The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-11

take aa 90 Ste reality. something /
whilo lay 81 my ieeti tpicked j up |
II was a delicate piece OF lacc-ombroi-
dorod linen. and cxhaled The breath Of
perfume that had before greeted nay /
senses
While I stood bovildered Of the
amazing circumstance, / perceived
white form emerge from the hatch
way aud move forward With a slow,
gliding movement
stood spoeehless, staring at tho
strange figure. the words Of the super
stitious Muggina coming with sudden
force to my mind, aud in spite Of my
utter disbelief Ia The sailors absurd
story something like feeling Of awe
came over me.
stood immoyablo, watching the
figure as It camo toward me. As It
drew near, 1 perceived that 1t was q
girl, aud as the moonboams fell on
the pale face 1 recognized It as be-
longing to Veda Dorlos, the little
iruitsoloL
Her eyes we're wide open aud star
ing vaeantly ahead in way peculiar
to the somnambulist She was a sleep
walker Tho thought came to me
like a flash. Yet what could account
for her presence aboard the Penquing
Without attempting to answer the
puzzling question, / started toward
the figure, but, as / did 50, the sound
Of something like the dropping OF an
oar in boat came from over the port
Then q moment later the dark figure
Of a woman-the same had seen
making the assault on the little fruit
seller-slipped noiselesslY over the
rail. She paused but a moment to
glance about the ship, then with cry
Of rage that might have proceeded
from come wild animal in deadly com
bat, she leaped upon the unconscious
girl, the blade of a long knife CLINT
ing in the rays of the moon. Reused
to action by the sight OF the murder
GUS intruder, leaped quickly for
ward, aud, before the knife descended
to do its deadly work, 1 caught the
hand that Geld it.
But if 1 reckoned on an easy victor.
in subduing my adversary, I soon dis
covered my mistake, for the womal
though aged to all appearances
seemed TO possess the strength Of tn
strongest man, and finding hersel
foiled in her murderous attempt, sh
, tnrned upon me with the ferceness c
panther Coming unexpected q
the attack did, it caught me off m
guard, and before 1 realized my per
the hand that held the knife VIZ
wrenched from my grasp; then ther
! was a swift blow. felt keen pal
in my shoulder as the blade entered
then a mist gathered before my eye
! and sank unconscious upon IL
deck.
When my senses returned it WI
broad daylight and was lying c
cot in Muggins's cabin, IL
= beautiful but troubled face of VeC
' bending over me.
! 1t was week before I was able
20 ashore, and though I hada trainC
J nurse from Bastia, Veda refused
;. leave me entirely in the hands of a
other.
= Well, in that week I had learned
love the little Corsican beauty wi
:. such an intense devotion that l cou
=. not bear the thought of separatio
Her life had been one OF trials al
es misfortunes. The old bag who h
tn twice sought the life of Yeda was pl
vented from taking my life by the tin
nv ly arrival of Muggins, who had j
o. come over to the vessel in his b,
e. just before daybreak to see how I '
to faring. Finding herself thwart
she leaped into the bay, and '
I drowned before she could be rescv
CHI by Muggins.
X. She was the last of the BoralC
ed family, between whom and the Dor
dreadful vendetta existed, and
es- was to escape the vengeance ofthe
" I 4 L.