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

sion into the open air, and were soon
scattered into knots, here and there
enjoying the soft, balmy breezes
that were whispering through the
summer leaves, and gazing on the
miniature lake in Central Park, close
by, that, in the silvery beams of the
rising moon had just begun to spar
kle as tho it were some gigantic
jewell schtillating in the bosom of
the landscape.
During the evening / had been
presented to several ladies of ex-
ceeding beauty and great wealth,
among whom / noted one of such
surprising loneliness that, now, as /
CHANGED to perceive her leaning on
the arm of Frederick-the oldest 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 ex-
quisite and accomplished creature by
his side were entangled in the mesh
es 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 / had unconsciously wan
dered, and where found solitary
seat. From the denseness of the
foliage that surrounded me, they
passed without observing me, and
left me to train of thought which
/ was pursuing, when the entrance
of the arbor was darkened by the
figure of a man, who had just darted
across the rustic path out of clump
of evergreens. l saw at a glance
that he was not one of the guests,
for he wore thick boots, slouched
hat and a coarse pea-jacket while
single glimpse of his heavy under
jaw and huge, rough hands not to
speak of his massive low heap of
form, induced me to steal cautiously
from where / sat and conceal my
self behind the trunk of tree that
stood within the leafy grotto.
| 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 a suppressed
exclamation, and the next instant a
second figure stood in the opening
also. This time, however, it was
that of woman beautiful as the
day, but with an expression of conn
tenance so fiendish, that, the moment
she threw back the hood of the man
tie that enveloped her whole form
and revealed her features in the ten
der lustre that fell upon them, | had
almost betrayed myself, so great was
my surprise. On making some OBJ
servation to the man, which | was
unable to hear, she suddenly drew
him deeper into the grotto, until
they both stood within a single yard
of me, in almost impenetrable gloom.
Here, after brief pause, she ex-
claimed, in voice which, although
suppressed, seemed terribly cruel and
excited:
"Have you seen them? have you
seen them? They passed but a few
moments since and alone CASTOR,
you have deceived mel In this re-
mote part of the grounds, which l
knew they would seek, you might
have done the work from behind Sc
curely and without detection, for you
could have escaped the moment she
fell. And here was the point that
you yourself selected. / have been
drawn toward the spot l can not tell
howl Why did you not strike. He
would not have deserted her to pur-
sue you! After them, man after
them, and avenge me, if you would
have wealth and the protection of
one who can almost defy the law! p
l was paralyzed, but dared not
attempt to move, as l was totally
unarmed ; for 1 knew that the des-
perate william would make short work
of me, and if he was aware that /
had overheard what had just been
uttered. | therefore determined to
remain concealed until / heard the
returning footsteps of my friend and
his fair companion, or until the con-
spirators had settled upon some def
mite plan of action. l had arrived
at this hurried conclusion when the
current of my thoughts were inter
rupted by the ruffin CASTOR, who in
low, coarse, husky tone, replied to
the beautiful demon who had just
spoken:
81 should ha' done the work, Miss
Clara, but another customer was
down the path a little before 'em,
that had lost sight on somewhere
hereabouts. That's how it is, but
there is plenty of time yet. 1t is
not late and chance may offer be-
fore she leaves. If / could catch
her alone for a single moment all
would be right; for, let me tell you
it's no easy matter when two on
'em together to do the job Clean
81 must return to the party now,
else my long absence may attract
attention." said Clara. "Tormented