The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-19

we're family herlooms of great value
my aunt had given me on my eigh-
teenth birthday. Their light seemed
almost TO dazzle me, Ms ] placed them
in my jewel case. then glanced Mt my
betrothal ring, which caught and held
the light reflected from their depths.
Then one by one took tho pins from
my hair and let it fall n soft, shim-
mering mass upon my shoulders. How
Claude had admired it when one day
on horseback it had escaped its thrall-
dom. Would he love me the same
when it's gold had turned to gray and
wrinkles had taken the place OF dim
pies? Aud, peering into the glass,
strove to fancy the change, and add,
/ i'll Imagination, two score and ten to
my age, when, great Heaven! was Tint
fucc white and blanched, eyes wild
with terror, mouth half apart, with
| lips from which every trace of color
had fed. the same which, n moment
before, had pictured unsullied happi-
ness? What had brought the change?
Only mans bare foot projecting
from under my bed and casting its
own hideous reflection in the glass.
watched it as cat might watch n
mouse, y snake, bird, with fascina-
ton which seemed to enchain and en-
thrall me. l strove to scream aloud,
but the effort. merciinlly, was vain
one. Ny mouth, dry and parched,
could utter no sound. My breath came
hard and quick. My heart beat 50
loudly | thought that he must hear it.
"Ah, if Claude were but here!" And
with that thought the horrid spell
broke. Some degree OF calmness took
the place of almost frenzy. The re-
membrance that for his sake l must
make some effort to escape. but, all
was ever prisoner IN more hopeless
chains? Slowly, determiuelly, l with
drew my eyes from the fearful thing,
lest courage at the sight should fail
me- I tried to think, but reason
seemed to have deserted me, and II
hopeless terror to have taken full pos
session ofm". For Ciaude's sake for
Claude's s,ke!' This / mnrmured
again aud ngniu to myself, living on
the transient calmnesS it might bring.
Should l go to the door, unlock and
unbolt il? ! knew he would suspect,
aud that my tremhling fingers would
fail at their work, while perhaps a
hand hideou4 MS the foot would clutch
and bar me. Or should | succeed,
what then? The servants were in a
remote part of the house, and the
butler. who had been i'll my nnnts
servic, some twenty years, was no
match for II muscular opponent.
Then came mn impulse to leap to the
street-anythiug to escape from the
hurrid presence which seemed to ill
NV room; hut | abandoned that, uu-
less rs more mercifnl IN ans Of end
ing my life. Back my eyes crept TO
the fcarsul thing-still immovnble /!
What were his thoughts? Where his
eyes? Watching mine? l wondered
eXultug with satanic glce over the
poor trapped bird which had fallen
into his net. Som thing must be done
to save me from madness! This 1
realized us | rose to my feet and
yawued aloud. Had | not screamed
instead? No; there was no movement
of the foot.
How hot it ISL exclaimed, aloud,
and my voice sounded as though it had
come from great distance. Then
standing for moment by the open
window, l stepped out upon the bal
eony. The night winds seemed to
greet me lovingly the bands which
Ind been wrapped so tightly about my
heart were loosened; the hot weight
pressing on my brain lifted.
The street wns silent and deserted.
The world lay all around me wrapped
in sleep. l seemed nlone-deserted
by all, when, suddenly, whistle loud
and clear broke upon my ear. The all
was one Claude loved and had snug
Sd often to him, his dear eyes looking
into mine. An! would he ever henl
my voice again? Nearer and nearer
came the sound; mans football
quick aud clear, ringing out upon the
pavement. Should he come this way,
could not in the name OF humanity
appeal to him for help? But how:
; Would not the ears behind me bt
quicker to catch my words than 1t