Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-21
bresthless whisper, sand you will see i

ofesthless whisper, 'and you Will see !
move"
At frst thought 1t was an halluclna-
tlon Of Charities always vivid lmagina-
tlon, but stoadler case convinced me
that he was right. The moon was now
we'll down toward the hills, and Its
almost horizontal beams fell straight
across the room. Yes, there could be no
doubt OF 1t the huge thing was moving
toward us-almost imperceptlbly-w
out the slightest nolse, but steadily and
surely II was advancing into the room.
glanced toward the top and could dis
tinctly see that, whereas we had placed
II with Its back close against the door, so
that not sheet of paper could have been
introduced between, there was now
an open space there of more than an inch
in width. ! looked at Charlie, and his
hoHest blue eyes returned the gaze, both
felt that an hosr OF mortal peril was at
hand and as we grasped our pistols and
stood side by side ready for the first shot,
| think prayer for mercy and forgive
ness went up from both our hearts.
Our movements up to this point had
been as stealthy as those of our assail-
ants, and there was probably very little
doubt In their minds that we were
wrapped in the deep and motlonless slum-
her which excessive fatigue engenders.
On the contrary, with eyes almost staring
| from our heads, we were watching the
regular advance of the huge eecrelary,
and preparing for an attack at any mo
ment, when a low note, which might
have been uttered by bird or insect,
struck the ear of both at the same time.
Motioning to Charlie not to relax his
vigilance, | turned toward the window
and glanciug out, perceived ladder rest
ing against the sill, the other end of
which was firmly held by the hands of
the glpsy girl below. Without all in
stant's delay | snaiched HE pistol from
Charlie's hand, and molloned him to de-
scend. lie hesiiated a minute, as loath
to leave me alone, but was so peremp-
tory in my entreaty, "to 60 Instantly and
there would be time for both" that he
clutched the ladder with ore hand swung
himself lightly from the window, and
disappeared, Just as the body OF man,
era wiling on his hands and knees, became
visible from behind the shelter of the
bureau.
As soon as the villain saw that we
were up and ready for him, he sprung to
his feet and uttered a hoarse cry for help.
At the same moment pointed my pistol
| Nv hAb hNhh nituf III hut NOnlu-
sion and obscurlty that eLsued from the
rusa Of others into the room, and from
the smoke of several pistols discharged
simultaneously, seized the end of the
ladder and was on terra frma and flying
down the narrow ravine between Charlie
and the Ziugara, before the inmates of
the p0sada were aware of my escape.
The girl was as swift-foOted as a deer,
and sped on rapidly before us, until we
plunged into what seemed TO me prime
va forest, and in whose friendly shades
we knew that we were safe.
Then the girl opened her lips and told
us that she had heaId Of the plot to mur-
der the 1.-TWO young English travellers"
three DAYS before that our guide was
one of the gang Of rufllans, and was
pledged to bring us to that poeada instead
Of TO the one few leagues further Oh,
where respectable travellers always
stopped and to which she was guiding US
now. The placing the piece Of furniture
as q barrieade against the door had been
provided for by loosening the panels of
the doors, which had been removed SO
noiselessly that even Charlie, wide awake
as he was at the time, had not heard it ;
and then, when the secretary had been
pushed sufficiently forward, the five
rufllans hoped TO crawl in on their hands
and knees and murder us In our sleep.
And could not come sooner TO your
rescue, senors," continued she, "because
l was suspected and so closely watched &;
but the instant | saw them all at the top
of the ladder which led to your room, l
rushed round to the window 10 give you
the chance Of escape. And you are safe,
the Virgin Mary aud all the blessed saints
I.a Marfahffa hos
coed action more" and she raised her
dark eyes TO heaven with glance more
mournfully penltentthan that Of Guido's
Msgdalen.
We had been walking now for nearly
two hours, and the purple light Of morn
ing began to tinge the tops of the distant
hills. The heavens were sutiused with a
rich crimson hue which shot upward in
brilliant rays to the very zenith, and
deepened in fre and intensity as il
touched the horizon.
"We part here, senors," said Mari
chita, as she stood In the pompa glory
of the sunrise, her delicate features stand
ing out In clear relief against the eastern
sky, and the golden masses Of her hair
shinining and shimmering in the SUMS
first rays. "Yonder is the Inn where
you will find fresh horses aud more
trusty guide. May the Virgin and all
the saints protect you %
"Stay, Marichita," cried Charlie,
springing forward and seizing her by the
hand "you shall not go back into that
den of thieves. Go with us to Granada.
Let us, at least, leave you in safety there;
and, if the devotion of my life will prove
my gratitude for that nights service,
Manehita, offer ii to you no W."
lie was going to lay his hand and all
his earthly possessions at her feet, but
she drew herself up and waved him gently
back.
"senor, it cannot be" she said. "Mari.
, chita thanks you for your noble oti3r, but
! che would be out Of place In your far-oH
English home. One little souvenir is all
p she asks" and then placing her hands
upon Charlie's shoulders, she motioned
him to kneel before her, and taking a
! email dagger from her girdle, she severed
I one Of the short fair curls that lay SO
. thick upon his head. Thrusting II hastily
into her bosom, she turned, and with an
2 &" Adios, Senors," disappeared in the
! maEes of the forest.
D We never saw her again, but we heard
at Granada that Maaichita, "the gipsy
of Malaga" as she was called, was well
} known for her deeds of love and mercy
in all the country round. Of her origiI
5 or early life we could learn nothing, and
! the SpaniRrds shrugged their shoulders
when we asked where and when We
t could hope to see her again. She was o.
I Zingara blood, they said, though she wal
D seldom with her tribe, and no one knew
e how or where she lived, only occasionally
5 she was heard Of In connection with SOM
e brave and kindly action.
b 1t took my friend Charlie long tint
A to recover his tone and spirits after thu
c little adventure, and ! am inclined Il
5 think the wound made by the fair Andalu
sian was deeper than seemed at the tim
0 possible tol my more phlegmatic nature
: At any rate, he has never married, an'
! when / ask him when be means 10 chooe
r a mistress for his ancestral halls, hi
S answer Is
r "When can fnd another Marlchita
e amigo mio not before"
New York.
Y New YoRK.-Feb. 16.-Dennis Kel
. lard. residing at No. 425 East Seventy