming up the staircase, and she stood at the
head Of it.
In three moments after she had spoken 10
me, 1 came back with the landlord, the waiter
Charles, the hesd-hostler, and 4" boots" They
were all strong men; and the landlord had his
pistols Boots, L remember, carried the poker,
and 1 snatched up great carving kn nife from
" nut t0at woman DO, when
sne saw our procession, but burst out aughing
fou come as If you were going to join the
army at Flanders" she said, after she had
related her dangerous adventures. az have
locked the man upssfsly, and you will frighten
him to death with your savage looks"
L oolored up to the roots of my hair and
gave my carving knife TO Charles, and sneak cd
behind the rest. I believe. at that moment, 1
hated her
IL vas great sight to see her marching be-
lore US, with her light in her hand An Eng
nsh woman would have tainted at being seen
In dlshaoille by Ave men; but she, with the
frank, Tree bravery Of an American lassie, let
the circumstances explain the dress, aud mar
snaled Us quietly into the room. There was
her book upon the toilet table, and there were
tae jewels glittering in their case-the contents
oil ner trunk as she had left them, on the floor,
and the closet locked aud silent.
She put the key in the landlords hand
help the gentleman OUT" she said, lazily.
think she was the brsyest woman / have
md