The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-12

low as + generally do" she said to
Kate. "This box is harder than feath-
ers, 1 shall put it under the corner of
your bed.
''Thanks, aunti Iron is as soft as
feathers for me to lie on" laughed |
Kate.
''You needn't lie upon that side of
the bed al all, - was the cool reply.
'"There'5 a man in the kitchen as
says he's had not a mouthful to eat for |
ten days" said Norah, the eservant, ap- |
pearing at the door.
''The farm is only mile farther on
Send him about his business an
swered her mistress.
Norah went ont.
Soon figure clothed in rags went by
the open window.
The man turned and shook his clinch-
ed fist at the astonished lady.
"Of all thingsl The impudent thingp'
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 Look,
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 /,
and 3.
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 knife?
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 doox was closed
What if he gave an overiose2
Kate loved the stern woman, and not
witbstanding her timidity that thought
peryed 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 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 awolze
"Mercy on usl' she screamed. "No
rah did not shut the window last night
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 shut 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 we'll The ceremony wa
over which made her a wife The brida
dress was exchanged for a travelin
costume.
Il shall take the iron box TO the ban
as we so to the train, auntie, Kat
said as she bsde her goodby.
LAS 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 watche
of the night
No one knew until Kate, nesting j
her husbands clasp as the train spe
onward, tcld him the story in her ow
way and time.
"But the hair-did you save itf
is clew, " be said quickly.
81 burned it, p" was the calm repl,
II did not need to save it, for l kne'
whose it was l always thought
liked aunt's money better than M
| Now | know that he coveted the dowI
! more than the bride. But the money
safe in the hank, and wasn't it strans
that he should be there to see it d.
posted p
, Not George Travis2' calculate
! | Harry.
"Yes; let him 60 she whispere
| softly, nesting closer Think what |
, lost-what you gained, Harry, dea
! Let his own conscience punish him
f he has any Wen never let aunt know
? We will 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. Ere
Small, Jr., in Cincinnati Herald.
Lease of Six Inches of Land.