Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-09
Chapter .xxx1v.-(Continued.)

Chapter .XXXIv.-(Continuel.
SO, when Venus brought her up the
very best supper that the kind-hearted
girl could make from the plentiful
nantry of Ben LOmOnd, Astrea did
Justice to it.
Venus carried away the service. and
soon returned, dragging narrow mat
tress after her.
cole Marse say how he let me sleep
in here long O you tonight. as you's
poorly she said, as she spread her
mattress beside Astrea's bed.
ooh, Venus, that will be a comfort,
indeed''
Yes, honey, I knows it will. l
'spects he is gwine to kill YOU wild
kindness now, an conquer you dat
way; but 'spects he gwine lock us In
for all dat-dere now. what tell your
WHISPERED Venus. as the click of the
turning key sounded in the lock.
Astrea did not mind that, now her
fate could not be decided before morn
ing. and then it would be in her own
hands. And for the night, the pres
cnce of Venus secured her from intru-
sion.
Venus settled herself upon her mat
tress, and was soon in the deep and
heavy sleep peculiar to her race.
Astrea, filled with troubled thought,
Law long with her eyes closed, yet not
asleep. The room was in perfect dark
ness. How long exactly she had lain
thus is not known, when again. as on
q former occasion. a soft, bright light
seemed to penetrate even through her
closed eyelids, and cause her to open
them: and again, oh! wonderful! she
saw the shining apparition of the beau
tiful woman advancing toward her;
but now, though the central star was
still a charred mass in her crown, and
the dark stain remained upon her gar
ment. vet her cOuntenance had lost 8
portion OF that seemingly Infinite des-
pair it had worn before. She adj
vanccd and stood before Astrea, mo-
tiOnleSS in form and feature, as if wait
ing to be addressed.
And again Astrea felt a nameless in
tluence dispel her fears and impel her
to speak.
spirit. what is your will with me
to-night?"
The voice that answered proceeded
not from those beautiful but motion
less spirit lips. and fell not upon the
outward ears of the nearer. but seemed
rather to proceed from the depths of
Astrea's own soul.
Lady! you have not been regard
less of my warning; you have not hes
itatcd to expose your life to TIE dread
full death of slow starvation in the
woods. rather than transgress. But l
had leave to watch you while you
slept to keep away the deadly reptile
of the thicket, and the deadlier MAS
ma of the swamp. So that you took
no harm. l will be with you again i'll
Your hour of deadliest peril. Fear not,
therefore, to meet the wicked man.
You shall be Saved.'
And before these words were fairly
finished, the vision had faded away.
For few moment sAstrea remained
in amazement, uncertain whether she
had seen. or dreamed; of one thing
only she felt sure-that, whether vision
or dream, it had greatly revived her
hopes, and so she fell asleep and slept
till morning.
Venus was the first to wake and roll
up her mattress.
And so, when Astrea opened her
eyes they fell upon the kind creature.
who stood before the dressing glass
tying up her turban.
Astrea also arose and began to look
around for the white dress she had
worn since leaving the ship, but she
saw no trace Of it.
Venus caught her reflection in the
glass and turned around.
''Lor. honey, you up? Dat right
fNp
ey, you jes' ought to have seen it when
l took it often you las night. Not fit
for ole beggar woman much less young
gall. So ies' sent it down to de laun-
dry. Dere. honey, denis sent it in
here for YOU" she said, pointing to a
large trunk that stood open in a corner
OF the room.
Astrea went to the trunk, wondering
whether it contained the wardrobe OF
her unhappy predecessor in this room
poor Lulu. There We're gay and even
costly dresses, and all articles requi
site to a woman's toilet.
Astrea selected the plainest-a black
silk. 1t fitted her near enough for ser
vice, and when she had washed hel
face and combed her hair she put it on
DE doors unlocked, chile" said We
uuS, DIS Sic lilcu luc lldulC Guu lOuuC
it so.
They both went out into the passage
where they parted. Venus going into
the kitchen and Astrea into the dining
room, where her duties" lay.
Rulnford was standing at one of the
windows with newspaper in his
hand. He turned and, seeing Astrea
said: y
Come! that is well. not sulky thi'
morning? That is right. But l say
my girl, you must never play me thai
trick again; never give me so mucl
trouble again as long as we both live
But. however, we will talk about tina
after breakfast, when, once for all
we must come to an understanding"
"A'es, SIR" replied Astrea, with gray,
dignity.
"And now, Fora, ring for my choco
late"
Astrea obeyed. and the summons wa
answered by Cybele, bearing the pot o
chocolate.
CHAPTER Xiv.
When Rumford had finished breaE
l-Is x,,I-,