The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-08-21
A Dangerous Guest.

very DfllllanU one ana us Ille nlSut
was lovely, and the spacious ground
sprinklcd with starlight and flowers,
we all emerged from the stately
mansion into the open air, and were
soon scattered in knots, here and
there, enjoying the soft, balmy breeze
that were whispering through the
summer leaves, and gazing on the
the miniature lake in Central Park,
close by, that, in the silvery beams
of the rising moon, had just begun
to sparkle as though it were some
gigantic jewel scintillating in the
bosom of the landscape.
During the evening 1 had been
presented to several ladies of exceed
ing grace and of great beauty and
of great wealth, among whom l not
ed one of such surprising loveliness
that, now as / CHANGED to perceive
her leaning on the arm of my friend
Frederick-the son of our generous
host thought him one of the most
fortunate fellows in the world for |
could comprehend that his heart
and that of the exquisite and ac-
complished creature by his sside were
entangled in the meshes of the same
silken net.
Frederick was a very handsome
fellow of about twenty-seven, while
Miss L, OR the beautiful Flor
ence" as she was sometimes called
had just completed her twenty
first year. They were engaged in
low and earnest conversation as they
sauntered close by a secluded arbor
to which 1 had unconsciously wan
dercd, and where l found solitary
seat. From the denseness of the TO-
liage that surrounded me, they pass
ed without observing me, and left
me to train of thought which l
was pursuing, when the entrance of
the arbor was suddenly darkened by
the figure of u man, who had Just
darted across the rustic path out of
clump of evergreens. / perceived
at a glance that he was not one of
the guests, for he wore thick boots, a
slouched hat and a coarse pea-jacket
while single glimpse of his heavy
under-jaw and huge, rough hands,
not to speak of hismassive, low heap
of form, induced me to steal cauti-
ously from where l sat and conceal
myself behind the trunk of a tree
that stood within the leafy grotto.
l had not been secreted here but
a few seconds, when the man, who
appeared to be intensely watching
the young couple who had just gone
down the walk, uttered suppressed
exclamation, and the next instant a
second figure stood in the opening
also. This time, however, it was
that of a woman, beautiful as the
day, but with an expression of coun-
tenance so fendish, that, the mo-
ment she threw back the hood of the
mantle that enveloped that her
whole form and revealed her feat
ures in the tender lustre that fell up
on them, l had almost betrayed my
self, so great was my surprise. On
making some observation TO the man
which | was unable to hear, she sud
denly drew him deeper into the
grotto, until they both stood within
Il single yard Of me, in almost inn
penetrable darkness. Here, after a
brief pause, she exclaimed, in a voice
which, although suppressed, seemed
terribly cruel and excited;
"Have you seen them ? have you
seen them =? They passed but few
moments since, and alone? CASTOR
you have deceived me! In this re-
mote part of the grounds, which |
knew they would seek, you might
have done the work from behind Sc
curely and without detection, fol
you could have escaped the moment
she fell. And here was the point
that you yourself selected. l have
been drawn toward the I can't tell
how ! Why did you not strike ? He
would not have deserted her to pur'
sue you After them, man ! aftel
them, and avenge me, if you would
have wealth and the protection Of
one who can almost set the law al
deffancep
l was paralized, but dared not at
tempt to move, as was totally un'
armed; for I knew that the desper
ate william would make short work
of me, and if he was aware that
had overheard what had been JUS
uttered. l therefore determined t.
remain concealed until l heard tn,
returning footsteps of my friend anC
his fair companion, or until the con
spirators had settled upon some de
finite plan of action. I had arrived
ut this hurried conclusion when tn,
Z L.