Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-10-08

the reality of external circumstances
ami even faith in her own identity.
! Suddenly she threw herself forward
and frightened het clasp upon Ia
bithaa'S hand With convulSive tone,
exclaiming:
"Wake me! wake ms. Tabitha! l
have the nightmare anu cannot rouse
myself. Oh, wake me! wake me, for
the love Of heaven!'
Tabitha, whom respect for her mis-
treSS' sorrow had hitherto kept her
silent, now became alarmed for her
sanity.
Bending over her with an almost
revereutlal tenderness she whispered:
Dear young lady. try to be composed
and collect your thoughts and remem-
Der yourself
"Oh, heaven! remember too we'll!
too Welt" cried Eudois, in a piercing
voice. dropping her face into her hands
and shudlering through her whole
frame ut is no horrible Illusion! 1t
is an awful reality! My aunt and
cousin are really dead and l am ar
rested upon the charge of poisoning
them. Oh. horrible! most horrible! oh,
I shall go mad! 1 shall go mad" she
exclaimed, starting from her chair,
casting up her arms and throwing her
self forward upon the floor.
For moment Tabitha gazed in dis
may upon this exhibition of violent
emotion in one Whom she loved and
honored almest to alteration, and then
kneelins beside her. she gently put
her arms around her waist to raise
her up, whispering in Il low, respect
full voice:
Dear young lady. try to recollect
yourself with dignity, your rank. and.
above all, your innocence, and put
your trust in God!"
Put your trust in God. 1t was the
best advice the simple county girl
could give, but the archbishop of Can
terbury could not have given any bet
ter.
Eudora suffered herself to be lifted
up and replaced in the deep chair.
into which she sank helplessly, and
where she remained with her head
propped upon her breast and her arms
fallen upon her lap in the stupor Of
despair to which the violence Of her
anguish had yielded.
Tabitlla kneeled at her feet, took
her hands, and, gazing pleadingly up
into her face, said:
"Dear Miss Eudora, look up and
hope; all is not lost that is in danger!
Have faith in Him who delivered the
three innocent children from the fires
of the furnace seven times heated.
Come, now, let me undress you and
help you to bed
Into that bed-into that bed whence
her corpse has just been removed?
Oh, never, never! Besides, 1 could not
sleep with the prospect Of tomorrow
before me, when I shall be taken to
the common gaol. How could sleep?
shall never sleep again! Good girl,
leave me to my own Thoughts said
Eudora with q trembling voice and
quivering face.
Tabitha spoke no more, but drawing
a foot-stool, she sat down at her mis-
tress' feet and silently held one of her
listless hands.
Some time they sat thus; the heavy
minutes seemed drawn out to the
length Of hours. The house was still
as death and the mantel clock was on
the stroke Of eleven when the quick
ears Of Tabitha caught a slight, eau
tious, grating sound in the wainscoted
wall OH the left of the fireplace. She
raised her head and turned her eyes
quickly in the direction of the sound.
and, with a half-suppressed shrek and
a throbbing heart, she saw one of the
oak panels slide away and an anxious
face and a warning hand appear at
the opening.
The smothered cry Of the woman
had attracted Eudora's attention, and,
with the apathy Of one plunged so
deeply in wretchedness as to fear no
farther evil, the unhappy girl followed
with her listless glance the frightened
gaze of her attendant.
At this moment the hand at the
opening was extended in an encour-
aging gesture and a familiar voice
murmured quickly and softly:
Hist! hist! Tabitha! Don't be
afraid! 1t is L.
And the next instant the man came
through the opening and Malcolm
Montrose stood within the room. He
extended his hand in warning man
ner as he approached, saying:
"Hist! hist! for heavens love, con-
troll yourselves! Be composed and all
will be WELL"
BY this time he stood before the mis-.
tress and the maid, who gaZed upon
him in establishment indeed, but not
in alarm.
'Let us speak in whispers, and then,
thanks to the thickness of these walls
and doors, we shall not be heard by
the policemen on guard. Listen
there are bolts on this side of the
chamber doors. Are they drawn fast 2"
mo, SIR replied Tabitha in q hush
ed voice.
With a sign that they should remain
silent and motionless, Malcolm glided
on tiD-toe, first to one door and then
to the other, and cautiously slid the
bolts into their sockets. making them
both as fast on the inside as they were
on the outside.
He then returned to the side Of
Eudora. and stood for q moment list
ening intently, and then apparently
satisfied that all was well, he MUIR
INJURED:
peace be with the worthy king or
bishop who built these walls so SOL
idly! The sentinels without have heard
nothing"
Then turning to the curious, anxious
and expectant waiting-maid he whis-
pered: ,
"Tabitha, my good girl, can depend
In MI t.