Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
PART ".
Chapter VI-Contfnued.

sprang to her side. relief at my heart.
reproaches on my lips; but 1t was only to
recon- again at sight of her face, grown
hard and old and pinched. and, for the
moment. almost ugly. why, childv' 1
cried, forgetting my own trouble What
is it?'
She laughed without mirth and looked +
me strangely. What do you SUPPOSE ~
she said, huskily, and 1 could see fear was
on her Do you think that you are the
only one In danger?'
How" 1 exclaimed.
How she replied, in tone Of mockery.
:" ny, DO you suppose that stockings and
SHOES are the only things that cost money ?
Or that viZor masks and gloves and hoods
grow on bushes? Briefly. fool if you can
give me four guneas | am saved If rot"
My Cod cried. horror stricken.
IF not" she continued. hardly, you
nave taught ME to read, and that NAV save
my neck l suppose 1 shall be sent to the
plantations, to be beaten weekly, and work
in the sun. and
-Four guineas." 1 groaned
Yes seven in air she answered, with a
sneer Have you got Them
NO. nor groat!" 1 answered, over
whelmed by the discovery that instead of
giving help she needed it. Not a penny
TheE-lt must be got,' she answered
hercely. 1t must be got. and as she re-
peated the words she dropped her hooking
tone and spoke with feverish energy. 1T
must be got, Dick.' And she seized my
! hands and held them 1T must be and can
be If you have spark of spirit, if you are
not the poor. mean thing | sometimes think
| you. Listen! In the old mans room I'D
stairs-the door is locked and double locked:
1 have tried it-are sixty guineas in a bag;
sixty guineas in drawer of the old bureau
by the bed"'
| 1T is DEATH 1 cried, feebly. recoiing
from her as l spoke. Il dare not. l dare
| not do it,
Then we hang. We hang. man" she
| ans wered, fiercely. lyon and I. Will 1t be
| better to hang for lamb than a sheep
/ For seven guineas than for sixty?"
| But If We take it. what shall we be the
| better for it?' 1 said, weakly. He re-
| turns in the morning
BY the morning. given the money we
| shall be score of miles away she an
! swered, hinging her arms round my neck
/ and ha lging on my breast. while ter hot
/ breath famed my cheek. No wonder
/ felt my brain reel and my will mel.
Away from here, Dick" she softly repeat
/ ed. and together"
! Yet | made one effort to withstand her
You forget the door," l said. IF the door
| Is locked. and Mrs. Harris sleeps in the next
| room. how can it be done?'
Not by the door, but by the window. -
she replied, firmly. There is ladder in
/ the second garden from this: and the latch
! OF the window is weak. The old fool in
! doors sleeps like log. BY II she will be
| sound asleep. And, Oh Dick" my mistress
ciieu breaking DOWN on a sudden, and
! snatchIng my hands to her bosom will
| you see me shamed? Play the man for ten
| minutes only, for ten minutes only and by
| morning We shall be safe and far from
! here. And together. Dick Together"
as 1t likely, l ask, was it possible that
should long resist that holding her in nv
arms, IN the warm summer night with her
! falr on my breast, while the moon sailed
overhead and cricket chirped in the wall
hard by-was 1t likely or possible | saw
that l should steel my heart against her.
| Ihit L should turn from the cup of pleas
| ure, who had tasted as yet so few delights
ana drudged and been stinted all nv life
! whose appetite had known no daintier rel
| ish than the dull round of dumping and
bacon, or at the best salt meat and spin
nach: and who for sole companionship had
| Deen shut in. June days and December
| nights alike, with a band of mischieyous
! boys, such as the ancients Justly called
| genus improbum. At any rate / did not.
| to my shame, great or small, according as
/ shall be harshly charitably Judged. i
| did not: but with a beating heart and
| choked voice j gave my word and left her
and an hour later crept down the creakinc
| stairs for the last time. guilty and SILVER
| ing, bundle in my hand to find her wait
| ing for me in the old place
| | confess that the furry of nv shirts
| was such as to disturb my Judgment: and
| my passion for my mistress being no long
| er of the higher kind. these two things
| may account for the fact that | felt no
| wonder or repulson when she explained
/ coolly and in detail where the bureau stood
| and in what part of it lay the money, and