Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-09-23

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safe. Dere's de dogs outside an de ole
marse az his 'volvers inside; so what
you 'fraid Of? Come long. Venus"
said Cybeie.
Astrea shuddered, and would have
made another appeal only that the old
woman had already left. Venus came
back to whisper in the young captive's
ear:
LESS you can fasten yourself in ber-
~ safe. you set up all night in your
clothes"
II will do so, Venus"
An put your trust In de Lord"
1T Is my only hope"
Goodnight, honey"
Goodnight, good friend"
"Wenus, you gwine stop dere all
night" called the voice of Cybele from
the hall.
mo, I'm a-comin'," said the girl, hur-
rying out of the room.
Astrea was alone.
Her first care was to examine the
f~astenings of her window-shutters; she
found them all fast, indeed-so fast
that she herself could not open them.
She mex went TO the door commune
eating with the adjoining front DOM:
this she found also fast-locked IN the
other side.
She next tried the door leading into
the passage; and to her establishment
and dismay, she discovered that, also,
to be locked on the outer side.
She looked around in despair for
some means of securing herself against
Intrusion; but found lone. There were
no bolts to the doors, which also
opened from the room, so that she
could not even barricade them with
the furniture.
She could neither escape from the
room nor secure herself with il.
She was a close prisoner, at the
hourly mercy of her jailer.
She sat down in a chair overwhelmed
with terror.
But she still possessed her little pom
iard-still had the means of escape
through death; and, thus far, held her
fate in her own hands. Her courage
rose. She took the little weapon from
her bosom, and drew ii from its silver
case and felt the point. and found ii
very sharp.
Il will not use 1t while there is q
chance of other escape; | will not use
1t except in extremity-such extremity
as must make even suicide a ~duty-and
then! where should 1 strike with the
greatest certainty of instant success?
1t is well to think of that beforehand.
The chest is too well defended: my
hand might fail of reaching a vital or
gan, where failure would be eternal
ruin!Where shall I strike, then? All.
here! this is tender. this is easily ac-
cessible! Only an instant's firmness
will be needed to strike a mortal blow
here! she said, placing the sharp
Joint Of the little poniard against the
jugular vein Of her throat.
Then. without sheathing it again, she
held 1t in her hand, so as to be ready
for use at n moments warming, and
settled herself in her chair to watch
u the night. She closed her eyes aud
clasped her hands to watch out her
evening worship. In it she prayed to
be saved not only from utter ruin. but
from the necessity of using the deadly
weapon in her hand. She prayed to be
restored In peace and innocence to her
friends.
She ceased. And whether sleep, like
a blessing from heaven descended upon
her troubled mind, and she dreamed
what seemed to follow; or whether it
were a vision or a reality, she herself
y " hip ~ 1uI SIdtlldllN t1lf
room was filled with a soft bright radi-
dHce that, ~tiltrating through her closed
eyelids. caused her to open her eyes,
And then she saw that this radiance
came from a part of the wall to the
right of the door leading into the pass
age. 1t was about the height and size
and shape of a human being; and
where the heart should have been.
there was an intense, dazzlin glight.
like a sun, that sent it's rays to the
outlines of the form, and through that.
lighted up the whole room. The effect
of that dazzling heart in the form of
yapOr, was like that of a brilliant gas
jet in a ground glass shade.
While Astrea, spell-bOund. gaZed In
awe, but not In terror, upon this appar-
ition, h noticed in the midst of the
binding light of the blazing heart, a
black speck, like the spots seen upon
the sun.
And while she still gazed, this shape
OF air became conder sed, It's outlines
grew defined, and it gradually assumed
the form OF a woman, young and beau
tful, but 'Oyershadowed with what
seemed an infinite woe. She was ar
rayed In flowing white garments, that
difused soft light and aromatic per-
fnme around her; but the portion Of
her robe that covered her heart, was
darkened by a large, foul blot, that
Sent forth a deadly stream of vapor,
mingling with and d~arkening the light,
and poisoning the aroma of her pres.
cnce. Her long, black hair was
crowned with stars, but the central one
was gone-apparently burned away,
for it's place was filled with what
seemed a s~hapeless, charred mass. Her
large. dark eyes were full of eternal
sorrow. Her left hand pointed to the
spot upon her garments: with her
right was extended In warning toward
the mortal before her.
Astrea had no power to move. nor to,
withdraw her gaze, even when the SUI
pernatural visitant advanced straight.
toward her. and stood before her silent
and motionless.
For a moment the mortal and the
immortal gazed into each others eyes,
and then Astrea felt the influence OF
an irresistible power, compelling her.
against her will and against her ter
rors. to address the presence:
Spirit. speak! what would YOU
have with mew
Another miputa pncSod opd thori