The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-03-11
vol. XIII--NO. Is

AOoitSOf anu SOCO0hOVA 0AAOClb AAlkub {
tender speeches, and recalled how he
looked into her eyes with those thrilling
orbs of his when he parted from her only
the evening before.
The shadows grew still darker, and
the stars came out. She could see them
twinkling in the soft, clear, evening sky
above the towering buildings. And with
pleasant thoughts for company, and
wishing that the author of them was be-
side her, she passed into dreamland.
How long she had slept she did not
know, but she awoke from troubled
dream with q start of terror. In mo-
ment she realized her position--alone at
the dead of night, up two flights in the
work-roon. She looked up at the stars,
still shining down serenely, and they
calmed her. She was not quite alone
with their smile beaming upon her.
Harkl What was that sound? She
started up with the perspiration stand
ing on her forehead. She heard the
window next to the dressing lifted,
and in. moment more steps on the
floor. Listening with painful intentness,
her heart throbbing so loudly that she
feared it would betray her proximity,
she heard that there were two. They
walked past the door Of the dressing
room, and Jessie quaked with the fear
of discovery. But, under cover of the
darkness, she remained unmolested. and
it was evident, also, that the work-room
was not the goal of their ambition.
We've done the thing neatly, 30
far" said one voice. "H If we can only
finish as well as we have begun, we shall
be lucky"
ssHushln said the other, in a low
tone. "What if we should be discovered
before the job is done7'
"No danger of that" the first re-
turned. "There's no one within hear
ing distance. came in here in theerole
of book. agent, the other day, and took
the position of the rooms. Some deuced
pretty girls work here, Knight"
The sound of the second voice had
struck with painful suspicion of
familiarity upon Jessie's ear, and now
that namei What could 1t mean ?
Could it be possible that he was her
loverf Was she not mistaken in the
voicef
He spoke again.
after all, there are worse robberies
committed every day under the guise
of business transactions than we are
meditating. Old Whitney has been 8
miser all his life, and cheated people
out of thousands. It's no more than
fair to take some of his ill-gotten gains"
No, she was not mistaken. There
was no doubt of that voice. 1t had a
Characteristic ring that could not be
Something darker than night
shadows settled upon her mind. She
remained in her position as If bound
hand and foot. She was almost paraly zed
with horror and surprise. The man who
had stolen her heart away, whose kisses
were still warm upon her lips, was a
midnight robberl
But they passed along and she heard
them working with the lock of the door
which haG closed upon her SO untimely.
For few moments thsre was a dull,
rasping sound, and she knew that they
had succeeded in opening it, and were
passing down stairs. There were two
more doors to open before they could
gain an entrance into the store below.
She rose to her feet, and, listening in
tently, she could hear the first one be-
low yield to their hands.
Something drew her down stairs. She
felt, as if she must follow them. She
did not care whether or not she was dis
covered. The dreadful fAet that con-
fronted her erased self from her mind.
When they had opened tine last door
and were within the front store, she fol-
lowed noiselessly-she4h had removed her
shoes- and stood in the shadow watching
their movements, as by the light of a
dark lantern they proceeded to open a
safe which, they judged, contained the
most valuable jewels.
AS Jessie stood there, motionless and
pale, there was no feeling of scorn for
him. The wound was too deep for that.
But there was pathetic despair in the
depths of The eyes which ~only a few
hours before had been full of tender
love-light Tor him, and dreadful pain
at her heart, an infinite sadness, to find
that her idol, whom she had set up for
worship SO much higher than his fellows,
was made of baser clay than ordinary
men. Such is the manner of all loving
women until the awakening comes.
By the light which he held, she could
discover his face dimly. She kept
looking at it, having no eyes for the
movements of his companion. Hardly
conscious of what she was doing, she
went forward to him as he bent over the
safe he had opened. Both had theiI
backs toward her. Without word she
laid her hand upon his arm. AT the
touch, SO quick and unexpected, be
started as If he had been shot. and
flashed the light quickly in her face
With a low cry yzof surprise he met the
pathetic sadness of Jessie's eyes. Hii
companion rose hastily from his kneel
ing position, exclaiming, What il
thunder does this mean ?'' as he saw the
strange, dazed look upon Knights face
and saw, too, that the girl was nj
stranger to him.
. Oh, Gilbert, Gilbert! Can this b,
possible ?'' Jessie said, with a pitifu
wall in her voice that would have movet
a heart of adamant.
He never thought to inquire into tn,
mystery of her presence there at tina
hour; but he knew she worked ther'
daily, and that may have made it seen
less strange. He stood dumb before her
Had she reproached him he could hav
retorted angrily; but he had no word
to meet the look in the fair, sad face up
turDed to his, which he had kissed s
often, Just to see it flush and brighter
under the powerful magnetism whicl
had been the ruin of more than on
woman before he had seen Jessie.
1t was a scene for painter. Tn
bolted and barred windows showing il
the dim light. the confused, shamed ex
preston on Knights face, the panied
grieved look on Jessie's, and the angr,
disappointment of the other. AtIength
without even q word, knight took tn
jewels he had secreted about his persol
and flung them down.
:" You can do as you like, Kris" h
said. "I wash my hands of the affai,
It is the last time / shall undertak
such thing. Jessie, you will despis
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