, 1881-11-18

seemed immovable as the bedstead It
self. She still remained sitting near the
chimney with the baby upon her lap,
addressing to him, almost mechanically,
carressing words, and soothing him TO
sleep, while her eyes never wandered
from the menacing feet. The little tel-
low, tired of his position, began to cry
for his cradle and Its soothing motion,
but the cradle was close to the alcove-
close to the feet. The young mother
conquered herself by a 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 II voice which all
her resolution could hardly keep from
trembling, she commenced to sing her
usual lullaby to the unconscious chlld,
AMI as she sang the idea was ever IN her
mind 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 our
more and Madame Aubrey may expect
deliverance. A deep silence relgned IN
the chamber. The infant slept peace
fully. His mother, her hands conyul-
sively clasping each other, her lips
apart, her eyes fixed upon the menaclng
feet, renamed immovable as a statue.
From time to time, some noise In the gar
den would canse the heart of the watch
er to leap with hope, but it always
proved to be the rain, the wind or the
shaken trees. It seemed to the IN
happy woman that time had stopped,
III. Il, 4 ha
ing feet Heavens! They novel Is the
assassin about to commence his fearful
work! But not was only a slight
movement, induced no doubt by the con-
strained position. He resumes his I'M
mobility.
The half hour strikes The anxious
watcher could have almost sworn that
it was two hours since it struck last.
but no, she knows tnat the clock is
faithful, and there is still another weary
half-hour before she may expect her de-
hverer.
Madame Aubrey took q book of re-
ligious meditations from the chimney
piece above her head, and attempted to
read. Vain effort! Her eyes wandered
continually from the page. Suddenly
thought crossed her mind with the
sharpness and suddenness of ight-if
her husband should not return! His
parents lived in the village to which he
had gone; what more natural than that,
seeing tho severity of the weather, NJ.
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 brain reeled
under the thought. Eight o'clock struck
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 noise resounded
from the gravel walk beneath the win
dow. The eager listener dared not trust
her ears; she had been SO often deceived
but now the door rolled upon its
hinges and then fell heavily back in It's
place. A kwell-known step gayly
ascended the stairs, the chamber door
opened and man appeared-a man,
handsome. strong and vigorous. II was
he! At this moment, had NJ. Aubrey
been the ugliest of men-the worst of
husbands-he would have assumed, in
the eyes of his wife, all the graces, all
the virtues imaginable.
He had only paused below to take off
his dripping clothes and lay down his
pistols. He extended his arms and his
wife rushed into them. But immedi-
ately recovering herself, she placed one
finger on her lips, and with the other
hand pointed to the feet.
NJ. Aubrey would not have been
worthy OF such a wife if he had failed in
decision or sang froid. He gave glance
at his wife which said that he under
stood, and said aloud:
Zone moment, my darling, and will
return; l have left my pocket book
down stairs, and L must show you my
riches"
With these words he left the room but
In a moment returned, holding a pistol
IN his hand. He examined the lock, ap-
preached the bed, stopped down, and
with his left hand seized one of the two
feet, the finger of his right hand resting
on the trigger of pistol.
Resist, and you are dead man. he
exclaimed.
The owner of the feet did not seem
disposed to risk the event. 81 suffered
himself to be dragged by the foot into
the middle of the room, where he dis
closed a most villainous face as he
crouched before the pistol pointed at his
head. On being searched, a dagger was
found and newly sharpened. He con-
fessed that the servant was his accom-
plice, and had told him of the booty
which awaited him.
Nothing remained but to deliver both
to justice. Madame Aubrey indeed
begged her husband to let them escape,
but the public interest demanded the
sacrifice of public lenity, and they were
delivered up.
During all this time the unconscious
child slept soundly. After some little
time Madame Aubrey related the events
of the evening.
Il did not think you had been so
brave" said her husband, embracing
her.
But in spite of her bravery, the events
of that night brought on nervous fever,
from which our little heroine did not re-
cover for some weeks.