Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-05

bed
Mary" he said at last 81 wish you
would come in and close the door, and
then with an effort to disguise his real anx-
iety he coughed and complained of the
dampness of the outside air. She was quick
to obey his request, having no thought for
herself and not suspecting his motive.
is there any fastening for the doorf'
be asked, as she closed it from within
"Only wooden latch, James: but if you
will feel easier, | caa take in the string
which serves to raise it,
She drew up a chair and sat down by
the bedside. For awhile she talked cheer
fully to him Of the journey in the morn
ing, and then she sang, in a low voice, some
of the songs he loved to hear, until in his
weakness he yielded to her stronger will,
and fell into a gentle slumber. Even then
she sang on, les' the breaking of the
rhythm should recall him to wakefulness,
and as she sang she loosened her clothing
preparatory to lying down herself.
With the first touch of her bare feet to the
earthen floor the last notes of the motherly
lullaby ceased. She smoothed the pillow
and laid her cool hand on the invalid's fore
head. She was satisfied. Her brother
slept easily His face was turned toward
the NlDuONs Uul the DTOdu DdI VI luDOu-
light lay across the foot of the bed and
upon the wall at the middle of the room.
In an hour at most it would disappear alto
gether, when the moon sank behind the
mountain As she made her last prepare
tions to lie down she stood at the foot of
the bed, tall, white figure projecting a
slender shadow on the opposite wall. She
took up her watch, which lay on the table
to her left with her hat and gloves The
light was strong enough to enable her to
read the figures on the dial. 1t was just
five minutes to ten. She had been stand
ing with her back to the window, and as
she extended her right hand to lay down
the watch, the action naturally brought her
around facing that opening.
Most women would have screamed.
Some would have tainted.
This woman calmly laid down the watch.
her eyes fixed on the shaggy head which
arose above the window-sill, black against
the moonlight The position indicated that
the body was crouching close to the ground.
The man could spring through the widnow
at will. One coarse hand was already ex-
tended along the frame.
OF the face the woman could see nothing,
but she observed that the head at the Jaws
was heavy, like that of an animal, and
fringed with close-cropped hair and brist-
ling beard. The great ears stood out from
the bead in bold relief, and the powerful
arm which lay along the window-sill was
encircled by broad, dingy stripes.
All this the woman saw as she drew her
releasing fingers across the crystal of the
watch
All her life she had been used to control
men. If she feared this dangerous visitor,
it was not observable in the tremor of
muscle or of an eyelid as she stood well
poised in the soft light.
She thought only of her brother and of
the crimson Efe-blood which had welled so
easily from his lips. If he should be awak-
ened by any disturbance, she believed the
excitement would bring on another hem
orrhage, which might cost his life She
heard his regular breathing on one side,
and on the other the ticking of the watch
on the hard board under her cold fingers
The one sound nerved her for his defence,
and the other fastened her decision as to
the line of action she had best pursue
She had peculiar faith in her power to
conquer this human animal whose face she
had not yet seen.
In the brief time during which these
two opposing natures confronted each 9th
had been able to scrutinize every lineament
of the woman's face. For an instant he
had seen the thin upper lip drawn tightly
against the cleaning teeth. In that in
slant she had formed a resolution. To the
mans brutal instinct this was a menace.
1t was no longer necessary to affect any
concealment of his person, and as the wom-
ans face relaxed to a softer expression he
rose boldly from his cramped position and
stood at his full height before her, trem-
bling with base passion and striped around
his huge body like hyena.
Only quick surprise prevented him
leaping through the window. If she had
iiinched or cried out his hands would have
been on her throat in an instant.
AS the man rose up, the woman walked
quickly forward until her face was close to
his. She was of a good height, and the
slight advantage of the floor on which she
stood enabled her to confront him with a
level gaze, and read the full import of his
evil face. She felt his hot breath on her
cheek.
us there anything l can do for you:'
she said
The sweetness of her voice, coupled with
the courage of the woman, was like a
knock-down blow to the man The conf
dence she had so suddenly reposed in him
staggered him.
As she paused for reply she looked
steadily into the burning eyes and grimy
face of the convict
The man was too surprised to speak.
His face was like face of stone, as dumb
and expressionless as the face of a craven
image.
Then, said the woman, following up
her advantage by laying her white ha d |
-rusIingly upon the greasy striped shout |
der, IF there is nothing | can do for you,
here is something you can do for me-"
She turned quickly back for a bucket |
and passed it to the man through the win
low.
You can get me some water"
The man took the bucket without utter.
ng word and walked away across the
sparkling gsass, until he presently disap-
1eared among the shadows of the trees.
The woman stood patiently at the open
window awaiting his return, as confidently
is if her will had only subdued dog or a
yicious horse. When he came she thanked
lim, stepping slightly to one side and hold
ng back the skirt of her robe He under
TODD the motion, and projecting his broad
hOulders through the window, he set the
MEASURE of water carefully on the floor.
Then he Strengthened himself and took
tep backward. Before he spoke he drew
lis sleeve awkwardly across his mouth
"By G., you're good one, you are"
After this remark, than which no lady
ver received a more sincere compliment,
he convict swept his eyes over the space
n front of the house, and then going to
he door he stretched his hinge frame along
he hard ground outside.
The woman stood a moment at the open
window, and then wrappinp hersalf in a