The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-08-05

y
his face appearing as it were, in black
foam, at the window of the equipage,
'but we've broke down."
"Broken downr'
"Yes'm, it's-the axle tree broke
clean in halves.
"But can not you mend it?"
"Not unless 1 had the tools, ma'am,
and there amt shop this side o. Terris
woda."
"But what are we to dor We can't
stay here all night. We must walk the
rest of the wav to Daingerfeld."
'It's six miles, ma'am, and mortal
bad road"
"But what else can we do 2"
"You might stay at Toby Wooden's
just beyond-don't you see the light
twinkIin?'
'Is it public house?"
"Well, no ma'am, not eXac tly, but
they does take folks in when they can
git 'em. And could ride back to Ter
riswode and get another thrap, and
you'll be at Daingerheld i'll good time in
the morning.
"Oh, DEAR" said Mrs. Chester, des-
pairingly, "I wish now that 1 had fol-
lowed your advice, Clara. I shall not
reach Daingerfield to night, after ALL"
Toby Wooden's proved TO be ruin
Gus old farm house built on a hill side
in the wood, and distinguished mainly
by its high peaked roof and dilapidated
porch.
"Well. s'pose kin take We in" was
Mrs. Wooden's puzzed rejoinder to their
petition for nights shelter. 'There's
the upstairs hamber-Simeon can take
the seed corn cut. We've got two men
here already, and"
''Two men?" interposed Clara, eager
ly. "What sort of menH
zone of ems Dan Gilbert, the peddler;
and t'other's likely fellow enough. 1
don't know what he is, but he squints
dredful bad with one eye"
Mis-. Hyde Chester could feel Clara's
grasp tighten ON her arm, with a sort OF
nervous energy.
"I knew It'll knew It'll" she whisper
cd eagerly. "Oh, Mrs. Chester, dc not
let us come here-do not let us tempt our
fate. We had better sit in the carriage
all night"
"In the carriage, indeed What nom
sense !" cried Mrs. Chester. "Show us
up STAIRS at once; Mrs. Wooden, please.
I am nearly jolted to death in that her
rid concern"
|. The apartment, from which tall
lean ,jointcd youth was at that moment
removing general chaos of "seed ears"
of corn, was by no means inviting. A
dropsical featherbed, piled up=on high
bedstead, and three-legged wash stand
together with one or two cane-bottomed
chairs, completed the furniture of the
room-a mournful contrast to Mrs,
Hyde Chester's elegant suite of apart
ments at home.
But she was very tired, and, withal,
determined to be pleased, If only out ol
contradiction to Clara Champfort.
Clara, full of vague fears, kept the
light burning as long as the slender dip
of tallow would last, and then by the
stormy moonlight, watched the luckles'
door, in agony of apprehension.
Nor was her apprehension entirel,
. aroundless; for just as the gray dawn 0
: the coming day was blending with th'
darkness that is always most dense a
that hour, the latch was softly lifted, an'
figure glided in-the figure of man
Clara lay watching, with her breas
throbbing wildly-and at the same i'll
f stant Mrs. Hyde Chester, r,Otartled by til
creaking of loose board in the floor @
I the room, wakened.
, Her first impulse was to utter pierc
r ing scream; but Clara's hand was owe
her mouth in an instant-Clara's firm
Il grasp was holding her down.
The figure glided directly toward tn
leather reticule which Mrs. Hyde Ches
a ter had taken the precaution to conces
! beneath the hangings Of the window
: loosened it noiselcssly by means of
bunch of skeleton keys which he pre-
duced from his pocket, and abstracte
/ something, after moments noiseles
Il search, with which he withdrew, as sileni
a ly ghost.
Not until his last footstep died ava
IS on the stairs. did Clara take her guard
l. an hand from Mrs. Chester's mouth.
i "Clara why did you stop mel VIII
n did you not let me give the alarm
Of cried Mrs. Chester, springing from I'll
g bed in dismsy and CONSERVATION.
"Did you wish to be murdered in yer
k bed ?"
u Murdered? What mean you ?" Mr.
/? Hyde Chester's blood ran cold.
"He carried long knife. saw
p shine in the starlight once. HushW
of Clara was gazing intently from I'll
window.
O. "Come here, Mrs. Chester"
Mrs. Hyde Chester crept tremblingl
TX to her companions side.
"Look ~
Y, And Clara pointed out a dark figu
IN stealing across the meadow, in the il
ut distinct light, toward the woods thatls
a. beyond.
"He is gone," she said, with stranl
r. calmness, ''and we are safe-thank hea
an en-, we are safe -
IN "But my diamondsW
~ Mrs. Chester had hurried toward Il
- open travelling bag which lay upon 4
ng floor beneath the dressing-table, al
de her painful surmises proved correct
he the morocco case was gone
m She uttered low exclamation of de
pair.