The Lamar register., 1894-10-13
Rushing to these I threw myself into

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no one. SO 1t was thought that | had
fallen asleep in my chair and nv vis-
ion had been the result of my late sup
per of minced chicken and chauiparnc.
by the next night | had so thor
oughly been laughed into believing
this that took my scat before the
mirror and began brushing my hair
as nonchalantly as al first. when to
my utter horror | saw that figure
form itself from nothing. absolutely
nothing. and again advance upon me
with tha, menacing attitude. Again
II raised It's hands to strike, the terri
Bile eyes seemed to glare into mine
ixed ON them in the mirror. and. as
before. released from the horror that
held me stricken into marble. / leaped
to my feet and ran screaming into the
corridor without / was not to be
stirred from my belief that my life had
been threatened in that dreadful
room by all the searching and argu-
rnents that were made, and announced
my intention of returning home in the
morning.
..But the next night was to be that
the prince, and shat. with the fact
that had the pret;iest gown in tho
city TO wear. finally prevailed on me
TO alter my mind. though made II
condition that Marian. my maid was
to occupy a little anie-chsmber open
ing into mine. and that my stalwar.
cousin. Christopher. who was after
ward my loved husband for nearly for
~ years, was 10 sleep on d cot in the
hall. jus; outside my door.
IL let down my hair. and though
too ia,igucd. as usual. to brush 1t. sat
for some moments looking at myself
in the glass-I was little vain in
those days-when ali al once ] saw
behind me the man with his knife in
his hand.
But this time he did not evolve
from mir. but was there. real flesh and
blood. his hot breath nearly scorching
the back OF my neck. leaped TO my
fea. with scream. and as ] did so he
struck a, me. bu, the blade glanced
aside. wounding me only slightly in
the shoulder. screamed aloud. and
he .elled mo with blow just as Mar
ian and Christopher came rushing in
Seeing them the robbcr and assassin
sprang for tho open window, and
would have escaped by leaping-an
easy fea; for muscular man-in the
window OF the house next door, which
was also open and only about three
feet distant. This had evidently been
the way by which he had entered and
which he used Is an egress. But
Christopher caught him and dragged
him back. and. after a struggle, Sc
cured him. aided by his brothers, who
had been summoned by Marian, so
when I opened my eyes from my
sxoou I; was 10 see the would-be muir
dersT living bound. while near me lay
4 small dagger. with handle OF
Eiruscan gold. studded with hawed
rubies.
..But here Is the strange part OF the
story. On the night Of his capture
he had entered ms room for the first
time. though on the two previous
nights he had watched me through
the shutters of the two windows. lie
was the son Of the family residing
next door. and from the love oil dress
and pleasure beyond his means had
involved himself hopelessly in debt
and seeing my diamonds had con-
ceived the idea of killing. or at least
silencing me. and stealing them TO
nav his debts. But though his mind
had dwelt persistently on the scheme,
he had lacked courage to carry II Out
until the night OF the ball, when
pressed by an impor,unate creditor