The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-02-08

the vine covered gallery, and seating
myself beside her, I began to read
aloud some wild old tale of super
natural horrors, upon which had
stumbled. Before had half finished
l had worked myself into state OF
nervousness, and as l noticed the plling
face of my mother. l tossed the book
upon the table, with contcmptuous
expression, and arose to make her tea.
At that moment the gate Latch
clicked, and as 1 turned in its direction
could not repress cry of alarm.
Ny eyes fell upon a strange sight.
The figure of a woman-a very dwarf
in siz. and stature-clad in a fadel
black dress, with a battered bonnet
upon her head, and torn shawl about
her tiny, STOPPING shoulders.
Slowly and hesitatingly the creature
moved up the walk, until she had
reached the gallery.
Here she paused to gaze curious;y
upon us, with a pair of round, bead
like black eyes.
Then she spoke, in voice Gear and
we'll modula.cd:
81 have lost my way, ladies'" she
said, beseechingly, "may l crave a
nights shelter?'
1g.anced at my mother. She was
pale and trembled violently.
had conceived an unaccountab!c
aversion to the small stranger; but who
could have the heart to turn a woman
away into the painless forest, with night
coming down, dark and threatening,
for the sky was overcast, and there
were signs of an approaching thunder
storm, and the wind moaned drearily in
the boughs of the pine trees.
So told her that she might remain;
but 1 resolved to know no slumber that
night, but to watch the long hours
through.
My mother must not be alarmed; so
sending the stranger to the kitchen with
Aunt Dinah to get some refreshments,
l coaxed mother to take her tea, and
carried her off to bed in triumph.
1t was 10 o'clock before l left her
sound asleep aud stole off to the kitchen
to take an observation. Ga the thresh-
old ] paused, my heart beat wildly, my
brain seemed on fire; trcmblei so that
l could scarcely stand; 1 pushed the
door ajar and glanced in. What a
sight met my astonished eyes! The
dwarf was standing erect. and young,
and 1.-the; the woman's garments had
been dis carded, and saw before me a
man, small, but muscular, and with a
diabolical face. He was STOPPING over
the form of Aunt Dinah, in one hand a
vial, which he held to her nostris. l
comprehended the situation at glance.
Aunt D.nah was drugged; even the frail
protection of her presence was gone
and the next step would be robbery,
perhaps murder.
The villain replaced the vial in his
pocket, with grin on his ugly face.
"There." he calculated, ''that will
work. With the old woman out of the
way, the rest is easy. Lucky that l
know where to look for the money; it's
in the old woman's room. Isaw the gal
put it there. Let me see, right hand
corner. top drawer in dressing table"
1t flashed over me then, my own
carelessaess, when father had given the
pocketbook into my keeping; the open
window near us, and some gay words
that had uttered, all came back to me-
I was so frightened, it seemed as if
should die. Then calmcr thoughts
succeeded; and l resolved to fight for
that money to the death. Softly l stole
away, and re-entered my mothers
apartment. Taking the pocketbook
from the drawer. hid it in my bosom;
and then, piusing. to assure myself
that she still slept. turnel to the hall
where our small provision Oh fire. arms
were stored. On, heavens! They were
gone! A low, horrible chuckle fell