St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-12-24
(IQ GAQHR MlINNNFs6TA TgRspAF DECEMBER 2 1863

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dressiog-room door. Just al she reach
cd it, q board behind her cracked sharp:
lxsand suddenly. and 'ller heart stood
'still:d Was he following her,' tempted
too soon by the costly, prize h Was the
moment come? No; all was again
still a ,9na Silent % the grave. She went
ON, on to the further end ST ,bcf LONG
!, marrow dressing room; leaving the door
still set wide.I' She put the Tjewcl.box
and cqnd!esAck ;apon the table; ); she.
stood where her every movement might
be saen from the dark corner where he
was hiding, and then ,nnastcning the
box, she laid out the various trays, and
spread the: glittssinH, lt1Enkets ali round.
her. ; One by one she lifted them, hold
ing them close to the light, moving
them TO aed ire, so that The; precious
stones. would sparkle 'ip the blaze. and
then carefully polishing them, put them
back. For nearly half an hour she
stood now trifling with, one, and then
with another, her fingers busted in rub:
bing and arranging, her car strained tor
any noupd, sher bcart le,ping as the can.
ale threw sudden shadows. on the wall
and still there was no movement in the
dim chamber. beyond. She must re-
turn there now, for she could stand no
longer; her knees would scarcely sup
port her; her stsansth~seetaed ebbing,
and that forced oemposure, was too. tef-
:nble to last., ~ For -ne- half instant she
paused to gather breath. then with
weary, sigh, she laid aside, tAos bracelet
she was, holding, and raising her can
die, she, moved towards the bedroom.
On tie threshold she stopped, ret:eated
a step or two, and seemed to hesitate.
IT, she had seen how at that instant the
hand behind the curtain was tightening
its grasp upon the knife it held, and the
crouching form was making ready for
spring-if she had seen this, even her,
courage might have failed, but she did
not sec it, and she played but: the play:
Murmuring in a low, stead tone: "No
matter for to-pight,"5 she came on into
her chamber, leaving the jewels scatter
ed about on the table, and TIE door
standing open. And now the trap was
set, and she might rest and watch.
Hastily distinguishing the lights,
she drew aside the bed curtains, and
lay down. There was a strange repose
after that long and fearful self-restraint
light, her aching limbs stretched Out,
her; weary, head resting on tie pillow
a'strange .ipposee, eyea, though lie was
so near her rhe minutes passed away
the deep tones OF the clock struck out
twelve, and still it was quiet, save for
the click Of the embers on the hearth,
and the distant baying Of the dogs in
thecourt-yard.. With closed eyes, draw
ing deep breath as though asleep, she
lay listening. 1t seemed as if she had
lain there many hours, when at last
there was: faint stir in the corner
He was coming out now. She dared
not look or; moYc, but she heard-she
heard Tic dull fall Of the curtain, the
stealthy, cautious footsteps on the floor
Was he going to the dressing room?
No-Heaven, help her-he was coming
to the bed; The steps came on, near
er, nearer; something brushed against
the clothes, then stopped close BE-
hind her. Her eyes were closed, her
btcath still came through her parted
Ii PSF butt within that statue-like form
there, was a human, soul praying in NOR
tai anguish for pardon for herself, and
comfort for her widowed husband. 4
usc-thcn' another slight movement
He was bending over her; his hand
was pressing ,thF. pillow then somel
thing cold and sharp was lightly laid.
across her throat The last rang had
come, and she had no power now to
move or cry, One moment more, and
she would be at peace, But the mo-
ment had passed, and she still lived. .--
Another moment, and that cold press.
ure was gone. His breath was NO lon-
ger on,her face, yet he was, still there ;
she felt him stirring; she knew that
he was watching her. Long lie watch
ed, then muttering, low: my hand
shakes; I'll wait awhile,,' he turned
away. i She, heard him turn, rshe
she heard his footsteps slowly
gly reccding from the bed, but the
sound brought no relief; she, Vas: :bast
that; she had felt the death -panss,
and she almost lonsed- that the knife
lad donesits work; and brought her re-
lease from that long t0tture but the
end has not come yet. He was going
to the dressiig-rcom:n Once, twice he
stopped, as though; listening, then he
Went on again !; and now he vas NOV
ing something On the dressing.table.-
There Tas, faint rattle dead pause,
then again ,that; +steelthy,i tread. She
strove:tosepen her eyasd but they seem
cd sealed, and it :nessded Z, convqlsive
effort to .tnclose, them She t1td un-
close them and saw Him, / A..E}> '%"'
The room was very dark now, ,'but by
the FAINT gl.mmer: of the fire, she could
Just discern the, door. way OF the .dSssa.:
ingfroom, and the figure standing;with,
l.. - 'rLsn r toEor kho' ;owolo