Evening star., 1895-08-03

en- the north doorstep, where father was
sitting, and sat down on the lowest step.
There was cool breeze there; it had been
a very hot day.
.I want to know if that Ellis fellow has
been to see you any lately" said father all
at once.
MOI a great deal" answered.
Did he come to see you the last night
you were there?" said father.
Eyes, sir" said I, ''he did come"
''If you ever have another word to say
to that fellow while l live I'll kick YOU
cut of this house like a dog. daughter of
mine though you ber' said he. Then he
swore a great oath. and called God to wit
ness. Sneak to that fellow again, If you
dare. while i've" said he.
4 did not say word Just looked up at
him as I sat there. Father turred pale,
and shark back, and put his hand to his
threat. where Rufus had clutched him.
There were some purple finger-prints there.
II suppose you would have been glad #
he'd killed me-" father cried out.
IT saved your life." said I.
what did you do with that pistol?" he
asked
'T put it back in the desk drawer"
I got up and went around and sat on the
west doorstep which is the front one. AS
sat there the bell rang for the Tuesday
Maria Woods, two old maiden ladies, dress
makers, our next door ne,ghbors. went past
en- their way to meeting. Phoebe stopped
and asked if Rufus and his wife had gone.
they went on, and several other people
passed. When they had all gone it was as
still death.
sat alone a long time, until I could see
by the shadows that the full moon had
risen. Then I went up to my room and
went to bed.
I lay awake long time crying. 1t
seemed to me that all hope of marriage
between Henry ard me was over I could
not expect him to wait for me. / thought
of that other girl; / could see her pretty
face wherever l looked. But at last 1 cried
myself to sleep.
At about 5 o'clock woke and got up.
Father always wanted his breakfast at G
o'clock, and had to prepare it now.
When father and / were alone he always
built the fire in the kitchen stove. But
that morning did not hear him stirring a.
usual, and l fancied that he must be so
out of temper with me that he would not
build the fire.
l went to my closet for dark blue calico
dress, which l wore to do housework in.
1t had hung there during all the school
term. AS took 1t off the hook my atten-
ton was caught by something strange
about the dress 1 had worn the night be-
fore. This dress was made of thin summer
silk; 1t was green In color, sprinkled over
with white rings. 1t had been my best
dress for two summers, but now I was
wearing 1t on hot afternoons at home, for
it is the coolest dress I have. The night
before, too. had thought of the possibility
of Henry's driving over from Digby and
passing the house. He had done this some
times during the last summer vacation
and wished to look my best if he did.
AS l took down the calico dress I saw
what seemed to be a stain on the green
silk. l threw on the calico hastily and then
took the green silk and carried it over to
the window. 1t was covered with spots
horrible, great splashes and streaks down
the front. The right sleeve, too, was
stained. and all the stains were wet.
What have got on my dress?" said l.
1t looked like blood Then 1 smelled Of 1t,
and it was sickering in my nostrils, but
was not sure what the smell of blood was
like. l thought must have got the stains
by some accident the night before.
If that is blood on Hy dress" I said, II
must do something to get it off at once,
or the dress Will be ruined"
1t came to my mind that had been told
that blood stains hade been removed from
cloth by an application of flour paste on the
wrong side l took my green silk and ran
down the back stairs. which led, having
door at the foot directly into the kitchen.
There was no fire in the kitchen stove, as
l had thought Everything was very soli-
tary and still, except for the ticking of the
clock on the shelf. When I crossed the
kitchen to the pantry, however, the cat
mewed to be let in from the shed. She had
little door of her own by which she could
enter or leave the shed at william aperture
just large enough for her maltese body to
pass at ease beside the shed door. It had
little lid, too, hung upon leather hinge.
On my way let in the cat; then 1 went to
1
mixed with water into n stiff paste and ap-
piled to the under surface of the stains on
my dress. I then hung the dress up to dry
in the dark end of a closet leading out of
the kitchen, which contained some old
clothes Of fathers.
Then l made up the fire in the kitchen
stove; l made coffee. baked biscuits and
poached some eggs for breakfast
Then l opened the door into the sitting
room and called. Father breakfast is
ready" Suddenly 1 started There was
red stain on the inside OF the sitting room
door. My heart began to beat in my ears.
Father 1 called out; "father!
There was no answer.
Father!' 1 again called. as loud as 1
could scream. why don't you speak?
What Is the matter?"
The door of his bed room stood open, I
had feeling that I saw a red reflection in
there. I gathered myself together and
went across the sitting room to fathers bed
room door. His little looking glass hung
over his bureau directly opposite his bed,
which was reflected in 1t.
That was the first thing I saw when
reached the door I could see father in the
looking glass and the bed. Father was
dead there; he had been murdered in the
night.
To be continued)
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