Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-08-07

"Why, the bottle o. opium, to be
ures"
II, Mrs. Hanks?"
Yes, you'll you clear, ID up the cup
board this afternoon.
Hannah bred was re garding Oracle
with eyes alight with malicious curl
osity.
Il set the cupboard to rights" Oracle
Are you sure, my dear?" urged
Mrs. Hanks.
Quite sure, indeed, / am certain"
"The best of us are liable to make, n
mistake sometimes, put in Miss DR. ed.
frigidly.
II have madeno mistake, Miss DIR, ID y
was the firm reply.
"You seem strangely confidep { of
yourself" retorted the woman, it'll a
sheer.
Oracle made no reply; She wont to
the cupboard and busted herself with
searching the various shelves and. their
contents.
Lawyer Edgar was the first to, break
the silence.
81 have couple of letters to write
for Mr.. Clifford, F" he said, which will
detain me at the house for ml hour
longer; if you do not find the opium
before leave, let me know, anil / will
drive into Torquay for a fresh Supply"
And turning to Oracle, he added in an
undertone, "You will not forge It what I
told you?"
The glance he received was n,fficient.
When he had disappeared with the
housekeeper, and the sileno of the
tomb had settled upon the oh amber. n
full sense Of their loneliness eemed to
settle upon the two watche rs. Mrs
Hanks busted herself with pc mring ont
cup of steaming tea, while, Gracie's
eyes seemed to be drawn wit a an ire
sistible fascination toward tb e door, be-
yond which her best friend ON earth Law
between life and DEATH
Comfort with her father the moor
child had never known
The hours spent in Mr.. Clifford's
@ company were all the happin ess she had
ever experienced; he hsd educated her
and seemed to love her with fervor
that puzzled her as much as it mystitied
her.
1t ws,s Mrs. Hanks who spoke first.
Come, child" she cried, ego to bed:
you look tagged out
Oracle reused from her bitter rev.
erie, and returned to her surroundings
with start.
you must be tired also. Mrs.
Hanks" she ventured. "Let me roll
the great chair mp to the fire, and Won
rest for while. / will watch"
II am tired, that's fact, replied the
nurse, as she sweetened her tea: "but I
couldn't think of mapping tonight"
Oracle turned away with a look off
despair. }
How was she ever to reach Mr.. Cliff
ford's side without making a compro.
missing explanation to the watchful
nurse.
Meanwhile Mrs. Hanks raised he,
cup to her lips, and drained it to the
dregs.
"Sakes alive-!" she sputtered; chow
strong this tea is, to be surel" She
smacked her lips, and made very wry
face. II DECLARE" she continued u
should think it W as made O gunpow.
der"
Oracle rolled a huge invalid's chair
before the fire, and gently forced the
old woman into it.
"You shall rest for half an hour" she
insisted, with winning persuasion.
The comfortable chair felt grateful
to the weary nurse, and she INDUCED
In generous yawn.
well, don't mind if l do take
wink" she mumbled, provided you
keep an ear open"
Yes, yes; I'll keep wide awake
You won't if you don't take swal
low o. tea."
Very well; I will if you think
best. !"
Oracle poured some of the, drugged
tea out, and slipped . little of it.
Strong, isn't it?' mutt cred the
nurse, her eyes already closing with
the effect of the powerful opiate.
Very strong, indeed!" was the an
swer, with shudder of aversion.
You'd think it would keep body
awake" supplemented Mrs. Hanks.
but now I'm dead-gone."
Her voice sank to a whisper, her
head dropped forward upon her breast.
and she began to breathe heavily.
Oracle watched her in startled amaze
haohu, 40 " ieellHB OF uaZeu numbneSS
was gradually creeping over her own
senses.
"Strange!" she faltered; II never
saw her like this before Mrs. Hanksn
She leaned over the unconscious
woman, and took her hand in hers. as
she called upon her name. But there
was no answer. !
With a premonition of approaching
danger upon her, Oracle FASTENED to
the other side of the chair, knelt there. J
and tried to get better view of the
sleeper's face. This sudden uncon- :
seriousness seemed so like death that it |.
the timid child
While she crouched in this position. Z
by the high back of the :
chair and the table, the easement was 7
'tealthily opened from the outside, and !
Nicholas Garland stole into the cham :,
Der. .,
"All goes well!' he breathed. u
Gabriel's horn wouldn't wake her. q,
Lou, Co.,