The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-04

NOE lOuU. ~ '1SahNh SShuJ
sics door. Did l see a dark shadow fit
n5iselessly out upon the landing, or was it
imas asiration? I stole softly out Of bed.
MY door was certainly ajar.
Filled with the most horrible misgivings,
I ran to the windo~and looked out. There
WAS no moon, but the stars shone brightly
in the purple arch above, and by their
c,ow I saw three or four spectral.looking
figures steal over bare bit of lawn and
stcalthily approach the house.
A moments delay, AID then sash went
up softly. I should not have heard it oil if
nv senses had not been preternaturllly
sharpcned,
For few awful seconds afterward
I trusyled with Il deadly inclination to
faint; then strength and courage came
| back again.
Scarcely knowing what I did, I caught
up the lamp, lighted it. and rushed out
upon the landing, shrsking' at the top Of
my voice:
"rhicves robbers help!'
a spccios of madness seemed to possess
me. The Ia~k figures I had seen had,
was sure, entered the dining room, where
in convenient closet the family plate
was kept in small safe. Of course that
was what the burglars were after
~ Downstairs I rushed, two at time
and bounded, intos the drawing-room.
dark lantern wast fnshings ita stream oi
light across the apartment Right ID, its
glow stood the safe, with two burglars
leaning over it in the expectant attitude
from which they had been aroused by -ths
sound of my cries. They seemed uhdecid;
| ed whether to remain or fly.
| Another shrill scream broke from my
lips at this startling sight. In an instant
l was surrounded and cold rim of stee
! touched my forehead, while a low, reso
Lutte voi.e- BcSsit's voice; I knew it i'll
stantly, in spite Of the excitement and ter
ror of my slt,u.tion-hissed in my ear the
words
"Silence! IF you make another out
cry, l'llput bullet through your brain!
felt stunned, frightened, bewildered
What happened afterwards is not very
clear to my mind. l only know that there
was sudden crashing of glass, a glare o.
light, curses, shots, groans, and the room
was fullof policemen, and u desperate strug
gle going on.
woke up presently, rs if out of a leth
argy, to find myself lying in Jacks arms
with his kisses dropping hot and fast upor
my cheeks and lips. .
"Oh, Jack, Jack :" l cried, cit is all 81
horrible! Where is Bessie? Did / really SEE
her with those awful mcn?'
"Bcssie was iii imiostcr," he answered
quite savagcly. "Shc is no more youl
cousin thanI am. II wls all " part Of the
plot to rob the ilouse. She knew of the
antcipatcd visit some how-thcse desper
ate characters manage to heT everything
ard took your cousins place. But
SUSPECTED her from the hrst-Id seen tha
face before, truth to tcl-and shrewdly
guessing why she was here, 1 had th'
policemen ready
"But how did yea know the house wa!
to be robbed to-n;ght?'
He smiled.
Have you forgotten the diamond ring
Bessie, aa she styled herself, meant t.
mako sure OF it. ami SO borrowed it for 1
few hours. T'ha Inference was plain-th
attempt waS to lie EI;!';c tonight, ald s..
thought, donh.less. TO keep tile ring, and
say nothing Of it to her confederatcs.'
"And my pearl cross, Jack I" sudden
light breaking in upon my mind.
"What?' he demanded sharply.
"You are not the only loser-that's all
1t all seems so strange, so incomprehensi.
bic. My mind will not be clear again for
month"
A brief silence fell between us, and then
lifted my eyes to say:
"Jack, Jack, forgive me for doubling
you! see it all clearly now. Your al
legiarcc never wavercd--"
"Neverw he interrupted, "Silly little
goose, did you think could ever find any
other woman half 80 precious? But was
compelled to play a part. Who would
have believed me if L had declared the
truth at once !? And I was not thorougly
convinced myself. l wanted time and op'
portunity to test my suspicious
| We now had leisure to look around US
Three of the burglars were lying on the
floor, securely bound. One had escaped, and
the false Bessie with him.
l may as we'll state here that the ring
and cross were eventually recovered, bu,
not until several months after the events
Of that ncver-to-b be.forgotten night.
| Tie true Bessie Wentworth came to VI
the ensuing week. Papa WAS greatly
| pleased with her. She had the real Went
worth hair and eyes, and he could not have
picked a flaw with her if he had tried
She remained until after Jack and | were
married, and never had occasion to men.
tally ask myself, as had often done dur
ing the thirty-six hours sojourn of hel
counterfeit, whether she was sinner or a
saint. Heaven is made up Of just such
pure spirits as Bessie Wentworth's.