The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-06


ern landscape in q radiant sheen. The
magnolia and orange trees had already
put forth their white blossoms, which
eXhaled n delicious fragrance.
Mrs. Beveridge stepped out upon the
wide veranda, extending round two
sides of the fine old colonial mansion,
where as happy bride she had como
ten years before. She was now alone.
Her latestg guests, friends from Memphis,
had left for home on the preceding
day. For almost the first time since
her marriage she was without company
Both she and her husband had been
fond of entertaining, and their success
in the art had been unrivaled. Pros
trated with grief for some months over
the sudden death of her husband three
years before, Mrs. Bevcridgc had been
surrounded during that period by
friends who feared the shock would
leave her mental wreck or life-l long
invalid Gradually however, she was
restored to a semblancc of her former
self, though by no means to the gay.
vivacious woman she had been.
On the evening referred to, her scrv-
ants had trooped off to country dance.
Going into the library she picked up
novel, and tried to read it. Page
after page she mechanically pcruscd
without understanding a word. She
continued to read, now and then sensing
passage, but mainly absorbed in her
own vaguely disturbing rcvcric.
Time dragged on until II few minutes
after midnight, when Mrs. Bevcridgc
resolved to go to her boudoir, on the
floor above. Leaving the lights glow
ing in the library, dning-room, trout
hall and drawing-room, she assembled to
her sleeping apartment. The succeed
ing hour she devoted to writing to sew
cral friends.
Shortly after one o'clock Mrs. Bcvcr-
idge stepped into bed. She courtcd
sleep by some of those mental resources
which are said to win the presence of
Morpheus. But it was futile. She
could not even lie quietly. Finally she
heard the hall clock strike two. Soon
afterward she began to feel the first
symptoms of sleep. But suddenly, be-
ing nervously reused from her drowsi-
ness, she dropped one arm Imply over
contact with sh hfA Of eeTv cd h knew
that she had touched the head of man
"a man who had been concealing him
self under her bed. The blood in her
veins seemed to CONCEAL; but, strangely
enough, her senses did not desert her
Sitting her first impulse to raise an
cutlery, with admirable presence of
mind she gave very good imitation of
q person yawning in sleep, and re-
NAMED silent
After an interval of few secon DIS she
heard noise beneath her bed, and
presently n dark form stood beside her.
Don't pcrtcnd you're asleep" said a
deep gru1f voice, "for know YOU amt.
I've seen that kind O. make believe be-
tore. Come, now, want no nonsense
You jes' git up and shell out your fine
diamonds and all your ready cash.
The villain, while thus speaking, had
whipped out n formidable looking re-
volver, which he held reclllessly pointed
at Mrs. Bcvcridgc's head
Il shan't do you any HARM" he went
on, ''if you do as tell you to. But set
up any howlin' or try to play any tricks
on me and I'll put you to sleep for
good, and don't you make any mistake
about it,
Mrs. Bevcridge wholly appreciated
the situation. In no steady accents she
replied: "If you will step into the hall
while dress will do as you ask
The burglar went into the hall to
wait, while Mrs. Bcvcridgc quickly clad
herself, managing to hide in her bosom
. several papers representing many thou
sands of dollars. At that iuncture the
burglar rccntercd the apartment.
out with your precious stoncsr he
exclaimed harshly, everyone you've
got"
Burning with indignation and alarm,
yet outwardly composed, the widow
produced magnificent Jewel case
which she promptly handed to him.
"They all here?" he asked. Then
looking at her hands he added: 'No, I
see some pretty rings on your fingers.
Take 'cm off and fork em over"
Surely you will spare me this gold
band-my wedding ring?" she cntreated,
with genuine earnestness.
Yes, you can keep that But git out
your cash-greenbacl1s. haven't much
time"
Mrs. Beveridge told him her purse
was downstairs in desk in the library.
"Well. go and git it. Start on and IN
follow. But don't you try to run away
if you don't want to get shot in the
back
A moment later she surrendered her
purse, containing nearly one hundred
dollars. But he insisted that she must
have more money somewhere in tie
house. Then she handed him a wallet
taken from her dead husbands writing
table, IN which the burglar found more
than seven hundred dollars in bank
notes. In the same drawer he spied Mr..
Beveridge's watch and chain. which he