Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-09-30
AHlGHW

dark green, led into narrow lane he.
tween high walls, where, If two persons
met, one had TO turn sideways 10 let the
other pass. The entrance to this lane
was cut In two by a 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. IL had just turned dark
and the church clock, two streets away.
was Ginning the quarter after eight
when Peter and let ourselves In bv the
green door ! spoke Of and felt along the
wall for the gardeners ladder that we
knew was hanging there. \ simpler
job there never was. The bedroom win.
dow on the first floor stood right open to
the night air aud inside was a faint
candleiight Pickering, just as a careless
maid Will leave them after her mistress
has gone down to dinner 10 BE- sure.
there was IA chance Of her coming back
to put them ont, but we could hear her
voice going in the servants hall a. we
lifted the ladder and rested il against
the sill.
shes good for half an hour vet" Peter
whispered. holding the ladder while |
began to climb; but if hear her voice
stop, Ill give the signal 10 be cautious
! went up softly, pushed my head
gently above the level Of the sill and
looked in
II was roomy place, with a great
half tester bed, hung with curtains
standing out from the wall ON my right.
The curtains We're of chntz, "a dark buck.
ground, with flaming red peoples spraw.
ling over it. and the farther curtain hid
the dressing table and the candles upon
1t and the jewel case that confidently
hoped TO stand upon il also A bright
Brussels carpet covered the floor, and
the wall paper, rememDcr-th though. Tor
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 il.
looked around and listened for half
minute. The house was still rs death
mp here-not a 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 ut the corner. and as soon us ever
l saw around the chiutz curtain. my
knees gave way, and put ont 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 dve
and fastened with diamond star. Be
tween the two candles the powder show
ed ON her cheek bones like flour on +
millers coat. Chin ON hand, she was
gazing steadily into the mirror before
her, and, even in my fright. | had time
To note that "A glass Of sherry and "a plate
OF rice and curry stood at her elbow
among the rouge pots and powder pulls
While | stood stock sull and pretty
well scared out Of mywits, she rose. snT
staring at my image in tine glass. folded
her hands modestly over her bosom. ana
spoke in a deep, tragical voice;
The prinee.
Then, facing sharply around, she held
out her thin arms
"Aou have come at LAST
There WAS not much to say to this *
cept 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.
dow
Since yon seem TO know, ma'am,
said |. 1T Is
"Ah, Romeo! Your cheeks are ruday
your peoples are too red"
Then I'm glad my color's come back;
Tor, to tell the truth, you did give me a
turn just At first. You were looking
out for me, no doubt
MY prineel" She stretched ont her
arms again. and being pretty well al my
wits end. | let her embrace me. 1t
has been SO long" she said, "oh. tie
weary whilel And they in treat me
Where have you been all this tedious
time
i was not going 10 answer that. Won
may be sure. BY this hal recovered
myself sufficiently to guess what was
near the truth-that this was mad
aunt Of the family below, and that tie
game was in my bands II | played with
decent care. SO | met her question with
another
Look here" said, I'm running
considerable risk in Drawing these perse-
cutors of your'n. Hadn't We better eiopo
at oneeg'
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.
u am ready. she repeated; "let Us be
quick and stealthy as death"
one followed me 10 the window and
looking ont. drew back.
What horrible, black depthsl
Its as easy" said |. las pie. You
could do 1t on your deadlock here. |
embed ont first aud helped her, setting
her teet on the rings We went down
IN silence, | choking all the way at the
sight Of Peter below, who was looking
WIN ms mouth open and his lips loo
weak to meet the curses and wonder
ment that rose up from the depths az
MN When touched turf and handed
ann the jewel case he took It like man
In trance. .-''.'
We put the ladder back iu its nlae.
tna stole over the turf together. Dnt