The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-16

been laughed into believing this that !
took my seat before the mirror and began
brushing my hair as nonchalantly as at
first, when TO my utter horror, ] saw that
figure form itself from nothing, absolutely
nothing and again advance upon me with
that menacing attitude. Again 1t raised
its hand to strike, the terrible eyes
seemed to glare into mine fixed 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.
/ glanced back into the room, but there
was no one visible there, but | was not to
be convinced this time that an overheated
imagination was to blame. ! fed to my
aunts door, aud as she opened it fell
fainting in her arms. | was not to be
stirred from by belief that my life had
been threatened in that dreadful room by
all the searching and arguments that
were made, and announced my intention
of returning home in the morning.
But the next night was TO be that Of
the grand ball given in honor of the
prince, and that, with the fact that had
the prettiest gown in the city TO wear
finally prevailed on me TO change my
mind, though | made IL condition that
Marian my maid, was to occupy a tile
ante-chamber opening into mine, and that
my stalwart cousin, Christopher, who was
afterward my loved husband for nearly
forty years. was 20 sleep on cot in the
hall Just outside my door. So with a con-
tented mind went to the ball, returning
late TO find my good maid asleep, and as
she was still not well crept quietly in
and proceeded TO undress
II let down my hair, and, though too
fatigued. as usual. to brush it, sat for
some moments looking at myself in the
glass; was little vain in those days
when all at once | saw behind me the
man with his knife in his hand.
But this time he did not evolve from
air, but was there real flesh and blood,
his hot breath nearly scorching the back
OF my neck. leaped 10 my feet with a
scream, and as did so he struck at me,
but the blade glanced aside, wounding me
only slightly in the shoulder. Iscreamed
aloud and he felled me with a blow just
as Marian and Christopher came rushing
10. Seeing them the robber and assassin
sprang for the open window and
would have escaped by leaping
an easy feat for a muscular MANN 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 as an egress. But Christopher
caught him and dragged him back, and
after a struggle secured him. aided by his
I DEObuGLbg W no hdn BbNA ouhiAtAbhNh ny
Marian, so when l opened my eyes from
my swoom it was to see the would-be
murderer lying bound, while near me lay
q small dagger, with a handle OF Etruscan
gold, studded with fiawed rubies.
But here is the strange part Of the
story. On the night of his capture be
had entered my room for the first time
though on the two previous nights he had
watched me through the shutters Of the
two windows. He was the son Of the
! family residing next Moor and from the
| love OF dress and pleasure beyond his
means had involved himself hopelessly
/ in debt. and seeing my diamonds had
conceived the idea Of killing or at least
/ silencing me, and stealing them TO pay
his debts. But though his mind had
! dwelt persistently on the scheme, he had
lacked courage TO carry it out until the
night Of the ball, when, pressed by an i'm
Fortunate creditor he had let himself
! into the room, where he had concealed
himself until my arrival, not knowing Of
the protectors had been warned 10 have
near me-"