St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-02-02

came down with the basket the man
! had squeezed himself into a corner I'm.
observed; and when she went on he1
way, the stranger passed on to the top
of the house, and entered the room be-
hind that occupied by the Cravens.
An hour later a snug glow of fire
warmed the young couple and their
children; and the latter, having been
satisfied with meal, went sound asleep.
Tom watched his wife's busy fingers
mending shabby clothes for awhile; and
then he, too. went to bed sharing her
feryent hope that something would
turn up tomorrow.
And so it came about that, when all
were fast asleep, Clara sat on by the
fire that still burned cheerily; and after
eleven strokes had fallen slowly from
the big clock, and the restless roar OF
traffic was somewhat less in the ever
busy streets, her hands lay idle in her
| lap, and she blew out the candle to save
its light for another time, and turned
such sad young face, such troubled
blue eyes, upon the Pickering fire that
it seemed hard, hard so young q life
should be so old in sorrow.
A sound of voices in the next room
reused her. There was a door of COM
munication between the two rooms,
which was Of course locked, but which
made sounds easily heard. Clara knew
that their neighbor was an elderly
woman; she had met her on the stairs
sometimes, and she wondered who her
visitor could be at such an hour. Then
the sound of frightened sobbing and
expostulation made her listen attentive
", for she feared her neighbor was in
trouble, and determined to rouse her
husband, if necessary.
Not yet, Joe! Oh, don't say you
must go YETI
"Mother, I've stayed too long al
ready. They'll be after me sharp, now
the rewards out! Think of ESQ,
motherl The men who tempted me,
and got the jewels, would round on me
now and get the reward.
This was it, then! But one slight
wooden door stood between Clara and
the thief she had wished she could find
Only to step round the corner There!
she knew, was the police station, and,
for the news she brought them she
would get ESQ! She clasped her hands
tight, and sat perfectly still, all the
while knowing that every second less
ened her chance of securing the living
piece of property valued at ESQ. In
her present straits. ESQ seemed fort
une to her. No one who has not gone
through similar experience can ever
know what that temptation Wss to Mrs.
Craven. As she sat, her strained ears
caught the mothers voice again.
'I'll not keep you, though my heart
is breaking. My bonny boy come to
this! Oh, God, most merciful, save
him from a felon's doom!''
Mother, pray for me. If 1 escape,
/ vow to lead an honest life and make a
home for you. 1t has not been my
fault. Pray God to forgive and help
me-
Clara's grasp of her hands relaxed.
Then, with white face and sorrowful
eyes, she stood up and looked at her
two tiny sleeping boys. Then on her
knees she fell, and stayed in earnest
prayer until she heard the stealthy foot
steps creep down the stairs, and the
front door closed; and then she stole to
the window of her darkened room,
and, looking out into the lamp
lit street, watched quick walking
figure in an old country woman's cloak
with deep cape, and q large poke bon
net, such as her old neighbor always
wore; and she knew that the young
man had escaped in his mothers
clothes.
II.
One of the most old-fashioned houses
IN an old country town was Miss Grey
brooks. "A steep flight of Immediately
clean steps led from the pavement Of tne
High street to her hall door with its
shining brass knocker and bell-handle.
On each side of this hall door was q
large bay-Window, just high enough to
make it inconYenient for any one to
Differ to shake hands with Miss Grey |
brook when they were. in the street and |
she was tending her flowers in the win
low. At the back of the broad hall that |
vent straight across the house there
we're steps leading down into large,
veil kept gardens. and these were in
,losed by a substantial brick wall that |
protected the fruit and flow
rs from pilfering fingers.
Inside the house everything was ex-
'ressive of wealth and solid comfort.
Hiss Greybrook herself was regarded |
" the toWns-folk as peculiar, but her
regularity being accompanied by riches,
he was never made to feel it unpleas-
.ntly. In person she was tall and
angular, and pair of piercing
lack eyes that shone out in vivid
contrast to her gray hair gave her a re-
narkable appearance. Her caps were
.lways made high and her dresses
horter than anybody else's, and she