El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-28

|
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 a man in the kitchen as
| SAYS he's had not a mouthfuI to eat for
ten days" said Norah, the servant, APP
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 by
the open window.
The man turned and shook his cllnch-
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 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 alpha bet backward.
She heard the village clock slowly
strike the hour of midnight, then l, 2
| and 3.
Kates 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 tramp? Was that some
thing in his hand knife?
Kate stole softly through the door
way, listening breathlessly. Then she
darted into a 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 overdose2
Kate loved the stern woman, and not
withstanding her timidity that thought
nerved her to action.
She sprang from the room with
ehrill 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
muttered oath and fled. But he left
generous lock of hair in her hands.
Her head struck a corner of the door
in falling. and it was dawn when she
awoke to full consciousness of what
had happened.
Womanlike, she rushed to see if the
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. emo |
rah did not shut the window last night. |
1 shall get my death of cold, Katel''
But Kate did not stir until her name !
had been called several times Then she
answered drowsily
''Get up, childI It's your wedding |
day. too, and L in danger of pneu |
monia.' called her aunt.
Kate shut the window and helped .
the irate lady to dress, touching her !
hair with dainty, soothing fingers as
she arranged it.
The household arose and went about ,
its tasks. Visitors came and went. Kate !
kept her secret well. The ceremony was
over which made her wife. The bridal
dress was exchanged for a travelling
costume. /
Il shall take the iron box to the bank
as we go to the train, auntie, Kate
said as she babe her goodby.
GAS you please I've had my say
about it, and no harm came of it Ell
ther," was the tart reply.
No one knew of the tragedy which
did not take place in the silent watches
of the night.
No one knew until Kate, nesting in
her husbands clasp as the train sped
onward, told him the story in her own
way and time.
''But the hair-did You save it2 1t
is a clew." he said quickly
81 burned it, was the calm reply.
81 did not need to save it, for knew
whose it was 1 always thought he
liked aunt's money better than me.
Now l know that he coveted the dowry
more than the bride. But the money is
safe in the bank, and wasn't it strange
that he should be there to see it de-
posted p
'Not George Travis?" calculated
Harry.
Eyes; let him co. she whispered
softly, nesting closer. "Think what he
lost-what you gained, Harry, dear.
Let his own conscience punish him-if
he has any Well never let aunt know
We will keep our first secret forever"
Harry Winship was man. He could
not refuse his wife's first request, and
Mrs. Driscoll does not know to this day
what danger menaced her.-Fred