The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-02-09

uiH NOT mean NIiAf We WI fHH yft "
nofe y very kveiise cir, and be would
have elasped and kiised M " I had not
shfuhk swiftly away.
answered him, however ~ though he
had spoken sincerely, and told him, what
I do not often Acknowledge, I waf en-.
gaged ~ Steve faghleys No man likes
~ hear $50 from q woman lips when
even his petition Il IN Idle enc. For The
sfst time I saw Mr.. F0rdyce's face dis.
toftcd with a sheer 81 mingled anger and
dislike, and I knew that my poor Steve's
strange feeling toward Mr.. Fordyce was
recipfocatcd by that gentleman with
equal intensity.
One night there was n party nj Steve's
fathers. II was Martins birthday. Mr..
FOrdyce took me over about s O'Clock.
IL was q gay party. We had dancing,
which we do not always have, and the
music and supper were good. danced
with Steve several times, and, being In
good spirits, found IL rather difficult TO
maintain tho distance / had lately adop-
ted towards him. His eyes, too, had
such a soft, tender light in them, and
his lips such brightness.
"COme into the garden a minute, Bell"
he whispered to me at the close of dance;
81 have something to say to you and
for the life of me | could not say no.
When we were in the bright moonlit
garden he stopped where a clump of
lilac bushes hid us from the house, and
drew from his bosom a roll of notes.
81 shall finish paying for our house,
tomorrow, DEAR" he said in a voice that
exclusive happiness made tremulous. 81
drew the money from the bank to-day
twenty-five hundred dollars. All, how
| have worked for this hourl"
/ should have been harder than a mill
stone if | had not forgotten all my fool
ish anger at that moment, if | had not
melted rather from my GOODNESS for |
was as glad as he was, and | dropped my
head on his shoulder there in the moon
light, and cried happy, happy, remorse-
less tears.
"Steve," | said, "you shall let me
keep the meney till morning. | shall
think | have dreamed if you DON'T"
Steve laughed. but let me have my
way. All, what a foolish within it was!
Few women would have dared to take
charge of such a sum of money and
fewer men would have permitted them.
But Steve knew it was as safe, to all
common calculation, with me as with
himself.
As we turned toward the house for a
single instant | thought | saw the
shadow of a man across Il path but,
looking back, | saw nothing but the
lilac bushes tossing in the summer air.
whats the matter p said Steve,
noticing nv backward gaze.
81 thought | saw the figure of a mar
crossing the path" | replied.
"Nonsense I" said he; and we were
indoors.
Well, Steve and Iwere the happiest
pair there that night: and Mr.. F0rdyce
saw, and could not quite keep his eyes
from saying that he hated us both for it,
or | iancied so.
The party broke up at twelve o'clock;
that was late tor us, and MI. Fordyce,
having brought methere, took mo home.
On the way he told me of another rob
berry that had taken place the night be-
fore at one of the hotels. A person had
been robbed of five hundred dollars,
which he had just received at the bank.
Perhaps it was that story that made me,
tired as ] was, bestow some thought on
a hiding place for Steve's money. |
pondered very seriously as | took down
my hair and arranged for the night then
with a laugh at my own ingenuity |
tucked the roll of notes in my luxurant
tresses, and drew a net over TO hold all
in place. | was asleep almost the instant
my head touched the pillow.
/ ought to have slept soundly and
dreamed happy dreams, but / did not.
Some counter influence seemed to ruffie
my slumbers and | awoke.
Some one was in my room. L knew 1T
as we'll as though | could see, and the
room was too dark for that. There was
no sound either, but for all that knew
| was not alone. Tried to scream, to
raise my voice. ! was frozen with ter
tor. Inever thought once of the money,
or robbers, or anything that / know of.
| was only frightened 50 that / could not
move hand or foot, or make a noise. l
don't k%now,but | stopredibreathing. l can
remember yet how cold | felt, though
the night was warm.
Suddenly, without the warning of a
breath / was conscious that a hand was
creeping steadily about my pillow.
| did not think of money wen then.
AS terror had stolen my senses, so now it
brought some of them back. l gave one
scream and sprang from the bed, or tried
to. Two strong hands dropped me a
firm hand held me, while the other hand
vainly sought to loose my hair. The net,
more obstinate than nets usually are,
would not come off probably because, in
his hurry, my mysterious assailant was
unconscious of its plant meshes. He
pulled my hair in his awkward astempts
horribly. The pain was like a spur to
me. As his arm lay across my arms, |
bent my head swiftly, and fastened my
teeth upon il with a vicious snap that
only a woman in my situation would
have been capable of.
The unexpectedness OF the attack
dissolved my bonds. With an audible
oath he let me go, and | darted away
with winged feet, and met father in the
passage. OF course | tainted then and
there; and by the time anybody got in.
to the room my robber had made good
his escape.
Alas, however, he should not have al
lowed himself to swear, above all, to a
woman of such acute ears as | had. |
had heard the voice, and | knew it be-
longed to Mr.. Fordyce.
Father fairly turned pale when | told
him but he cautioned me nst to betray
that l suspected any one present, and he
took Steve's money under his special
charge. WdllTmet,st breakfast. Ishould
havessaid that Mr.. Fordyce had made his
Observation-Disclosures as the rest
Of the family whom my screams had
aroused, and in the most natural manner.
He came down to breakfast now, smiling,
ii -. oxo.+ad enough in NV adven.