Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-01-08

INC bOutn wing. AS OAOc Elltn KoOu
night, the clock on the stairs struck
twelve, and abe merrily wished me msny
happy returns of the day, for had just
entered on my twentieth birthday. In a
few minutes roore my light was extin.
guished, and was closely wrapped up
In less than half an hour was sound
asleep. Not 30 Aunt Edith. She WAS,
she told me afterwards, restless and nerv-
GUS, swo most unusual things with her.
All her efforts to sleep were unavailing
and she gave up the attempt at last, and
rising from ed sat down by the ere to
read. Twice she fancied she heard foot
steps In the corridor, and opened her door
to listen. Your aunt was not afraid Of
the White Lady, our family ghost, nor
anybody else, girls. Twice she threw
herself on couch with the intention Of
resting, since slumber WAS out of the
question but between the storm and the
my sterious sounds through the house, rest
was impossible At length, about two
O'Clock, she fancied she heard some one
moving about the room very autiously;
and, nothing doubling but that | was a.
wakeful and restless as herself, she re-
solved to come in and speak to me. A
sudden gust of wind in the corridor ex.
| tinguished her candle, and sho entered
my room in the dark, save for the faint
rays of moonlight which 81 one through
the carelessly drawn curtains.
GAS your aunt gently approached my
bed, she saw form advancing on the
other side with uplifted hand, in which
something bright cleaned in the moon
light. Quick as thought, without mo.
ment's hesitation, her arm WAS thrown
across my neck. The knife of an assassin
descended with terrible force; and
CHANGING off the bone inflicted long and
Jagged cash in her arm. The assassin,
who had not seen or heard her approach,
instantly fed, leaving his weapon be-
hind; and was aroused from my slum
bers by Edith's shrieks, to find myself
bathed in her blood. Binding my silk
handkerchief round her arm tightly, to
check the bleeding, l sent a servant-for
the whole house was aroused by your
aunt's shrieks and the violent ringing of
my bell-for the nearest surgeon, and
then proceeded to search for some traces
of the murderous intruder. Mechanic
ally went first to Jeff's room, probably
because | was astonished at not having
seen his face among the wandering group
gathered round my door. II seemed
amazing that he should sleep so soundly
through such commotiop. The door of
the east room (Jeffs) was open, and SO
WAS the window; but the room was
empty.
"Where was jeff Why had he gone
30 suddenly and mysteriously? Why
the open Window | was all the more
painfully perplexed, as the most careful
examination failed to disclose any other
means Of exit by which the would-be
assassin coule have escaped. Every door
WAS securely barred, every window ex
cept that of the east room was safely
fastened. In the flower bed underneath
there we're distinct tracks of mans feet
leading from the window, none whatever
leading to it.
"These things made me terribly un-
happy, and some suspicion of my thoughts
must have crept into my countenance,
for Edith OWNED them at once. How
ever, she remained silent about the ap-
pearance of the man who had attempted
my life, and refrained from question
inc her. AT best there could be buts con-
jecturc-the room WAS dark, the man
disguised and your aunt frightened. But
the knife which lay upon my bed APP
pealed with dumb but terrible force to
us both. 1t was my pruning knife, and
that very afternoon Edith had seen me
lend it to JEFF Lawson. Whether the
knife had been in any way poisoned, or
whether your aunt's wound had been
badly dressed in the first instance, do
not know, but inflammation set in and
for weeks she was dangerously i'll. For
days her life WAS despaired of, and it
WAS only save at last at the expense of
the brave right hand that had save me
30 we'll from terrible and sudden death.
"The matter made sensation, which
WAS something more than nine days
wonder in our village; but rs ! kept my
suspicious to myself, no one else ventured
to express any, and Jeffrey's name was
never mixed up in the matter Indeed
i. somehow got circulated that he left
Garrick the evening of the attempte
murder aud no one contrsdicted it. The
object of the attack, which WAS evidently
robbery rs well As murder, for every
drawer and desk in my room was
thoroughly rsnsscked, caused much
wonder and discussion. 1t was pretty
generally known that my allowance as q
minor WAS scarcely adequate to my few
simple wants"
"What became of JEFF. Lawson, IA
therf' Jess asked, with stolen glance at
aunt's face.