Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
greens which clothed that part of the grounds

would effectually screen them from view. At
that very moment they were doubtless making
was to be done7 Never had realized 80 fully
a. at that moment how helpless q creature a
woman Is. Drawing my shawl more closely
AROUND me- and putting on pair Of list slippers
crept noiselessy out OF the room. At the top
of the stairs 1 halted and listened. but all
was silence the most profound. The corri-
dor out OF which the bedroom opened
was lighted at the opposite end by
high, narrow window which looked into the
| garden To this window / now made my way,
and there, with one ear pressed to the cold
glass, stood and listened. Presently heard
the faint sound of footsteps. and then the sub
dued voices of two people talking to each other.
Directly under the place where was standing
was the back drawing-room. which opened ON
the garden by means of French window; and
although this window was secured at night by
shutters had an idea that the security in ques-
ton was more fancied than real. and was of a
kind that would be laughed to scorn by any
burglar who was acquainted with his business
IL the men had made up their minds to break
into the hOuse-and with what other object
could they be there?-the probability was that
they would make the attempt by way of the
French window. Even while this thought was
passing through my mind the voices of the men
sank to whisper. and a low, peculiar grating
sound made itself heard. Evidently they had
already begun to force the fastenings Of the WIN
daZed and helpless
rs that you, Barbara? Where have you
been ?" asked my sister.
Going into her room, sat down on the side
OIL the bed and told her everything in as few
words as possible. She was Of a somewhat tmid
and nervous disposition. and my news visibly
affected her. She sat up in bed, trembling and
clinging tony arm.
''Perhap9" she whispered, sif we lock our
bedroom doors and keep very quiet. they will
without cOmin1
why. you goose. it's not us they have come
after. but MIR. ShiltO's ninety pounds"
answered
"And there's poor mammals silver tea-service
down stairs; hope they won't find that" said
Bessie.
hoped so too but there was no iudginehow
much Dethei had contrived to ascertain respect
ing us aud our affairs. went to the corridor
window again and listened. The noise made by
the men was now plainly distinguishable 1t
seemed as If they were trying to file or cut their
way through some obstruction. After listening
1Or few moments, went back to my room and
began almost mechanically to put on few
articles OF clothing, asking myself again and
again as did so whether 1t was not possible to
do something-though what that something
ought to be knew no more than the man in
the moon. The nearest house was a quarter of
mile away; and even if could have stolen out
unnotced by way of the front door, before |
could have reached the farm and brought back
help the burglars would have effected their
purpose and decamped. Our pecuniary means
at that time were very Strengthened. For some
time back John had been paying off some old
family debts and the loss OF the ninety
poundS-which, as matter Of course, he would
feel bound to make good-woud be a great
blow to him. II could only have got at the
money, and have hidden it where the burglars
would not be likely to find It, felt that /
should have accomplished something. But the
bag was locked up in Johns strong mahogany
desk, and was as utterly beyond my reach as il
1t had been In the Golfers of the Bank of
England. while yetit could hardly have been
placed more conveniently ready to the hands of
the thieves. To them the strong mahogany
desk would seem trlfilng obstacle indeed.
At this time, metaphorically speaking, l was
wringing my hands. knowing full well how pre-
cious were the fast fleeting moments, but only
feeling my helplessness the more strove
to discern some lOOphole OF escape Oh.
the wretchedness of such feeling! 1 hope
never to experience it again I'm the same degree
as experienced it that night. The lightning
If not quite so vivid as it had been a little while
previously, still came in as frequent flashes and
by its light my sister and made q hurried tot
let. Our house stood little way back from the
hlgh-road. from which 1t was divided by tiny
lawn and a low screen of eyergreens Once or
twice in the course Of the night one OF the
mounted cOnstabulary would ride slowly past
as he went his rounds; but | was without any
knowledge as to the particular time when he
u,
at which he might be looked for at any specified
point did not vary from night to night Still.
there was just possibility that he might put
IN an appearance at any moment, so stationed
Bessie at the window to keepa lookout for him,
and be in readiness to raise an alarm the mo-
ment she heard the tramp of his horses hoofs
For once in way the lightning was something
to be thanked for; each flash lighted up the
high-road tor considerable distance on both
sides of the house.
thing possible had been done; and yet it was
next to nothing. With both hands pressed to
my eyes. stood thinking as | seemed never to
have thought before. Then it was that-as
sudden, swift and startling as one of those
flashes which were mOmently Illuminating the
outer Torld-an idea shot through my brain
which tor an instant or two seemed to cause
my heart to stand still. And yet at the first
blush it was an idea that had about it something
so prepOsterous so ludcrous EVEN. that had the
need been at all less imminent. / shonld have
discarded it at once as little better than the in
spiration OF mad woman. But preposterous
as the idea might seem, for the lite of me could
think of no other. and every minute now was
invaluable. There was no time for hesita-
ton. | must discard it or adopt and that
without moments delay a. will try it; it
can but tail, l said to myself, with an inward
groan.
On the toilet-tabe was lar Of white tooth
powder. which had been replenished the pre-
tiouS uti5 sHooh out quantity OF THIS pow
der shut my eyes and proceeded to rub it
thlckly over my face arms and hands That
done. drew the white coverlet off the bed and
draped myself with it loosely from head to foot;
then unbound my hair which i'm those tiavs
was ebon black and reached below NV waist
and shook it round my face and over NV
shoulders in most admired disorder" [ was
now ready for the role | had made I'D nv mind
to enact.
Bessie has told. me since that she thought I
had taken leave OF my senses. Just at the mo-
ment my toilet was completed and as turned
anu advanced toward her, another long culver
ing flash lighted up the ROOM A low shrek
burst lnyoluntarily from my sisters lips and she
shrank away from me as though was something
altogether uncanny.
20. Barbara. dear, what is the natter" she
cried. why do you frghten me sop
ut Is not you want to frighten but the men
down stairs" replied Then in few hurried
words told her my plan.
She would have tried to dissuade me- but
there was no time to listen. Leaving her there
watching by the window, ready to raise an
alarm in case the mounted constable should
pass on his round, stole swiftly and noiseessly
down the carpeted staircase. and only paused
when reached the corridor below / could
hear subdued murmur of voices and a mo-
ment later was startled by a noise of falling
glass The burglars had succeeded i'm effectinp
an entrance. They and | were separated ONLY
by the drawing groom door, which. although
locked, was an obstacle that very few minutes
would suffice to overcome With an indrawing
of my breath sped quickly past the door along
the length of the corridor until reached the
opposite end, where there were two more doors.
one Qt them heinz that Of brotbar,o ofioo