The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-23
A HighWayman's
Juliet R 81 ~
A Celebrated Authors
Weird Fancy.
: by ARTHUR t. oUILLER-CoUCH.
observation-disclosures

9 by ARTHUR t. oUILLER-CoUCH. <
neutrality-suspicious.
The house In question was what
Peter the Scholar (who corrects my
proof sheets calls one of the rusinurby
sort the front fnelng IL street and the
back looking over II turfed garden,
with Il lime tree or two, n laburnum.
and II lawn tennis court marked out,
Its white lines plain to see in the star
light. At the end of the garden Il door,
painted dark green, led Into narrow
lane between high walls where, II two
persons met one had To turn sideways
To let the other pass. The entrance to
this lane was cut In two by II wooden
post about the height of your hip, and
just beyond this, IN the highroad,
George was waiting for us with the
dogcart.
We had picked the usual time-thc
dinner hour. II had just turned dark,
aud the church clock, two streets away,
was Ginning the quarter after 4 when
Peter and | let ourselves In by the
green door | spoke of and felt along
the wall for the gardeners ladder that
we knew was hanging there a simpler
job there never was. The bedroom
window on the first floor stood right
open to the night mir, and inside was n
faint cHndlelight pickering, just ns Il
careless maid will leave 1t after her
mistress has gone down to dinner. To
be sure, there was n chance OF her COM
Ing back to put 1t out but we could
hear her voice going In the servants
hnll az we lifted the ladder and rested
1t against the sill.
"She's good for half an hour yet"
Peter whispered, holding the ladder
while | began to climb; but II | hear
her voice stop I'll give the signal to be
cautious"
l went up softly. pushed my head
gently above the level of the sill and
| looked In.
1t was roomy place, with II great
half tester bed, hung with curtains.
standing out from the wall ON my
right The curtains were OF chintZ II
dark background, with flaming red
! peoples sprawllng over 1t, and the
farther curtain hid the dressing table
| and the candles upon II and the Jewel
case that | confidently hoped to stand
upon II also. A bright Brussels carpet
covered the floor, and the wall paper,
remember-th though. for the life Of me-
l can not tell why-was pale gray
ground, worked up TO initiate watered
silk, with springs of gilt honeysucklo
upon II.
looked around and listened for half
Il H.nute. The house was still as death
up here not II sound In tho room or In
the passages beyond. With II nod to
Peter to hold the ladder firm lifted
one leg over the SILL then the other,
dropped my feet carefully upon the
thick carpet and went quickly around
the bed to the dressing tablc.
But at the corner, and as soon as
ever / saw around the chlntz curtain,
my knees gave way, and l put out a
hand toward the bedpost
Before the dressing table, and In
front of the big glass In which she
could see my white face, WINS an old
lady seated.
She wore II blaze Of jewels and n low
gown, out of which rose the scraggiest
neck and shoulders | have ever looked
or. Her hair was thick with black dye
aud fastened with n diamond star. Be
tween the two candles the powder
showed on her cheek bones like -four
on II miller's coat. Chin OH hand. she
WINS gazing steadily into the mirror be-
fore her, and, even In my fright. | had
time to note that glass OF sherry and
n plate Of rice and curry stood ut her
elbow among the rouge pots and
powder pulfs.
While | stood stock stlll and pretty
well scared out of my wits she rose,
still staring ut my image In the glass,
folded her hands modestly over her
bosom and spoke In n deep, tragical
voice.
'"I'he prineew
Then, facing sharply around, she
held out her thin arms.
you have come-at lastT'
There was not much TO say to this
except that l had. SO / confessed II.
Even with the candles behind her 1
could see her eyes glowing like a dogs,
aud an uglier poor creature this world
could scarcely show.
is the ladder set against the win
dowY
"Since you seem to know, ma'am,"
said /, "lt Is"
"Ah, Romeo! Your cheeks are ruddy
your peoples are too red"
'1hen I'm glad my color's come back
for, to tell the truth, you did give me u
turn Just at first. You were looking
| out for me, no doubt
"My prlncem She stretched out her
arms again, and, being pretty well at
my wits end, | let her embrace me. at
has been SO long" she said-"oh. the
weary while! And they Ill treat me.
Where have you been all this tedious
timeY
| was not going to answer that you
may be sure. by this time | had recoy-
cred myself sufficiently TO guess what
was near the truth-rthat this wqs.a mGd
aunt Of tse family. below and.thqt the
game was In my hands II played with
decent care So | met her question with
another.
Look here" ! said, I'm running u
considerable risk In Drawing these per-
secutors of your'n. Hadn't we better
elope at once"
II am ready"
"And the jewels? You won't leave
them to your enemies, l suppose"
She turned to the dressing table. lift
ed her jewel case and put 1t into my
hands.
II am ready" she repeated. LET US
be quick aud stealthy as DEATH"