The Lincoln County herald., 1872-07-03

ain nearly jOl'sd 20 death in that horric
concern"
The apartment, from which at tha
moment a tall, leau.j .jointed youth va
removing a general chaos Of seed cars
of corn, was by no ssns inviting.
dropsical feather. bed piled up on high
bsdstead, and a three legged wash stand
together with two or three cane. botto IN led
chairs, completed the furnituse of the
room-a mournful contrast to Mrs
Clusters elegant suit of apartments a,
home
Bat she was very tired, and wthal
determined to be pleased, If only out OF
contradiction to Clara.
Clara, full Of vague fears, kept the
light burning as long as tho slender
dip Of tallow would last, and then, BY
the stormy moonlight, watched the lock.
less door, in an agony Of apprehension
Nor was her apprshensions entirely
groundless for just as the gray dawn Of
the coming day was blending with the
darkness that il alwa,s most dense al
that hour, the latch was softly lifted, and
q figure glided in the figure Of man,
Clara lay watching with her breast
throbbing wildly. At the same instant,
Mrs. Chester, startled by the creakiug Of
loose board IN the floor Of the room
awakened.
Her first impulse was to utter a pierc
ing scream but Clara's hand was over
her mouth in an Instant lara's firm
grasp was holding her down.
The figure gIidsd directly towards the
leather reticu.e which Mrs. Chester bad
taken the prscau,ion to conceal beneath
the hangings Of the window, opened il
noise lessly by means of bunch Of skels.
ton keys which he produced from his
pocket, and distracted something after a
moments noselOss search, with which be
withdrew, as silently as q ghost.
Not until his last footstsp had died
away on the stairs did Clara take her
guardian hand from Mrs. Chester 3
mouth.
"Clara, why did you stop ms2 why
did you not let me give the alarm p
cried Mrs. Chester, springing from tho
bed in dismay aud consternation.
"Did you wish to be murdered in you,
bed?"
"Murdersd! ! what do you mean p
Mrs. Chsstsr's blood ran cold.
He carried q long knife. l saw i,
shine in the starlight once Hush !"
Clara was gazing intently from the
window.
"Come here, Mrs Chester"
Mrs. Chester crept tremblingly to her
companions side.
"Look !"
And Clara pointed to q dark figure
stealing across the meadow, in the in
distinct light, towards the woods that
lay beyond.
"He is gone" she SAID, with a strange
calmness, "and We are saie-thank
heaven, We are safe y
But my diamonds p
Mrs. Chester had hurried toward the
open travelling bag which lay upon the
floor hcncalh the dressing table, aud her
painful surmises proved eorrect-the mo
rocco case was gone.
despair.
Clara, how can you stan there SO
calm ?"
because, I have reason to te calm.
Compose yourself, Mrs. Chester, the dia
monds are safe under my pillow fore
saw this-I read it all in the dim
foreshadowings of my dream-and, when
you were asleep, | unpacked the jewels
from their case aud secured them. LIE,
the thief 20 on his way. The green mo
rocco case, though in itself precious
treasure TO the antiquary, will hardly
recompensc him for bis waste Of time aud
man9uvres.
Mrs, Hyde Chester clasped Clara to
her heart, with burst Of tears, which
proved an incxprsssible relief to her
overoharged feelings.
When daylight once more reddened
over the hills, Mrs. Chester and Miss
Champfort renewed their journey, and
had the qualification Of presenting the
precious parure Of diamonds to Miss
Geraldine Raymond two hours before the
ceremony which transferred the bloom
ing maiden into demurs little wife.
"But if it hadn't been for Clara, dear
you never would have had then, safe and
sound" said Mrs. Chester. "Mind,
don't believe in drsalns, but certainly that
was the most unaccountabls coicidencs
in the world |"