Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-09-02

This latter accomplished, he drew
from his pocket long, shining knife
or blade, which flashed for an instant
in the moon, and then stepping aside
he concealed himself among the TO
liage, as if to wait the reappearance
of his intended victim.
| was, as might be presumed, il
state of the most dreadful excite
ment and alarm, for here / was in {
secluded part of the grounds, will
an assassin within few feet of me
meditating terrible deed, and moi
knowing at what instant he might
dart out and plant his deadly weapon
in the heart of Miss L-once she
has passed the entrance of the arbor
My hope of escape was cut of
completely, for it was impossible fol
me to work my way through the
dense sides of the retreat without q
noise that would lead to my discov-
cry. So l kept my eyes fastened
steadily on the opening, determined
when l heard the approaching foot
steps of my friend and his compan-
ion, to burst forth from my conceal
ment and apprise them of their dan
ger.
This decided upon, without a mo-
ment's hesitation, / cautiously sank
on one knee and began to take off
my shoes, which. although very light,
would still make considerable noise
on the gravel. | had removed one
of them, and was about to relieve
myself of the other, when my hand
touched something cold that was "
ing on the ground. 1 grasped it
noislessly, and found it to be short
crowbar, that had, l supposed, been
used in removing stones from the
walks.
I was now armed, and, regaining
my feet, / stood Invested of my
shoes, determined to cope with the
murderer when the moment arrived.
| was not kept long in suspense,
for scarcely had l stood erect with
the crowbar in my hand, when the
silverv laugh of Florence and the gay
voice of Frederick fell upon my ear.
There was a slight rustling noise
among the leaves near the en-
entrance of the arbor, and | OBJ
served CASTOR cautiously peering thro'
the opening, while his terrible
blade glittered again in the moon
beams.
His back was turned toward me,
and as the young lovers were now
close by, he seemed preparing HIM
self to spring out from his conceal
ment the instant they had passed.
There was not a second to be lost,
for they were already opposite the
grotto, and in another moment the
murderer would be upon them. My
breath came thick and fast, and be-
fore / was aware of my movements
l found that l had crept within a
single pace of him.
His knife was suddenly lifted above
his head, and perceiving that Fred
ericb and Florence had now left the
arbor few PAGES behind, stepped
softly on the grass, careful not to
tempt the noisy gravel, and was in
the act of stealing upon them, when,
with swift and terrible blow, I
felled him senseless to the earth,
while uttering at the same time a
cry for help that reached the lawn
near the mansion.
In q moment Frederick was by my
side, wild with surprise and alarm,
while Florence fell, almost fainting,
into the extended arms of the beau
tiful Clara, who, with several ladies
and gentlemen, quickly reached the
spot.
Enraged at such perfidy on the
part of a woman, I instantly whis-
pered a few words in the ear of the
fendish rival of Miss L -, who
had supposed her intended victim
stabbed to the heart, which caused
her to disappear from the scene with
a sudden cry that was inexplicable
save to myself only.
In the meantime, and without fur
ther explanation, / caused CASTOR to
be firmly bound by some of the SER
wants, and carried, while still insen-
sible, to one of the outbuildings of
the mansion, where a watch was set
over him, while taking Frederick
aside, / related to him all that had
just occurred in the grotto, and what
a narrow escape Miss L had of
her life. / thought the poor fellow
would have fallen to the earth as /
recounted the particulars of the fear
full scene. But, as / was DESTROYS
that knowledge of them should be
communicated to no other person for
the present, it was agreed that we
should present CASTOR in the light of
a robber only, whose career had been
arrested summarily.
Next morning it was discovered
that the blow received by the intend
ed assassin, although not mortal, had
not only effectually destroyed his
memory, but left him a harmless
simpleton for the rest of his life.
And, by four o'clock in the after
noon, we learned that the beautiful
Clara and her gentle aunt had sailed
for Europe. In due time Florence
was made aware of the circumstances
q L l.