Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-09-08

fore they struck up the waluz, anu rnen,
as if she had only been waiting for the
stopping of that profane and frivolous
dance tune, the fair occupant, or at
least her faint shadow, appeared at the
window. Maynard started with joy. He
could feel the instant bounding Of his
heart. Quickly the shade was raised
Up went the window, and the outlines
of the pretty head and the slender, girl.
ish form that were the object of his
idolatry appeared at the easement. Rest
ing her elbows on the sill, her cheeks
upon her hands, Nathalie leaned out
into the night, drinking in the noun
tain air. 1t was just 10 o'clock, and the
trumpeter from the adjutant's Office had
come out upon che dark parade and was
sounding, as was the custom at that
time, flights out" at that comparative
~ early hour. Just as the window was
raised Maynard was sure he heard the
sound Of footsteps across the road, the
crunching of boot heels in the snow and
ice heaped up along the acequia that
edged the parade, and glancing thither
he distinctly saw the figure of man in
heavy overcoat and derby hat between
him and the lights Of 3 troops bar
racks. But at the first note of taps
these lights We're extinguished and he
could see no more Of the stranger, nor
did I,a 70 l.; u,
longings were concentrated on that fair
yet dark form at the easement above
He watched it with worship in his eyes,
omorrow-tomorrow afternoon he was
to accompany her on her walk Gould
he summon courage enough to tell his
sweet secret? Was it wisdom to do so
now when she had known him so short
time: Would it not be apt to startle,
even to shock, her?
That footstep again, and still in front
of the Barrys' quarters. Maynard had
almost forgotten the wanderer. "Some
one of the hack drivers from town. he
said to himself, 'ttrying to make his
way to the store for drink and loaf
by the stove" But instead OF going on
down to the store the fellow was still
prowling somewhere there in the dark
across the road, and dark it was as Ere
bus. No! He's coming across-comine
stealthily, too, for the footballs, though
audible, told that the prowler was tip.
toeing as we'll as he could in heavy,
triple soled boots What could that
mean?
From his post at the fence opposite
the open space at the side of the house,
Maynard listened, breathless. The foot.
falls ceased, but still no form could be
seen. Then strange thing happened.
He could have sworn he heard in hoarse
whisper her name, Nathalie. - Strain.
ing his ears, he heard it, beyond posi-
bility of doubt, again. But she remain
ed immovable, except that now her face
was turned upward as though she were
communing with the spirits of those
she loved who had been taken from
earth. Marveling, wondering, stricken
with jealous dread, Maynard felt that
he was growing suddenly cold, tina,
his knees were trembling, or was it q
shiver?
The next instant there came the SOUND
Of sudden snap or crack, then bound
ing and rolling, as of a pebble, dowr
the single roof of the piazza into the
tin gutter that edged it. Startled from
her reverie, frightened she knew not al
what, the girl instantly fell back anc
pulled down the shade. Maynard coulo
stand it no longer Bounding out into
the road he hurled himself upon the
tall, dim, but burly fgure-a man whose
hat was pulled down over his eyes and
whose coat collar was up about his ears
"Who are you and what are you doing
here?'' he tiercely demanded. For just
about three seconds the advantage of 6
surprise was his Then he felt himself
suddenly hurled backward, tripped anc
flung with overpowering, stunning force
upon the icy roadway. His head struck
the solid earth with crack that sent
thousand stars dancing before his eyes
and when he scrambled dizzily to hi
feet the muscular intruder had vanished