Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-19

her.
The afternoon wore slowly away. Mar
garet read a little, and drummed a few
tunes listlessly on the old-fashioned piano.
| played with the black-and- white kitten.
and held the old cat curled up in her lap
like sleepy caterpillar, and at last it
was sunset-time to milk the COWS and
shut the barn-doors for the night.
1t was evident enough that there was
going to be storm, for the north and
west were dark and gloomy with omi-
nous black clouds, and the west winds
sighed drearily in the pine woods back of
the house. And, indeed, before Margaret
had done up her jobs at the barn the first
great drops OF frozen rain began to fall,
and by the time she had eaten her sup
per and strained the milk the storm had
set in in good earnest
She closed and barred the door-the
windows were already fastened-drew the
shutters, and piled the kitchen fireplace
full of dry hickory
The kitten had gone asleep in cor
ner, and the old black cat sat on the
hearth, blinking her eyes at the cheerful
blaze
Margaret read little and dreamed a
great deal, as girls of her age are prone to
do when left to themselves She made a
very pretty picture, if only there had been
| some one to see her.
Her soft brown hair was unbound, and
fell ripping to her waist; her fair round
face was tinted as delicately pink as the
inside of sea-shell; her brown eyes were
| dreamy and full Of languor; and her red
lips were sweet and womanly enough for
any true lover to find his rarest happiness
in kissing
Slowly, at length, the old coffin shaped
| clock in the corner struck ten. Margaret
started up. She had not thought it was SO
late. The evening had gone off much
quicker than she had expected it would.
1t was not so dreadful to stay alone, after
all, she said to herself.
She opened shutter and peered out into
the night. 1t was dark as Erebus, and the
wind and rain beat against the pane in a
perfect torrent. The Judge would not think
of returning on such night.
We'll, Tommy" she said to the cat 81
guess you and [ and kitty will go to bed.
We must be up betimes in the morning,
you know, since there'll be none but us to
do the Chores
AS she spoke she stopped to stroke old
Tommy but, to her infinite surprise. she
saw that the animals paw and tail were
erect-her eyes had changed to CLASSY
green of rage and terror, and with slow.
panther-like tread she was making her
way toward the door which opened upon
the cellar stairway
And while she gazed Margaret saw
with horror that the latch was slowly
lifting, and the next moment the door
swung open with an ominous creak, and
man stepped into the room. He was a
short, thick-set fellow, with sandy hair
and whiskers, and pale, ferocious-look-
ing blue eye, set far back in his head
Soho, my DEAR said he, 'you are
sole proprietor, it appears ~
For moment Margaret's heart stood
still, but she was naturally brave, and
she was proud as well, and would not
allow this man to see that she feared him.
have that HONOR she said, coolly:
"who are you and what do you want?"
trust you will excuse me if neglect
TO introduce myself" said the man, with
much courtesy; as for my business, |
am quite happy to inform you about that.
want the $4,000 that the Judge brought
from Ridgeby Bank last night, and de
pend upon you to point it out to me-"
The indignant blood rushed to Marga-
ret's face, and she answered him sharply:
!" will die before Twill do as you ask !n
You shall have your choice!'
He produced a pistol, which he cooked
deliberately, and pointed it at her head.
"Show me the place where the tin Is
hidden, or III blow your brains out"
Like lightning a varied train of thought
passed through the head of the girl; in
that one instant of time she thought of
score of plans to evade the rascal, and as
soon as entertained discarded them as i'm
practicable.
There she was, alone and helpless, a
weak girl, almost a mile from any other
human habitation, and in storm it was
by no means likely that anyone would be
passing by from whom she could claim
any assistance.
For a moment she thought of risking
everything to escape by the outer door,
and, trusting to the darkness and her
knowledge of the way, to attempt to reach
Mr. Turner's and seek protection.
But the man seemed to divine her
thought, for he stepped between her and
the door.
No, my beauty, you can't play that
game on me!'' he said, with a sardonic
smile. And now I'll give you just three
minutes to decide what you'll do. If you
show me where the money is l swear not
to harm you; if you refuse l swear to kill
YOU, and trust to luck for finding it with
out your help"
He took out his watch and stood regard
ing it and Margaret alternately. AS she
stood there, faint and giddy with fear, a
new idea penetrated Margaret's brain, and
she was inst in a state of desneration