Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-12
Il will wait until morning. replied


the man.
.'She is sure to dance to the yer,
last, you know" added the woman.
Don't lose your head, that's all, Z
admonished the man.
II lose my head, indeedr' retorted
the woman, whose voice and bearing
were youthful.
The Professor moved slowly away,
scarcely needing these words waited to
his ear by a passing breeze. At an
angle of the path was a rustic bench
beneath a larch-tree, known as Profess
sor Horizons favorite seat Hither he
directed his steps in an irritated mood,
and sank down on it in sheer weari-
ness. The scent of flowers reached
him, while the foliage seemed to spread
above him fragrant robes of dark
ness Grateful repose succeeded noise
and light, lulling all his senses to soft
oblivion; he fell asleep.
He was awakened by terrible peal
of thunder, and opened his eyes with a
bewildered uncertainty as to surround
ing objects. The trees swayed wildly
in the rising wind; few large drops OF
rain fell heavily among the leaves;
lightning quivered on the horizon. Sud-
denly female form bent over him,
some small object was thrust into his
hand, and a voice whispered in his
ear:
II am early. She had headache.
Quick take them, or shall be missed. "
The thunder rolled, the trees swayed,
the woman vanished. Professor Hor-
ton winked several times, and opened
his mouth to speak. then closed his lips
without sound. The object thus unex-
pectedly consigned to his care was a
small leather bag, scarcely more than a
tobacco pouch, and heavy. Mechani-
cally he thrust it into one of the wide
pockets of his loose coat. Hank! A
heavy footsep crushed the gravel on the
path to the right. The Professor rose
to his own feet, as if moved by spring,
his knees shook, his teeth chartered, a
deadly fear smote him.
Fear of what evil? He did not know.
To shrink to the left, gain the next
clump of shrubbery, and conceal him.
self, was the work of moment, and ac-
complished with the more ease that he
knew every inch of ground from long
familiarity. Had he not planted many
of these trees, which now proved
friends? The hiding place gained was
larch surrounded by stiff little Japan
ese cedars, and forming sort of LADY,
rinth. Scarcely had the Professor gil
ded into this shelter than vivid sheet
of lightning illuminated the whole coun-
try side. He SdW himself seated on, the
rustic bench beneath the ldrch-tree! He
could not believe the evidence of his
own senses; the breath remained sus-
pended on his own lips. Had he been a
devout Catholic he would have crossed
himself, invoking the protection of a
calendar of saints; chill of supersti-
tious dread certainly stagnated his
blood. Was he to believe that his hour
had come? There sat his own image
on the rustic bench, the soft felt hat
pulled down over the brow, the broad
shoulders, the slouching nondescript at
tire: nothing was lacking to complete
the resemblance. Was he still asleep,
victim of nightmare, or gone mad? He
pinched his flesh and rubbed his eyes
violently. The figure under the larch-
tree did not vanish. Swift realization
of the truth dawned on the drowsy
scholar. He was alone, at distance
from the silent hotel, and he had in his
pocket bag which belonged to the
other. What if this unknown had
found him still on the bench? What if
he emerged now, accosted the stranger,
and gave him the bag?
Al l.
there's a heaven above u.s. shuddered
the man of letters, with conviction for
which he could give no reason.
At this juncture the wind freshened.
and the rain fell in torrents, while the
lightning became less frequent. Pro-
fessor Horton quilted the larch-tree,
reached the hotel with surprising agil-
ity, found n window of the recent ball
room unfastened, CROPPED his way
that deserted apartment, and
gained his own chamber The bag ,oas
gORet He had lost it from the wide
pocket, probably in his flight. His
watch marked two o'clock. The Pro-
fessor eXtinguished his candle, opened
the shutters of the window, and seated
himself with his eyes fixed on the east
ern horizon. He was a prey to the most
exciting emotions.
Professor Horton was the first votary
of the Silver Spring abroad next morn
ing. II he was feverish and haggard,
with a stealthy, even furtive aspect,
the boy at the fountain did not notice
the circumstance. Always an earlier
riser, the Professor slipped glass OF
the sparkling water. and then walked
along the upper paths of the grounds.
Cautiously he skirted the rustic seat be.
meath the larch-tree, and approached
the larch. A short, dry laugh OF
triumph escaped the lips of the usually
student. A leather
bag, half pouch, lay concealed by the
long grass, beneath Nthe spreading
boughs. The larch-tree had kept its
secret well. The bag remained where
it had fallen from the Professors wide
pocket. He clutched it, returned to
his room, and proceeded to investigate
the contents. The little bag held the
Delaunay diamonds. Necklace, brace.
lets, butterfly Misunderstanding was
lacking in this precious heap swept
hastily from cumbersome case and cas-
ket.
Five minutes later the rosy landlord
was seized by the collar, dragged into
his priyat Office, and confronted BY
Professor Horton, whose agitation
verged on sheer lunacy. The latter
took from his pocket little bag, ant
poured out the Delaunay diamonds
telling wild and incoherent tale mean
while about a larch-tree and midnigh
rambles.
Nobody would believe it, you know,
said the Colonel, coolly. The hotel pro
prietor is never surprised in this world
Take the trinkets, and restore then
in your own way. Do not mention
me in the transaction" retorted thu
Professor. He stopped and plunged hi
fingers once more into the rainbow o
precious stones with sort of intoxi
cation; the starry rays of rose and blu,
dazzled behind him. Beautiful ane
fatal gift to man, he murmured, witt
parched lips.
The Colonel closed one eye, with tn,
aspect of sagacious bird.
Professor Horton sought his bed, ant
slept heavily until four o'clock in tn
afternoon. He was awakened by voices
and peered through the shutters of hi
Al