The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-11-11

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the middle Of the night, then to issue
forth and possess himself OF the sum
brought home by Monsieur Aubrey.
But il prematurely discovered, and hav'
ing no opponents but two women, he
would probably make his escape, first
securing their silence by their death.
Then who knows but the servant her
self was an accomplice suspicious cir
cumstances, hitherto disregarded, re-
turned with renewed violence to the
mind of Madame Aubrey. All these
thoughts passed through the mind OF
the young mother in less time than 1
have occupied in the tellin Before
many minutes had elapsed her calmness
had entirely returned, and she had de
cided upon her part in the terrible
drama. But she must get rid of the
servant.
"You know" said she, without the
least faltering of her voice, "you know
the dishes which my husband prefers,
aud think he will be we'll pleased to
find good supper ready against his re.
turn. had forgotten to tell you about
it before, but go now and begin your
preparations and bestow attention upon
it,"
"But," answered the servant "shall
you not want me here, as usual"
"No, can do everything myself.
Monsieur would be displcased, am
sure, if after his long ride in such
weather he should not find good sup
per upon his return"
After some attempts at delay, which
redoubted in Madame Aubury an un-
easiness which she was obliged to con-
ceal, the girl quilted the chamber. Her
footsteps died away upon the stairs, and
her mistress found herself alone with
her child and those two terrible feet,
which, half seen in the now dying light,
seemed immovable as the beadstead it.
self She still remained sitting near
the chimney with the baby upon her lap,
addressing to him, almost mechanically,
carresing words, and soothing him to
sleep, while her eyes never wandered
from the menacing feet. The little fell
low, tired of his position, began to cry
for his cradle and its soothing motion,
but the cradle was close to the alcove-- e.
close to my feet. The young mother
conquered herself by violent effort.
"Come then, my child" said she, and
rising from her chair, she forced her
tottering steps to be firm, and went to-
ward the alcove. Behold her close to
the ominous feet She placed the baby
in the cradle, and with voice which all
her resolution could hardly keep from
trempling, she commenced to sing her
usual lullaby to the unconscious child,
and as she sang the idea was ever in her
that each word might be her last. At
last the boy slept soundly, and the
mother returned to her seat by the
fire.
The clock strikes seven. One hour
more and Madame Aubrey may expect
deliverence. A deep silence reigned in
the chamber. The infant slept peace
fully. His mother, her bands copvul-
sively clasping each other, her lips
apart, her eyes fixed upon the menac-
ing feet, remained immovable as q sta
tue. From time to time, some noise in
the garden would cause the heart of the
watcher to leap with hope, but it always
proved to be the rain, tho wind or the
shaken trees. 1t seemed to the unhappy
woman that time had stopped, and that
she was alone with those haunting feet.
Heavens They move Is the assassin
about to commence his fcarfal work |
But mott was only slight movement,
induced no doubt by the constrained
position. He resumes his immobility.
The half-hour strikes. The anxious
watcher could have almost sworn that
it was two hours since it struck last ;
but no, she knows that the clock is
faithful, and there is still another weary
half.hour before she may expect her
deliverer.
Mamame Aubrey took book of re-
ligious meditations from the chimney
piece above her head, and attemptoGiVo
read. Vain effort Her eyes wandered
continually from the page. Suddenly
thought crossed her mind with the
sharpness and suddenness Of light-if
her husband should not return His
parents lived in the village to which he
had gone what more natural than that,
seeing the severity of the weather, M.
Aubrey should allow himself, by fond
persuasions, to be detained until morn.
ing She could neither wonder at nor
blame him. But then what would be-
come Of herself and the little one
dearer than herself ?-her brain reeled
under the thought. Eight o'clock sound
ded, and nobody had come. The sup
position then was correct the unhappy
woman gave herself up for lost. She
was about to seize her child and fly
from the room, when a noise resounded