Smyrna times., 1899-08-30


Kate. 'This box is harder than feath-
ers. shall put it under the corner of
your bed"
Thanks, aunt! Iron is as soft as
feathers for me to lie on" laughed
Kate.
You needn't lie upon that side of
the bed at all, was the cool reply.
There's man in the kitchen as
says he's had not a mouthful to eat for
ten days." said Norah, the servant. an
pearing at the door,
1.-The farm is only mile farther on.
Send him about his business" an
swered her mistress.
Norah went out.
Soon figure clothed in rags went bv
the open window.
The man turned and shook his clinch-
ed fist at the astonished lady.
"Of all things The impudent thing!"
she gasped.
"Oh, but, aunt. I'm sure he has
heard all that we said about that hor-
rid money!" faltered Kate.
Mrs. Driscoll's face told the concern
which she felt, but she turned her back
upon her niece and took up a book.
Darkness came.
The lights in the house were extin-
guished at the usual time.
Kate could not sleep. In vain she
counted slowly from 101 and said the
letters of the alphabet backward.
She heard the village clock slowly
strike the hour of midnight, then ! 9
and 8.
Kate's apartment was dark, but the
moon shone dimly into her aunt's room
| just across the hall
Suddenly form stood in the door
way, then vanished within.
Was it the tramp2 Was that some
thing in his hand a knife2
Kate stole softly through the door
way, listening breathlessly. Then she
darted into small room near Mrs.
Driscoll's door.
Suddenly the door was nOiselessly
closed and man stood SO near her hid
ing place that she could hear his hur-
ried breathing.
The faint odor of chloroform told
why the door was closed.
What if he gave an over 1ose2
Kate loved the stern woman, and not
withstanding her timidity that thought
nerved her to action.
She sprang from the room with a
shrill cry, clinching both hands in the
hair of the intruder. 1t is needless to
say that he was startled out of what
little common sense he possessed.
He threw her violently aside with a
muttered oath and fed. But he left a
generous lock of hair in her hands,
Her head struck a corner of the dool
in falling and it was dawn when she
awCke to full consciousness of what
had happened.
WOmanlike, she rushed to see if the
iron box was still safe. 1t had not beer
disturbed Then she threw open the
door of Mrs. Driscoll's room. That lady
was unconscious, but breathing evenly
Kate's courage returned.
Silently she opened the window, let
ting the fresh morning air draw freely
through the room. Then she crept int
her own bed to await developments.
Before sunrise Mrs Driscoll awoke.
"Mercy on usr" she screamed. "No
rah did not shut the window last night
1 shall get my death of cold, Kate"
But Kate did not stir until her nam
had been called several times. Then sh
answered drowsily.
"Get up, child It's your wedding
day, too, and l in danger of pneu
monia, called her aunt.
Kate shnt the window and helpe,
the irate lady to dress, touching he
hair with dainty. soothing fingers a
she arranged it.
The household arose and went abou
its tasks. Visitors came and went. Kat
kept her secret well. The ceremony wa
over which made her wife. The brids
dress was exchanged for travelin
costume.
81 shall take the iron box to the ban
as we go to the train, auntie, Kat
, said as she bade her gOodby.
GAS you please. I've had my sa
about it, and no harm came of it e
ther, was the tart reply.
No one knew of the tragedy whic
did not take place in the silent watcht
of the night.
No one knew until Kate, nesting
her husbands clasp as the train spe
, onward, tcld him the story in her ow
t way and time.
"But the hair-did you save itH
8 is clew," he said quickly.
81 burned it" was the calm repl!
81 did not need to save it, for l kne
whose it was. always thought
, liked aunt's money better than m
a Now l know that he coveted the dowl
s more than the bride. But the money
safe in the bank, and wasn't it strant
: that he should he there to see it d
posted ?"
e "Not George Travis?" calculate
1 Harry.
: Eyes; let him CO." she whispert
e softly, nesting closer. "Think what
d lost-what you gained, Harry, dea
4 Let his own conscience punish him
f he has any. Well never let aunt know
= We will keep our first secret forever.