Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-25


he gone about two days. DonT Want
to fake the money with me; Will you
take charge of it while 1 az gones
"If you will trust me-"
"Bless my soul! yes, of course; here
is the money. Must hurry away. 4ood
morning."
Scarcely had portly Mr. Sayre gone
away before Mr.. Devarges came
sauntering it,
"GoJ quite little sum there, haven't
you, Miss Nellie 2" cycling the bills IN
my hand. u,,u
"Yes," I replied, laug Ching; "Mr:
Sayre has made me his banker. LOOK !!
Nine hundred dollars! How rich L
would be if it were mine !"
"You deserve to have much more, and
doubtless that pretty face'll win it,
Somehow this bold compliment failed
to please me, and it was with GOODNESS
that I said:
stake a chair, Mr.. Devarges."
mo, thank you, Miss Nellie. I have
an appointment. But will you allow
me to call on you this evenings"
"Well, I scarcely think | will be at
home. You know that mother and SIS
ter Lulu are away, and little while
ago got word from grandmother saying
perhaps had better come and stay all
night with her."
It was true that I had received such
word from grandma, but I lad not
thought of accepting it. | hoped that
Jack would come and make up, and OF
course, I didn't care to have Mr.. Devar'
ges call on me at the same time
"What will you do with that money,
Miss Nell ?" carelessly inquired Mr..
Devarges.
"Oh, shall put it right here in this
drawer. No one knows about 1t, and 1t
will be perfectly secure"
"Dare say good morning." and with
| a courtly bow, my admirer left.
| All during the day 1 busted myself
| about my numerous duties, and when
night came put on the dress Jack liked
best, and anXiousiy waiting his coming.
| "Seven O'Clock eight O'Clock: nine
o'clock! The last train had come aud
gone, and my duties for the day were
over. [ put out the light in the ticket
Office and went into the sitting room.
and watched and waited. Ten o'clock
Half. past tent No use waiting any
longer-he wouldn't come.
| 7 went to the door, opened it and look.
ed out. There seemed every thing weird
about the whole landscape. Even the
shadows seemed alive The sky was
beginning to be overcast, and the moon
peeped out of an inEy black cloud. The
frogs down the river were croaking dis.
mally the wind seemed to whisper and
moan.
| I shivered out with a nameless dread,
and closed the door; went to bed ano
cried myself to sleep.
| had slept an hour, perhaps, and ther
awoke with sudden start, feeling 8
great difficulty in breathing A part o
the quit lay across my mouth, " fhought
but on reaching my hand to remove ii
7 found that it was handkerchief satu
rated with-what Chlorofo,m
A thrill Of terror passed over ne. Who
had done this -? Was there some one IL
the house?
I half arose and gazed about me. Al
was dark except little rag OF ilght fali
ing through the partly closed doors.
[ silently arose, and just then almos
screamed in fear when sudden sounC
smote upon my ear. 1t was only the
clock striking the hour of midnight. ]
placed my hand upon my heart to sootht
its fierce throbs.
Stepping along, carefully avoiding al
obstacles, I reached the door, opened it
and glanced into the sitting room. NJ
one was there, but some one was in the
ticket office, for saw light and heard
voice. What did they want? The
money !-oh, the money left in my
charge. Somebody was stealing it, ant
what would say to Mr.. Sayre? My
God I might be accused OF taking Il
myself, and thus lose honor and posi-
ton.
"Rather lose Iife," said to myself
II will defend that money unto death. u
and / looked about for some weapon.
Under the stove was a large iron poker
Selling it carefully, started slowly to-
ward the door. The light fell upon the
mirror, rejecting my figure, and I've
often thought since, with sick feeling
of horror, what picture of desperation
I was, clad in my flowing white night
dress and my hair all unbound. my face
white as marble, and eyes dliated and
glittering with strange, steely light
"God aid me ~ said with white lips
and then opened the door of the office
and stole softly in. A man with his
back toward me was at the other end OF
the room. He had forced open the
drawer, taken out the money, and was
looking gloatingly at the crisp green
bills, when I stole behind him. [ had
lust raised the poker to strike him when
he glanced around.
My God! It was Clarence Devarges
"Hangit! Now suppose will have
Ito kill this pretty'- He seized me by
the throat, and muttering faint cry, I
sank down. Just. then Jack, my own
Jack, rushed in. [ heard Oaths, blows,
fierce struggling-then all was dark.
For the first time in my life [ tainted.
= x X
When I recovered, Jacks face was