The Dickinson press., 1893-10-07
that she did not like to part with any OF
her clothes without his knowledge and

consent
But, madame. l will give you double
her well-lillci purse as she spoke. surely |
your husband would not bc angry with |
you for selling your c othcs for more than
their worth
The woman answered sullenly enough;
Observing that men were really such queer
Crea ures. il was difficult 10 say what
would please or veX them most.
Corona was surprised at the womans
refusal o! her ot,er, and she expressed her
sell accordingly
Bu, the M stress of the cabaret only
shrugged her shoulders and smiled coldlv.
Wien will Your husband return?'
Corona dcnla,dcd. in somewhat imra-
tent zone,
Perhaps tonight, mademoisclc; his re-
turn home is uncertain.
Wha; could Corona do but wait; wait for
the coming OF the master oithe cabaret
who was all this while safely lodged under
his own roof. plotting mischief mischief
to his young and unwary guest?
On the following day. Corona again
questioned her hostess concerning the pro-
bable return ot her absent spouse, and
again received the same rejonder as before.
Corona, without exactly knowing where
lore. grew uneasy; so uneasy that sleep at
night was totally baniShed from her pillow.
and she began 10 tremble at every sound
She heard, to sicken NJ every passing shadow
An underlined fear possessed her, fear
that waNea stronger and stronger every
instant; and she was half inclined to quit
the cabaret, and seek some other shelter.
Her hostess's manners were mysterious i'll
the extreme, and the whole place seemed
full ofstrangencss and terror
one evening. Corona, thinking that
her coffee had n singular and
nauseous taste, secretly poured it
out OF her chamber window,
upon the roof of neghbor-
ing clubhouse. Unhappy as she was,
she did not like to become the victim of
brgands into whose power she was now
beginning to think that she had fallen.
When the woman came to carry away
the tray on which All hour before she had
brought the lady's evening beverage, Coro-
ma was lying OH her couch with her arms
flung over her face, apparently fast asleep
glanced into the empty cotfee-cup. which
she supposed had been drained by her un-
suspicious guest, and pausing. contem-
plated her intended victim with satisfied
air.
Corona was breathing regularly; like un-
to one who was reposng soundly, while
her heart was beating loudly, and her whole
The woman now approached the couch,
and bent over it for II few seconds, i'll order
to assure herself of Corona's state. "ls
mademoisclle asleep" she asked. i'll
| raised voice.
Corona trembling, and sick with terror,
made no reply or movement.
The woman waited for some time longer;
| then, taking up her tray, she withdrew
from the apartment. and closed the door
behind her.
| With cheeks white as linen, Corona now
| started up, and looked around her. She
she was amongst set Of brigands, and
| about to become their victim.
| She listened intently, hoping TO hear
voices in the drinking-r room below; but all
was silent. The shades of approaching
nigh. were fast gathering around, and the
gradually becoming less AMI less destinct
unto her eyes. Corona was watching these
signs of coming night with terror ineXpres-
sible. Large drops OF moisture stood upon
| her brow. and her teeth were firmly set on
her quivering lip. She knew not what to
with the utmost danger to her. There she
sat, with her eyes fastened on the door,
every instant expecting armed ruttians to
burst i'll upon her.
The cabaret, which was a solitary build
ing situated on the outskirts ofa wood. in
"a lonely road. was just the place where
dreadful deeds darkness might be done,
was thinking so while she thus sat watching
| her bedroom door.
Presently, she sprang up. She was full
of youth. full of health, full Of strength;
and life, despite the many disappointments
very We precious @ % to hcr--iar. ria lar more @ precious
than She had ever before deemed it; and
she could not lay it down without strug-
gle to preserve it. She was not contemplat-
ing offering personal resistance TO her enc
mics; Tor OF what avail would such resist
ance be, when opposed to mems ruthless
| violance2 No Corona WAS meaitatiuY All eS-
cape-an escape from the cabaret and all
its increasing terrors. There was no time to
lose; she must act promptly, or remain and
meet the cruel fate which was doubtlessly
golden coin, which was more than suiii-
cient for the entertainment she had recelv-
ed, she placed it on the table where it
might be seen, and then proceeded to ex-
anime the position nj her chamber window,
and its height from thesroand. Her inycsti-
CATION being satisfactory, she next tied the
edsheets together then, securing them al
5 one end, she sought the other, and by Its aid
stepped outside the easement, and prepared
E to lower herself to the ground. This &C,
= was not without danger in many ways but
y Corona-having, no time to reckon any
danger, save that which she was fleeing
rom-was full OF daring, and reached sue
| cess.
, Safely her feet touched the earth. Ther
:, noi>clcssly She crept away from the house
q and fled onwards and onwards. surrounded
u by darkness and night. until she found her
self amid the in:ricacies ola wood. Here
. confused and brcathlcss with her shoeles
y feet wounded and bleeding. she sank down
and thinking she was in safety, soon Tel
asleep
+, will now take you back to the cabaret
and proceed to narrate what happened
there after Corona had made her escape A
midnight, the mistress OF the cabare; open
ed the door, and admitted two men, VIII
u asked at once whether the lady was as .ee
~ or not.
'.Ay, She is. fast enough. warrant tn
). woman answered, in a positive manner. %
have been twice up to her room! door. AM
y each time listened at it long, and foun
all silent and still.
i MY good, brave Iucet'a! cried one
= = the men.
q Have you the hole dug ready" she in
i uured. quite in bu-incss-like tone, al
I though SHE was speaking OF !; grave.
".All right" was his briet rcioin,lcr. .
;; hope we shall rot be disappointed, an
that we shall fi;.u This affair worth on
= = while.
II ic'l you that the lady. rich, Said I'll,
:. mistress o! the cabaret. When did eve
i. mis!ead you. Franco" she angrily added
+ Never, never. Iucetta,
Bearing lamp i'll her hands; the woIna'
now preceded the men. and conductr
. them up the crazy staircase. thence along
i. corridor until She arrived at the door Of
q certain chamber. Here She paused an
listened Fast as church uttered She
d in low voice. and lifting the latch, sh
l. pushed wide tl-s creakng lortal and enter
d ed the room lately occupied by the Core
e ma. Gone. sl,rieked She. looking toward
the empty couch. and from that to tn
:. open easement. from which the sheets wer
Il still depending.
4 Gone the Two rGtiians echoed togethe
, -"gone."
Look hcrc-look here, Franco contin
ued the woman. rushing to the window
o and dragging i'll the linen.
he "A million maledictions Oh her.
shouted out the man. Then tiercely turi
ing OH the woman. he said, ''Th
is the result of some of your blunderine
!y l.ucetta. See-sl,e las lett a whoielomis-d
o. for ller lodsing-." lie added. picking up ii
d. golden piece LETT by Corona. by all 4!
ed iurie., woman. Won have suffered a for,ur
l In SlIIi fhr.,Ii.,il nd