Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-10-06

low as I generally do" she said to
Kate. "This box is harder than feath-
ers. / shall put It under the corner Of
your bed"
"Thanks, oui.tl Iron is as soft as
feathers for ms to lie on" laughed
Kste.
"You needn't lie upon that side OF
the bed at all, was the cool reply.
''There's a man in the kitchen ne
says he's had not n inouthful to eat for
ten days" said Eorah, the servant. ap-
pearing at the door.
1.-THE farm IL only q mile farther on.
Send him about his business" an
swered her mistress.
Eorah went out.
Soon q figure clothed in rags went by
the open window.
The man turned ard shook his clinch-
ed ist at the astonished lady.
"Of nll thingsl The %impudent thingr'
she gasped.
"Oh. but. aunt, I'm sure he has
heard all that we said about that hor-
rid money! faltered Kate.
Mrs. Driecoll'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-
guisbed at the usual time.
Kate could not sleep. In vain che
counted slowly from 101 and said the
letters of the alphabet backward.
She beard the village clock slowly
strike the hour Of midnight. then 1, 2
and g.
K1te's apartment was dark. but the
moon shone dimly into her aunt's room
Just across the hall.
Suddenly a form stood In the door
way, then vanished within.
Was it the trampH Vas that some
thing in his hand a knifeH
Kate stole softly through the door
way. listening breathlessly. Then she
Driscoll's door.
Suddenly the door was noiselessly
closed and a man stood SO neal 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 be gave an o~verdoSef
Kate loved the stern woman, and not
withdrawing her timidity that thought
nerved her to action.
She sprang from the room with a
shrill cry, c~linching both hands in the
hair Of the intruder. 1t is needless 10
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 door
in falling, and 1t was dawn when she
awoke to full consciousness Of what
had happened.
Womanlike, she rushed to see If tho
iron box was still safe. 1t had not been
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 into
her own bed to await developments
Before sunrise Mrs Driscoll awoke.
"Mercy on usl" she screamed. "No-
rah did not shut the window last night
l shall get my death of cold, Katei"
But Kate did not stir until her name
had been called several times. Then she
answered drowsily.
"Get up, childl It's your wedding
day. too, and l in danger Of pneu.
monia, called her aunt.
Kate shut the window and helped
the irste lady to dress, touching he
hair with dainty, soothing fingers al
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 a wife. The brida
! dress was exchanged for a travelling
costume.
/ 81 shall take the iron box TO the banl
az we go to the train, auntie," Kat
. said as she babe her goodby.
] GAS you please. I've had my sa,
about 1t. and no harm came Of Ii ei
4 ther." was the tart reply.
! No n knew of the tragedy whicl
] did not take place in the silent watohe
of the night.
No one knew until Kate, nesting Il
her husbands clasp as the train spe
onward, told him the story in her ow,
t way and time.
"But the hair-did you save itf
is a clew," he said quickly.
! 81 burned it" was the calm reply
~ did not need to save it, for / kneV
whose it was. | always thought b
liked aunt's money better than me
Now / know that he coveted the dowr
s more than the bride. But the money
safe In the bank, and wasn't 1t strung
that he should be there to see 1t dc
positedf"
mot George Travisf' calculate
Harry.
eyes; let him CO." she whispere
softly. nesting closer. "Think what b
D lost-what You gained. Harry. dear
1 Let his own conscience punish him
{ he has any. Well never let aunt know
We win keep our first secret forever. -
Harry Winship was a man. He coul
not refuse his wife's first request, an
Mrs. Driscoll does not know to this da
what danger menaced her.-Fre
| Gil = l. Hl.s-.Lg Ill