St. Landry democrat., 1882-09-30

lLllld, tlilet IooA> '1o-N0- ~--' o
sweetiy:
.. If Miss Leigh will leave the door
aiar. can hear a call from this room,
and will come INSTANTLY
Thanks, Parl1ins, but | hope i shall
not have to call you,' said Lima, speak
mo as sweet as Parkins herself.
Then as she glided to the door as
soon as it was closed, she turned with a
face of dismay, and whispered:
The key is gone. She took it when
she was hdgeting in and out with the
sheets and pillows
There is bolt bes;des," Aunt Mar
@aret answered. :.
Lima cave a sigh of relief as she slip
ned the bolt into the groove. and felt
that she had at least some little protec-
ton against the enemy.
..Now, child" Aunt Margaret said,
..can YOU use piStol?'
Il never touched one in my life, y said
the little coward; but II L had one
now would try"
every well. Take my safe-key-it is
under my pillow-and unlock the safe.
They are just as my husband left them
a wear ago but Robert looked at them
few DAYS ago, and said they were all
rjoht. That is it. Put one OF them on
the foot of the bed, and if those
wrctches come, try. my dear, to use it.
Now put the other here, by my left
hand Thank God. | can Use that a
little. Now, what are you doing? Oh,
YES: pile up all you can against the
door. There, YOU can't move anything
else. Now, come here, little girl, kneel
down by ME, and lets say our prayers
together"
With the old lady's thin, pallid hand
clasped tightly i'll her two cold. trem-
bling little ones Lima knelt down there,
and, bllrying her face in the pillow, tried
to pray.
Her petition was not a very coherent
one: it was only wild, passionate cry
for pity and help. and meanwhile she
was listening with every nerve strained
for sounds from the outside. a lamp
, burned in the room. On the mantel-
piece softly-ticking clock marked the
Slow minutes. No other sound broke
the stiffness.
, Presently sob shook the girl fig
, IRE. She was thinking OF Sir Rober
and his tender care over her.
Oh, if she had only not been so way
ward and proud this evening all woult
t have been well. He would have come
/ for her, and they would have been safe
g But surely, surely, he would conn
yet
He could not fail to find the note, ant
S she knew he would come to save her
- But vet horrible doubts came to her a
TO whether the note would reach him
Z # mioht be lost, or Leo might Wande
a about and not oct home until it was to
!. late.
e Too late. Lima shuddered an
O sobbed again as she thought what tina
) might mean Oh, it was hard to thin
Il OF diving so helplessiy, so horribly, Wit
e help so near.
r. The LONG minutes crept on and n
|. sound came until eleven O'Clock h;s
+ uassed. The little clock softly chime
e the half hour. Then. in a few moment:
1t came sound OF stealing footsteps
l. the passage and the knob OF the doc
5, was softly turned.
T. Breathless silence in the room. The
n a gentle tap at the door. Lira ciaspe
ID Aunt Margaret hand convuIslIei.,
and the cd lady spoke.
w "What is that?' she asked, steadll.
at 1T is me. Parkip.s, ma am. Wlllyc
as ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly ope
e. the door? | have the toothache, al
ut want some laudanum. y
Mt ..What a devil it isr' whispered Au
y Margaret. Then aloud: 600 down s1al
Il. and get something, Parklns. L cam
ct trouble Miss Leigh.
I'd Lima hoped that Parkins would ur!
the point little. Anything to prolol
1t the parlev and gain time.
But whisper in the passage folloWe
be and then Il man voice:
as Ladies, there's no use making TO
just open the door peacefully, and y
We shan't be hurt. Wen break it down
re you don't.'
ok "What do you waut?:' dina aske
il? hoping to gain a little time. n new a
Use prut1 voice answered, insolently:
VS. "You know we'll enough what
Mt. wants, miss. We wants the thousa
nd pounds and the diamonds, and we me
Ell to have them. So don't be a tool, |
Just open the door peacefully, or yoI
ms be sorry
ler Lima sprang to her feet and selzed
'sI pistol A flood OF color rushed to
cheek and brow. She had been
suited and threatened, and indignat
wn overpowered terror. She went tow;
ed the door and called out, quickly a
IN clearly:
co, ..You re not coming in. 1have s.
err for help. and sir Robert and his men
be here directly am armed; AM
ter you do break the door down will sh
sob you like dog
A moments silence followed, the
9th coarse laugh, and
yer IAN CANNON. She hadn't no one
send. Break the door down, In 1
cen kins' voice: and heavy blows began
foil 1,nnn tho door Ii tremhled