Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-11

think ] have implied that / was
brave. In my girlhood, in my short
married life, even i'm the sad depression
of my early widowhOod. | had never
known physical fear; nevertheless, when
the last of Warden's footsteps echoed
ont and died. and that profound still
ness followed which can be oppressive,
| had curious sensation.
did not call IL fear. ! did not know
IL for that grim and pale-faced tyrant;
but il made me uncomfortable and
caused my heart tO beat irregularly.
The sensation was ,hi>-I felt that
was not alone.
OF course il was fancy. and what had
! 10 10 with fancy?
determined To Danish this uncOm-
Portable feeling from my mind. and
stirring the fire to a cheerful blaze. |
drew one of the black oak chairs near
il and sat down.
Warden had looked - pale and fright
cned before She left me that. out of con
sideraiion for her feelings. ] had al
lowed her 10 leave the jewels which |
had worn that evening ON the dressing
table.
There they lay. set Of very valuable
Lrilliant~. There was an Old-fasnioned
mirror over the mantel-piecc. and a. !
sat by the fire | saw the reflection of
my diamonds in the glass. ~ no
ticcd their sparkle. again that strange
sensation returned; this time more
strongly, this time with Il cod SILVER.
! was not alone.
Who was in the tapestry chamber?
Was it the ghost? Was that story true.
after all? OF course | did not believe
10. laughed aloud as the idea came
To- me. felt that | was getting quite
silly and nervous. There wa nothing
for me but to get into bed rs quickly as
possible.
was about To. rise from my easy
chair and 90 over TO the Old-fashioned
four-pOster. when again nv attention
was attracted to the glass over my head.
10 was hung in such a way rs To- reveal
- large portion at the room, and now
saw. not the diamonds, but-something
else.
In the folds Of the dim and Old-world
; tapestry saw something move and
glitter. looked again; there was nc
installing tit was AN Eye. human
eve. looking lixedly ut me through z
hole i'm the canvas. Now knew why
/ ! felt that | was not alone.
There was some one hidden between
the tapestry hangings and the wall 81
the chamber. Some onc-nOt a ghost
That eye was human, or / had never
/ Looked on human eve before. was
alone with "a thief. perhaps with worse.
and gems OF immense value Law within
his reach was absolutely alone, moi
soul could hear the most agonizcd cry
for help in this distant room.
Now kncw--h had ever doubted II
. bciorc--that was very brave woman
/ The imminrnce Of the peril steadied
I the nerves which a few minutes bpfOr,
were beginning strangely to CULVER.
neither started nor exclaimed. | felt
/ that | hal in no way betrayed INV
/ knowledge To my terrible guest. | sat
/ perfectly still thinking out the situa
ton and my chances of escape.
Nothing but consummatc coolnes.
could sin the victory. resolved To- be
very cool. With fervent and pas sion.
I ate cry tn One above for Succor. | rose
from my chair, and going to the dress.
ing-tahlr, ! slipped several costly ring.
of my fingers. left them scattered
careles,ly about. denuded myself Of
all but my wedding ring.
Then put the eXtinguishcrs on the
/ caud - they were wax AMI stood In
I massive silver Caudlesticks The room
/ however. was still brilliant with the
/ light of the fire ON the hearth.
/ rot into bed. laid my head on the
/ pillow, and closed my eyes.
! IL may have been ten minutes II
seemed more like an hour tn NV strained
senses before heard the fainte,t
movement Tlon discovered a littl,
rustic bUhind the tlpcsirv. and q mar
/ got out. When he did - opcne m,
/ eyes wide; ~ that instant he could no
| possibly seq whether they were open ol
shut. lie was a powerful man of orea
height and breadth. II had a black
beard and quantity of thick blacl
hair. ! noticed his features. which
were t1lerablv regular.
also noticed another peculiarly
among his raven locks was one perfect
Is white. One rather thick white loci
was flung back on his forehead :,
white was It that the freight Instant,
re called it To- me.
The man did not glance toward ia,
bcd; he went stra ght. with no particu
larry qu.ct step. to the dressing-table
closed my eyes now. but | heard hin
taking up my trinkctS and dropping
thchi again. Then he approached In,
bed SIDE. felt him come close: | Eel
his breath ~ hc bent over me. wa
lying on my side; my eyes were shut:
was breathing gently.
He went away again; he returned {,
the dressing table. ! heard him rather
noiSily strike u match; then with
lighted candle i'm his hand he ono,
more approached the bed. This tim,
he bent very low indeed. and felt IN,
heat ot the fame n he passed II softl,
before my closed eyes. / lay still
however; not movement. not n hur
ricd breath, betrayed me.
heard him give short. satisfied
SIGH. Again. candle In hand. he re-
turned To the dressing-tablc. Once moro
! heard the clink.ng sound vi my trink
I cts rs they fell through his fingers
There was pause. aud then-for nc
( reason that | could ever eXplain-h,
left the trnSet- untouched on the table
and went to the door.
lie opened the door and went out.
! dii not know what he went fOr-per
haps 81 fetch n companion. certainly e
return but ] did know that my op
pOrtunitv had come
In an instant, quicker than thought
I'had staytcd from nay fcigned slum,
bers; | was at the door. I had bolted
and locked il. There were several bolt.
To the old-fashioned door. there wer,
even chains.
drew every bolt. | made every rust,
chain secure. was not an instant too
soon. had scarcely fastened the last
chain. with fingers that trembled, be-
fore the thief returned.
He saw that he had been outwitted
and his savage anger knew no bounds
he Kicked 81 the door. he called ON m,
wildly to open it; he assured me thai
he had a,cOmplices outside, that the,
would soon burst the old door from IL.
hinges. and my life would be the forfeit
To my terror L perceived that hi.