The Globe-republican., 1892-03-31
She followed me to the window and,
looking out, drew back.

She followed me to the window and.
looking out, drew back.
"What horrible, black depths!"
''It's as easy" said l, "as pie. You
could do it on your head-look here" I
climbed out first and helped her, setting
her feet on the rungs. We went down
in silence, l choking all the way at the
sight of Peter below, who was looking
with his mouth open and his lips too
weak to meet the curses and wonder
ment that rose up from the depths of
him. When touched turf and handed
him the jewel case he took it 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.
"Tve firearm in my pocket" whisper
ed he, pulling up, 'and I'm going to fire
it off to relieve my feelings, if you don't
explain here and now. Who, in pity
name, is she:'
''You mug-she's the Original Sleeping
Beauty. I'm eloping with her, and you've
got her jewels"
Pardon me, Jem," he says, in his
gentlemanly way, eff don't quite see
Are you taking her off to melt her or
marry her? For how to get rid of her
else"-
The poor old creature had halted, too,
three PAGES ahead Of us, and waited
while we whispered, with the moonliGh Mt,
that slanted down into the lane, whiten-
ing her bare neck and flashing on her
jewels.
''One moment" l said, and stepped for
ward to her; ''you had better take off
those ornaments here, my dear, and give
them to my servant to take 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 and
drive off,
''To he 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 to
Peter, who received them with bow
Next she searched in her pocket and drew
ont Il tiny key. Peter unlocked the case,
and, having carefully slowed the dia-
monds inside, locked it again, handed
bacl, the key, touched his hat and walk
ed oil toward the dOgcart.
My dearest lady," began, as soon
as we We're alone between the high
walls, 'if the devotion of a 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 We're
none like you, my prince"
"No, dare say not
''Oh, 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 counted forty be-
fore her scream came, and then the
sound of her feet pattering after me.
She must have run like a demon, for
was less than ten yards ahead when
Peter caught my wrist and pulled me
up onto the back seat of the dogcart.
And before George could set the horse
going her hand clutched at the flap on
which my feet rested. It missed its
grasp and she never got near enough
again. But for half minute I 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.-Q. in Argonaut.