Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-11-27
point, Cora replied

come LOT Inc remaining e1gnly, bnOuEn
if you do simple thing for me, / Will
give you good security"
well, what's your job?"
do you 1--we about here?"
"No; came from Providence; got
as far as this tonight on my way to
Boston, looking for work. Well, what's
your lay?"
Gould you secrete child from,now
until tomorrow night?"
II don't know. Yes, guess COULD"
where? %
"Oh, somewhere about the tavern;
perhaps in the barn"
Very well. Here are twenty dol
lars. Meet me at this spot within an
hour, and I'll bring the child. Oh,
you need have no fears of getting into
any trouble. I'm stranger here like
yourself. Besides, the child is my
own. l only want to get her away from
the people who have stolen her from
me-"
Cali right Go ahead; you'll find
me here"
Thus assured, the woman hurried
away along the lonesome road, leaving
the man lingering the bank-bills, and
staring after her with grin of vicious
wonder upon his hardened features.
Meanwhile all was quiet. and peace
ful in and around the humble farm
house where the principal personagas
Of our narrative had taken lodging. In
her chamber upon the second floor sat
little Oracle, fast asleep in her chair,
from the exhaustion of that eventful
day, with the photograph of her beau
slful mother pressed upon her bosom
beneath her clasped hands. Though it
was close upon ten o'clock she had not
thought to retire for the night, since
Lawyer Edgar, upon his return from
his call at Black Pond House, had in
formed her that it was necessary for
him to go at once into the city upon
important business, but that he should
! return in time to bid her goodnight.
/ The gentleman had held news
paper, and seemed unusually excited,
but there was no time for explanations,
as he had to catch train.
So she sat waiting, and had fallen
asleep. Upon the first floor of the
house, in chamber, the windows of
which opened upon the star-lit orchard,
slept little Stella, the dim light of the
night-lamp catching the CLEAN of her
golden hair, where it lay like web of
spun metal spread out upon her pillow.
Old Jean had not returned from his
/ stroll, and the good housewife sat
knitting in the kitchen, awaiting the
return of her husband, who had driven
to the station to meet Mr.. Edgar.
A soft night-breeze stirred the boughs
Of the great elms that shaded the farm
house; but for that, all was peace and
silence.
Suddenly, the sound of vehicle far
up the road disturbed the quiet of the
night. The housewife laid aside her knit
ting, and, going into the parlor, turned
up the lamp until it burned brightly.
AS she did SO, she noticed that the
door leading out into the garden hung
open, and wondered that the breeze
had been SO strong, when she distinctly
remembered having securely latched it.
She did not close the door, however,
as the vehicle had stopped at the gate,
and she saw Mr.. Edgar fastening up
the garden path.
He came in, removed his hat, and
| glanced into the unoccupied parlor.
Words of disappointment were ready
upon his lips that Oracle had retired,
when she appeared upon the stairs
Mr.. Edgar took her hand in his as
she gained his side, and led her into
the parlor, closing the door behind
them.
"You have news for mel" she ex,
claimed, with woman's instinct as
she noticed the unusual excitement de-
picted upon his face.
Yes, news for you," replied the
lawyer. sit down Are you able to
hear anything I may have to tell
you?"
eyes," she said; "but, oh, Mr.. Ed
gar, hope it is not too hard to bearp
Il would have spared you if it had
been," he said, gently. Then, drawing
newspaper from his pocket, he added:
"This newspaper records the sudden
death, in the Tombs, of Max Boyden.
MAX Boyden dead" breathed Oracle
in an awed whisper.
eyes, and by his own hand. In some
way, poison was sent him, which he
took, and died alone in the night"
Heaven help himp
Heavens his only help now. 1t will
be hard blow to his scheming widow.
With her husbands death ceases her
claim upon your property"
"But she said she is Clifford, niece
If nv father" remarked Oracle to try
her friend, who, as yet was in ignorance
pf what she knew"
II don't believe it, oil the same re-
turned Mr.. Edgar; "but, Oracle, it was
not on account of this piece of news that
l went SO suddenly into the city"
"No?"
mo; there is another announcement
in this paper"
What is it Oh, Mr.. Edgar, speak,
What have you to tell me?"
II CHANGED to notice in the column OF
amusements an announcement of the
appearance of Madame Clarisse."
Madame Cla1isse!"
She was upon her feet in an instant,
her eyes dilated, her breath coming in
quick, sharp gasps.
you saw her!"
eyes. I have seen harir