Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-11-13
AHIGHWAYMAN'SJULIET


sheets) calls one OF the rusinurby sort
the front facing street and the back
looking over turfed garden, with a
lime tree or two, q laburnum, and a
lawn tennis court marked out, its white
lines plain to see in the starlight. At
the end Of the garden a door, painted
dark green, led into narrow lane be-
tween high walls, where, if two persons
met, one had to turn sideways to let the
other pass. The entrance to this lane
was cut in two by wooden post about
the height of your hip, and just beyond
this, in the high road, George was wait
ing for us with the dog cart.
We had picked the usual time-the
dinner hour. 1t had just turned dark
and the church clock, two streets away,
was Ginning the quarter after eight
when Peter and | let ourselves in by the
green door | spoke of and felt along the
wall for the gardeners ladder that we
knew was hanging there. A simpler
job there never was. The bedroom win
dow on the first floor stood right open to
the night air, and inside was a faint
candlelight fiickering, just as careless
maid will leave them after her mistress
has gone down to dinner. To be sure,
there was chance OF her coming back
to put them out, but we could hear her
voice going in the servants hall as we
lifted the ladder and rested it against
the sill.
"She's good for half an hour yet" Peter
whispered, holding the ladder while /
began to climb; "but if hear her voice
stop, III give the signal to be cautious" :"
/ went up softly, pushed my head
gently above the level Of the sill and
looked in.
1t was a roomy place, with great
half tester bed, hung with curtains,
standing out from the wall ON my right.
The curtains were of chintZ, a dark back
ground, with flaming red poppies spraw-
ling over it, and the farther curtain hid
the dressing table and the candles upon
it and the jewel case that l confidently
hoped to stand upon it also. A bright
Brussels carpet covered the floor, and
the wall paper, emember-though, for
the life of me, can not tell why-was a
pale gray ground, worked up to initiate
watered silk, with sprigs of gilt honey
suckle upon it,
looked around and listened for half a
minute. The house was still as death
up here-not sound in the room or in
the passages beyond. With nod to
Peter to hold the ladder firm lifted one
leg over the sill, then the other, dropped
my feet carefully upon the thick carpet
and went quickly around the bed to the
dressing table.
But at the corner, and as soon as ever
l saw around the chintz curtain, my
knees gave way, and I put out hand
toward the bedpost.
Before the dressing table, and in front
of the big glass in which she could see
my white face, was an old lady seated.
She wore blaze Of jewels and low
gown, out of which rose the scraggiest
neck and shoulders have ever looked
on. Her hair was thick with black dye
and fastened with a diamond star. Be-
tween the two candles the powder show
ed on her cheek bones like -four ON a
miller's coat. Chin on hand, she was
gazing steadily into the mirror before
her, and, even in my fright, had time
to note that glass of sherry and plate
of rice and curry stood at her elbow
among the rouge pots and powder puffs.
While l stood stock still and pretty
well scared out of my wits, she rose, still
staring at my image in the glass, folded
her hands modestly over her bosom, and
spoke in deep, tragical voice:
Then, facing sharply around, she held
out her thin arms.
"You have come at last?"
There was not much to say to this ex-
ccpt that had. So confessed It, Even
with the candles behind her could see
her eyes glowing like dogs, and an
uglier poor creature this world could
scarcely show.
"Is the ladder set against the win
dowT
"Since you seem to know, ma'am."
said l, 'it is"
"Ah, Romeo! Your cheeks are ruddy
your poppies are too red."
"Then I'm glad my colors come back;
for, to tell the truth, you did give me
turn just at first You were looking
out for me, no doubt
"My prince!' She stretched out b r
arms again, and being pretty well at my
wits end, let her embrace me. 1T
has been SO long," she said, "oh, the
weary while! And they i'll treat me.
Where have You been all this tedious
timer"
Twas not going to answer that, you
may be sure. BY this had recovered
myself sufficiently to guess what was
near the truth-thst this was a mad
aunt Of the family below, and that the
game was in my hands if l played with
decent care. So met her question with
another
'Look here" said, "I'm running a
considerable risk in Drawing these perse-
cutors of your'n. Hadn't we better elope
at oncey"
II am ready"
"And the jewels? You won't leave
them to your enemies, suppose"
She turned to the dressing table, lifted
her jewel case and put it into my hands.
81 am ready" she repeated; "let us be
quick and stealthy as death"
Bhe followed me to the WINDOW ana,
looking out, drew back.
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