Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-12-04

ihe was now prepared to consider the
present
Bearing in mind that she had agreed
% meet her accomplish at their tryst-
ng-place near the wayside inn as soon
IS possible after nightfall and relieve
lim of little Stella, she prepared her
elf for the undertaking before her
She had determined to remove the
,hild to the city that evening, and con-
zeal her until such time as she could
/. make further and permanent arrange
. nents for her
In her secret heart she hoped that
when she met the rutlian he would an
iounce that the poor little innocent
iad never awakened from her drugged
deep; in the event, however, of this
/ olution of the difficulty not being
forthcoming, she felt obliged to be pre-
pared to act. Placing one hundred
dollars in her bosom, and arraying her
,elf as simply as possible for the trip
@ the city, she bound veil about her
ace and sat down to wait for the sun to
set.
All, how the hours, the minutes, the
,econds, even, Jagged upon leaden wing
Would the sun 3leUer set2
At last, worn ont with impotence,
md Just as the god of day set his
golden feet upon the distant tips of the
western hills, she started out, selecting
sylvan path in preference to the high
Dad, for obvious reasons.
1t was thus that she passed close to
he retreat of poor Arnim, and he, see
ing her pass, desperate with his own
despair and the pangs of hunger, blind
ID by bloody film that seemed to float
ike mist before his vision, got up and
| followed her.
1t was fully dusk ere she reached the
| ;endeZvous. q glade of the woods that
ed down to the old barn adjoining the
| mn. 1t was quite dark there among
| he trees, but her sharp sight detected
! he figure of man lurking in the shad.
wv. She advanced quickly, and the
| nan approached her.
| "Where is the child ?" she demanded.
"Where is the money!" he retorted.
Here" touching her bosom signifi-
| ,antly. 81
How much did you bring with
| Fou?"
What 1 agreed to bring--eighty dol
lars"
"Not enough"
"Not enough? What do you mean?'
Il mean just this: You are rich, I'm
Door; you want your child; 1 want
money. Give me five hundred dollars,
Ind you shall have the brat"
His daring proposal was met with
lard, scornful laugh.
| why, you great, uncouth foolh
,ried the woman, "before I'll give you
me cent now I'll go into that inn, and
tenounce you for what you are-s
ying thief! The child is mine, and
can prove that you killed her. Sc
much for your insolence. Stand out Of
NY way"
She attempted to carry her bold
threat into execution, but ere she could
PASS the ruffian he stretched forth his
orawny hands and seized her firmly by
he shoulders.
"Let me go, villain" cried my lady
| Cora, maintaining with marvellous grit
Ter presence of mind.
mot yet, my beauty. Hold your
lack, or I'll strangle you'll Quick.
where's the money!"
''Let go your hold"
Shut upp
She struggled desperately, but strug-
| gled in vain; she was held in grip Of
ron. He seized both her hands in one
If his, crushing the delicate wrists
uthlessly, forced her upon her knees,
With scream of pain, while with his
isengaged hand he began to rend her
clothing from the treasure it con.
| .ealed.
| At this moment lighted lantern
| iparkled in the distance; Cora saw it.
md in desperation shrieked:
Help, help oh, help"
Instantly there was rush of feet
the neighboring sh17lbbery was torn
away, and the agile figure of Rupert
Arnim sprang into the clearing.
Cora! Coral" he cried, and in the
uext breath launched himself upon the
:ufian, who fell to the ground with a
dull thud, releasing his hold upon his
victim. She sprang to her feet, and
with never a backward glance to ascer.
5ain what had befallen her protector,
she fled away along the path by which
she had come.
Fleet as she was she could not have
been out of ear shot when shrek OF
mortal agony rang out upon the night,
and the unknown desperate fled,
thrusting knife, reeking with warm
blood, into his belt.
Writing upon the ground in mortal
agony, Rupert Arnim raised himself
apon one arm and rolled his filmy eyes
hither and thither in mute anguish.
At last, not finding the object of his
search, and hearing no sound, he cried
What gone? You fly when / am
lying for you? All, / hate you now
md may God close my eyes against
ever seeing you again Cora, you have
ruined my life stabbed my honor to the
neart / curse you! II curse"
Then dead silence, broken only By
The lonesome croaking Of the frogs in
the marsh near by.
In total ignorance of the anathema
that was being hurled after her flying
eet, my lady Cora flew with the fleet
less Of deer, never pausing until,
painting with exhaustion, she burst into
the lighted hall of the house to which
she returned for the last time.
The watchful fooGman met her at the
entrance.