The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-27
SAVED FROM DEATH.
A STORY OF CUBA.
By ARTHUR L. MEsERvE.


The don was blessed with bat one child,
and heir to sll his huge estates aud this
Was daughter, as beautiful as poets
dream, or ever lover conceived mis- mis.
trsss to be.
Fair indeed was the beauniful Inez. As
her father was rich, so was she beautiful
Lovers she had by the score, who one and
ell worshipped her, as they would some tair
saint But 10 one did she give encourage
msnt, and he, like moot of the others, was
bsnished from the house.
Don Manuel had no notion that any com
mon lover should carry OFT his daughter, |
much less Yankee who had only his good
looks 10 recommend him.
He had rendered his daughter some little
service upon one occasion at q crowded fair,
and for this she had been very grateful, and
in return had asked him to the house.
To this the don had made no objection,
but his sharp eyes had soou discovered thai
the Yankee was daring to make love to her,
so one day he impaired to him the informa-
tion that his presence there was no longer
desirable.
Walter Garland took this rather plainly
implied hint and departed, but he did not
by any means give up the plans he had in
lnez, lie did not despair
There we're ways enough for him 20 see
her, if it was not in the old don's drawing
rooms, he resumed, and ne determined to
improve them.
Two or three times they had met thus,
while the old don Was put asleep, and uu-
conscious OF what was going on under his
very nose.
He thought that Inez, like duIifGl child,
had obeVed him by cutting off her Yankee
lover, who he deemed, was only after his
gold, aad had sought his child as q matter
of speculation.
One evening iust as the sun was going
down, aud the western sky was all ahame
with purple and gold, lnez sat By the win
dow Of her apartment, which opened out
into the grounds which surrounded the
house.
A oasket Of jewels lay open uponthe table
by her side, sparkling in the golden light
that flashed in through the window.
She vas expecting the arrival of her lover
as soon as the darkness was we'll down,
and was Rrrsying herself so that she might
please him, whom she loved with oil her
soul.
The rising of the moon was to be the signal
Of his coming, but that would not follow the
sunset for more than sn hour, so she had
plenty of time TO make herself as beautiful
as possible in his eyes.
Taking glitterinE necklace rom the
Gaskst she threw 1t over her beautiful head
while each gem of which it was composed
flashed like fl anne in the golden light
Thus engaged in besuIiiying her person
for the eyes of him she loved, she was DO,
aware that every motion of hers was watched
by the sinister gaze of person so close to
her that she could almost have touched him
had she put out her hand.
Crouching beneath the window By which
she sat was 9 man whose every look showed
him to be a william of the dee pest dve. and
one who would not hesitate TO strike q
blow in the breast of innonceuoe, if there
by ne could accomplish his wicked ends.
He had gained his present position unseen
by Inez, who, absorbed in the contemplation
of her swels and her toilet, had cast no look
outside
From about the other buildings On the op-
posite side Of the court he had crept, keeping
behind that which would afford him shelter
until he had gained the position in which we
see him.
With every movement of Inex, and with
every fash of the Jewels, the eager, wistfu
look deepened upon the face of the william,
and blended with that which bespoke the
depravity of his soul, while his hand played
nervous'y with q long, murderous looking
knife which he carried but half concealed in
his garments.
Evidently he would have slain her without
the least hesitation, to have possessed hims ell
of the wealth she wss all unconsciously dist
playing TO his eager eye.
That to rob the house or her was his in>
tentiou, there could be no doubt. With his
body half hidden by the shrubbery which
grew beneath the window, he remain ed
mOtionless, but with his eyes fixed upon the
jewels
And so the sun went down, and the golden
light died out, and the shadows of night be
gan to usurp Its place.
Still Inez sat by the window as she had
done for the hour past. But her eyes were
no longer fixed upon her jewels, but out
through the windowto catch the FIRST glimpse
of her lover, who would come with the FIRST
rays of the white moonbeans falling upon
the grounds without.
The villain beneath the window did mo-
try to look into the window now. he dared
not do it for fear he should be detected
Once the girl had started as he had done so
and he was afraid he had been seen, but 81
she remained quiet he thought he was
mistaken.
Darkness now gathered fast about tht
house. The light Of day had faded out, but
away in the east the white light was gather
ing fast, telling that the moon would soor
be above the horizon.
The two watchers noted this, but with
what different thoughts and emotions, lnez
with Joy, for it would bring her lover &c
her side and the villain saw in it q 6 gina
for him to be up and work while she gloon
lated. Would be possess himself of the
Jewels, be must do II before the surround
ings should be flooded with moonlight.
To do it, he must sacrifice her, for he had
waited long aud patiently for her to leave
tie room, but abe had not.
But now he must force an entrance into
the room, or it would be too late.
Il must be done by the window, and
still she sat there gazing out into the dark
ness. and the least motion on his part could
not fail to attract her attention.
Could he suddenly spring up and strike
her with his knife, so surely that she could
make no sound !?
Ae Asheu nluseH ING questlohI Euu bhOuP "a
he was not sure, he saw no other way to
accomplish his object.
Drawing his knife, he rose slowly up,
aud at that moment he was startled by q
movement on her part, and he sank down
again.
She appeared to have risen from her seat
and was moving to another portion of the
apartment.
In moment his eyes were on level
with the window sill, aud he saw her stand
ing at the opposite side Of the room, in the
act Of lighting lamp.
Now was his time if ever, and in q mo.
ment he had placed his hand on the windoV
sill to prepare himself for the spring.
With bound he went through, and light
ed so softly upon his feet that the actor
made hardly sound.
IneZ intent upon thu ocounation of tbs