Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-02-12

4
got under the shelter Of the wooden cover
ing We had to pass through the long dark
gallery, as black as night heading only for
the dim square of moonlight at the other
end. But Lucretia walked and chatted on
as unconcernedly as if she had always been
in the habit Of traversing that lonely tunnel
like bridge with total stranger every even
ing Of her life. ! confess | was surprised.
l fancied prim English girl in similar
situation. and began to wonder whether all
this artlessness was really as genuine as it
looked.
AT the opposite end of the bridge We
emerged upon street of wooden frame
houses. In one Of them only there was
light. That's the hotel said Lucretia,
nodding toward it. and again ! suffered a
thrill OF disappointment. l had pictured to
| myself great solid building ike the ST.
lawrence Hall at Montreal, forgetting that
Richmond was mere country village; and
where found bit of frame cottage as the
whole domain OF l.ucretias supposed father,
II was too awful
We reached the door and entered Fresh
surprises were IN store Tor me. he passage
led INTO bar, where half a dozen French
Canadians were sitting with bottles and
glasses, playing some game OF cards. One
rather rough-iooSng young man jumped up
IN as'onishment as We entered, and ex-
claimed. why, Luretla, We didn't expect
YOU Tor another hour. i meant to take the
sleigh for YOU ! could have knocked him
down Tor calling her by her Christian name,
but the conviction flashed upon me that tins
was Lucretias brother lie glanced up at
the big iahkee CLOCK on the manteipiece
winch pointed TO quarter past Twelve then
pulled out his watch and whlstied. stopped
hree-quar'ers OF an hour ago. by 'lngo'
was his comment Nv ny, forgot 10 WIND
up tpon my word Luereua' m a~fuiIy
sorry but VINO IS the gentleman.
- hiehd oi the rti'chafo'' ioh'' Gear'
VINO wants bed mere to-nigh'- couidh
imagine why 'he sieigh didh come ior me:
~ 80 unlike you ilo' 10 remember H. Ana
she gave MN iooA 10 melt ahafnah'-
lom was pro'use IN ms apologies, and
mace IL qui'e elea tha' ms intentions al ieast
had been most eSeeilent; beside ne kissed
Lucreua win so mueh bFo'heriy tenderness
ina, relented oi my desire To Knock MN
down. lhen brother ana SISTER reured Tor
while, apparently TO see after my bedroom,
and was leii alone IN the bar
cannot say liked the LOOK OF II. Inc
men were drinking "hiskey and playing
ecdTe-'"o bad things' thought IN my
twenty year OLD proprety. Ny dear mother
mated gambling, when hatred she had IN
s'ilied into my youthful mind, and 1t was
evidently back~oods gambling house
Moreover, carried bag OF silver compute
large enough 10 to make It well worth while
to rob me- he appearances were clearly
against Lucretias home; but surely Lucreta
herself was guaranty for anything.
Presently lom returned, and told me my
room was ready. followed HIM up the
stars with beating heart and heavy reti-
ou!e. Al the top OF the landing Iucreta
stood smiling, my candle IN her hand, and
showed me into the room. Tom and she
looked around to see that all was comiorta-
bic, and then they both shook hands with
me, which certainly seemed curious thing
for an inn-keeper and his sister As soon
as they were gone, began to look around
me and consider the situation. The room
had two doors, but the key vas gone from
both opened the one toward the passage,
but found no key outside; the other, which
probably communicated with nelghboring
bedroom, was locked from the other side
Moreover. there had once been common
bolt on this second door. but II had been re-
moved. l looked close at the screw holes.
and was sure they were quite fresh. Could
the bolt have been taken off while | was
waiting IN the barr All at once 1t flashed
across me that had been imprudently con
hding IN my disclosures to Lucretia. had
told her that | carried ESQ IN com, an easy
thing to rob and difficult thing to identify.
She had heard that nobody was aware otmy
presence in Richmond. except -he and her
brother l had not written to tell the
Pritchards | was coming. and she knew that
had not told any one Of my whereabouts,
because | did not decide where should 20
until | talked with her about the matter
No one in Canada would miss me. If these
people chose to murder me for my money
land inn-keepers often murder their guests,
| thought,) nobody would think OF inqur-
ing or know where to inquire for me
Weeks would elapse before my mother
wrote from England to ask my whereabouts,
and by that time all traces nigh, well be
lost. ! left Quebec only telling the people
a, my hotel tina, was going to Montreal
Then thought Of Lucretia's eagerness TO
get into conversation, her observation about
my money. her suggestion that should come
to the Richmond Hotel And how could
she. small lnn-keeper's daughter, afford to
get all those fine furs and lockets by fair
means' Did she really know the Pritch- |
ards, or was it likely, considering her posi- |
tion' All these things came across me in a
moment. What fool had been ever to
think of trusting such girl.
got up and walked about the ROOM 1t
was evidently Lueretias own bedroom
part of the decoy," said to myself sapi-
entity. But could so beautiful girl really |
hurt one2 A piece Of music was lying on
the dressing table. l took it up and looked
at it casually. Gracious heavens. it was a
song from "Lucrezia Borgia" Her very
name betrayed her. She too was Lucre-
tia. | walked over to the mantlepiece. A
little ivory miniature hung above the cen |
tire gave it glance as passed. Incred-
ible 1t was Beatrice Cenci Talk of beau !
tiful women! Why, they poison one, they
stab one, they burn one alive, with smile |
on their lips Lucretia must have taste
for murderesses. Evidently she is con-
ncisseur
At least, thought l, shall sell my life
dearly. l could not 90 to bed but pulled |
the bedstead over against one of the doors
the locked one-and laid the mattress down
in front of the other. Then Law down on |