Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-12-13

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 soon ba
| above tho horizon.
The two watchers noted this, but with
what different thoughts and emotions. Inez
with joy, for it would bring bring her lover
to her side; and the villain saw in it sig
nal for him to be up and at work while the
gloom lasted. Would he possess himself Of
the jewels he must do it before the surround
| ings should be flooded with moonlight.
To do it, he must sacrifice her, for he had
waited long and patiently for her to leave the
room, but she had not
But now he must force an entrance into
the room, or it would be too late.
1t must lie done by the window, and still
she sat there gazing out into the darkness,
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 a; s
He asked himself the question, and though
| be was not sure, he saw no other way to &C.
complisb his object. ~ ~.
| Drawing his knife, he rose slowly up, and
at that moment he was startled by move.
ment 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. -...s..z
ln moment his eyes were on level
with the window sill, and he saw he stand
ing at the opposite side Of the rooms, in the
act Of lighting lamp.
Now was his time il ever; and in mo.
ment be had placed his hand on the window
sill to prepare himself for the spring.
With bound be went through, and
lighted so softly upon bis feet that the &C.
tion made hardly sound.
Inez, intent upon the occupation OF the
moment, did not look round, and the rob.
Der had the field to himself
The casket lay where she had closed it,
and in moment more he had it in his pos
session. ..e
Had the villain been content with this, be
might have made his escape, perhaps I'M
seen. But be was not.
AT this moment the lamp Jared ap, and
he saw. tho glitter Of the jewels with which
Inez had bedecked herself. ..7
At that moment he formed determine.
ton to possess himself OF these, even if be
had to take her life.
Noiseisssly he took step toward her
with his hand upon the handle Of his knife,
and his eyes fixed grsediy upon the jewels.
At that moment she suddenly turned, and
he stood revealed to her
For a moment the blood forsook her
cheek, giving place to dead Wilderness, for
she comprehended at once the danger in
which she stood.
But she was no coward and thinking
that perhaps her life might depend upon her
presence of mind at that moment, she sum-
moned all her strength, aud in firm voice
exclaimed:
"Who are you, villain, who darcy thus
enter the presence of Don ManuePs daugh-
ter?'
"Hark Not so loud, if you please, my
lady. Another word as loud as that, and I
will bury this knife in your heart
''Thou d.rest not, villain. But for what
doss thou come ? Make known thy errand
quickly. for one will soon be here who will
deal with thee as thou dost deserve"
The villain took step forward, and was
so close to her that shc felt his hot breath
upon her cheek. Hastily she fell back, feel.
ing all her strenth going at once, which she
bad but now summoned to her aid
II have come for these jewels" he said
in significant tone and at the same mo-
ment he laid his hand upon tho necklace
which adorned her snowy neck.
Back, monster! Touch me mott she
cried, unmindfu of the threat he had just
made did she dare to speak above her breath
With an oath the william raised his knife
aud spsang upon her. His hand was upon
her throat, and the deadly weapon was up.
raised to strike the fatal blow At that mo-
ment when death seemed to her inevitable,
the form Of man filled the window, and the
next instant the report Of a pistol sounded
in the apartment, and the would be murder.
or fell to the floor with bullet through his
brain.
Inez would have fallen too, for though
unharmed, her strength had loft her, had
not her savior at that moment sprung oyer
the body Of the fallen william, and caught
her in bis arms.
"My Inez thank God was in time to
save you" cried Walter Garland, for it was
be-
Walter she said family and then she
lay utterly unconscious in his arms.
At that moment there was a hurried
tramplipg of feet without, and then the door
Of the apartment was thrown open, and Don
Manuel hnrried in, followed by half score
Of servants
For moment his establishment almost de.
privsd him Of speech. The body of the dead
william lying upon the floor, and his daugh-
ter claspsd in the arms of him whoHa be had
forbidden the house, and whom he did not
know had seen her for months. In tone
Of mingled anger and calm be demanded
what it all meant, and in as few words as
possible Walter Garland told him all of what
he had witnessed and how he had arrived in
time to save his daughters life
1nez soon came back to herself, and cor
roborated it, and then the old don thanked
him for what ne had done. sfz gr-
And more than that, few days after.
wards, he gave him his daughter, saying
that he had earned the prias by saving her
life. ...,. -.
Nervous children suffer untold agonies
from fear, when put to bed alone. Nc
tongue can tell tho horrors of lonesome
| room to such. children A little da);ca r.