Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
.And the iewels2 You won't leaye

land the jewels? You won't leave
them to your enemies. ! suppossp"
She turned to the dressing table,
lifted her iowel-case and put IL into
my hands.
ii am ready" she repeated; 'let us
be quick and stealthy as death"
She followed me TO the window and.
looking out drew back.
WHAT horrible black depthsw
ats as easy" said l. "as PIE. You
could do it on your deadlock here"
l climbed out first and helped her, set
ting her feet on the rungs We went
down in silence, / choking all the way
at the sight OF Peter below. who was
looking with his mouth open and his
lips too weak TO meet on the curses
depths OF him. When / touched the
turf and handed him the jewel-case. he
took IL like man in a trance.
We put the ladder back in its place
and stole over the turf together. But
outside the garden door Peter could
stand no more OF it
i've fire-arm IN my pocket
whispered he. pulling up 'nnd I'm
going to fire it off to relieve my feel
ings, il you don't explain hero and
now. Who is she?"
You mug-she's the Original
Sleeping Beauty. I'm clipping with her.
and you've got her jewels
Pardon me, Jem." says no in his
gehtlemarly way. If don't quite see.
Are you taxing her off to melt her or
marry her? For how to get rid of her
else-"
The poor creature had halted, too.
three PAGES ahead OF us, and waited
while we whispered, with the moon
light that slanted down into the lane,
whitening her bare neck and flashing
on her jewels.
''One moment" / said, and stepped
forward to her; you had better take
off those ornaments here, my dear, and
give them TO my servant to tale care
of. There's a carriage waiting for us
at the end of the lane, and when he
has slowed them under the seat we can
climb in aud drive Off"
TO the end Of the world-to the
very rim of it, my hero"
She pulled the gems from her ears,
/ hair, and bosom. and handed them ID
Peter, who received chem with bow.
Next she searched IN her pocket and
drew out tiny key. Peter unlocked
the case and, having carefully slowed
the diamonds inside, locked it again.
handed back the key. touched his hat
and walked OF toward the dog-cart
My dearest lady" | began, as soon
as we were alone between the high
walls Ill the devotion of life"
Her bare arm crept into mine.
There is but little time left for us in
which to be happy. Year after year
have marked off the almanac; day by
day | have watched the dial. saw
my sisters married. and my sisters
daughters and still | waited. Each
had man to love her and tend her,
but none had such man as | would
have chosen. They were none like
you, my prince
NO, / dare say not
ooh but my heart is not so cold.
Take my hand-it is firm and strong
touch my lips-they are burning -"
A low whistle sounded at the top OF
the lane. AS took her hands pushed
her back, and. turning ran for my
life. | suppose that as ! ran, count
ed forty before her scream came and
then the sound of her feet pattering
after me.
She must have run like demon;
for | was less than ten yards ahead
"hen Peter caught my wrist and
pulled me up on to the back seat Of
the dog-cart- Aud before George
could set the horse going. her hand
cluched at the flap on which my feet
rested. 1t missed its grasp and she
never got near enough again. But
for half a minute | looked into that
horrible face following us and working
with silent rage; and for half a mile at
least heard the patter of her feet in
the darkness behind. Indeed ! can
hear it now.-Memoirs OF Gabriel
Foote, Highwayman, in the ArgonauL