The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-02-05
A HIGH WAYMANSJULIET

the Scholar (who corrects my proof
sheets) calls one of the rusinurby sort
the front facing street and the back
looking over a turfed garden, with q
lime tree or two, a laburnum and a
lawn tennis court marked out, it's white
lines plain to see in the starlight. Al
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
dow on the first floor stood right open to
the night air, and inside was a faint
candlelight Pickering, 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.
"Shes good for half an hour yet" Peter
whispered, holding the ladder while |
began to climb; 'but if hear her voice
stop, I'll 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,
out from the wall on my right
The curtains were of chintz, dark back
ground, with flaming red peoples spraw-
ling over it, and the farther curtain hid
the dressing table and the candles upon
it and the jewel case that confidently
hoped to stand upon it also. A bright
Brussels carpet covered the floor, and
the wall paper, remember-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
The house was still as death
up here-not a sound in the room or in
he passages beyond With nod to
Peter to hold the ladder firm lifted one
eg 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
saw around the chintz curtain, my
Knees, gave way, and | put out hand
coward the bedpost.
Before the dressing table, and in front
If the big glass in which she could see
ny white face, was an old lady seated.
She wore a blaze of jewels and a low
yown, out of which rose the scraggiest !
IN. Her hair was thick with black dye |
md fastened with a diamond star. Be-
ween the two candles the powder show
ID on her cheek bones like -four on a
niller's coat. Chin on hand, she was
,azing steadily into the mirror before
Ter, and, even in my fright, had time
o note that glass of sherry and plate
f rice and curry stood at her elbow
mong the rouge pots and powder putfs.
While | stood stock still and pretty
veil scared out of my wits, she rose, still
taring at my image in the glass, folded
er hands modestly over her bosom. and
poke in deep, tragical voice:
1.-The prince!"
Then, facing sharply around, she held
ut her thin arms.
"You have come-at last~
There was not much to say to this ex-
ept that had. So confessed it. Even
nth the candles behind her l could see
er eyes glowing like a dogs, and an
glier poor creature this world could
;arcely show.
sis the ladder set against the win
ow?'
"Since you seem to know, ma'am,"
lid |, sit is.
"Ah, Romeol Your cheeks are rudy
your peoples are too red"
Then I'm glad my color's come back;
II, to tell the truth, you did give me
i'm Just at first. You were looking
ut for me, no doubt
"My prince!' She stretched out her
ms again, and being pretty well at my
it's end, let her embrace me. 1T
as been so long" she said, ''oh, the
cary whilel And they i'll treat me.
there have you been all this tedious
me-?
was not going to answer that, you
ay be sure. BY this l had recovered
yself sufficiently to guess what was
ar the truth-that this was a mad i
int of the family below, and that the
Ime was in my hands if | played with
cent care. So met her question with ,
lother. :
"I,ook here" | said, I'm running a
nsiderable risk in Drawing these perse- ]
Itors of your'n. Hadn't we better elope q
oncey''
II am ready" j
"And the jewels? You won't leave
EN- to your enemies, L suppose" /
She tnrned TO the dressing table. lifted I