The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-09-12

for at least half an hour--of course
she had--and it must have been that
the clock had stopped and then re-
sumed its work. In the morning she
would have the clock repaired.
Four times she read for similar half
hours. and four times the clock
stopped. Therefore it must have been
after one, though the clock indicated
less than n quarter of an hour for her
entire literary recreation.
She rose to her feet, wondering why
her father did not come. Feeling op-
pressed she opened window and
gazed inquiringly into the unanswer-
ing night.
The cat purred contentedly on the
arm of her chair.
For some reason she did not con-
tinue her study of tactics-she had
been reading the manual of Arms"
left through her brothers error.
She now determined to retire, feel
ing perfectly quiet after her first
nervousness 1t was really absurd that
she should have felt agitated at all.
How different everything would APP
pear in the morning-the sunshine's
tranquil gold dreaming upon the floor
the melody of the birds whose notes
fell in liquid showers amid the showers
of dew. She woulS listen. too, for the
woodpecker with its crimson head of
fire burning behind its driving bill,
like the glare of the explosion that
gives the projectile its furious energy.
1,n he INA 4.N
arise by noting through the transom
when golden lance of sunshine ripped
the palpitating shadow in the hall.
As she lay meditating, with her hand
upon the soft fur of her pet, she felt
soothed and lulled by its soft purring.
Suddenly the sound ceased. The cat
rose with arched back and glaring
eyes.
Glancing up, she saw outlined
against the transom human head.
Death was hers for the asking, and
less!
She looked upon the floor and in a
moment it was peopled with shadowy
faces, and she felt the carpet torn by
champing teeth.
The paralysis of her terror was also
her safety. She made no sound that
would direct the attention of the head
from the diamonds to herself.
Terror had wrapped her so close in
his weaving that she could not wound
herself against the tborns of danger.
Slowly the girl realized her situa-
ton. The first signal was like stun
ming blow; then she came to the real
lied anguish, the nerves working into
tormented surprise, the chaos of mis-
cry, excitement and fear.
She wondered what would be the
outcome. Death, indeed, but under
what circumstances?
Remote from human aid-choked
with strong hands about her throat
that grinning sepulcher of head
against her face, while the congested
veins blackened. Oh, the horror of
such a death! And worse than all
physical pain, the nameless agony of |
fear.
Was there no help? Could that des-
perate intruder terminate the whole |
design and mystery of her existence? |
Doubt and agony and groping hope |
lay upon her heart.
How long she lay in that condition
she could not tell.
The great house seemed buried in |
night and silence. The world had |
fallen away in its circuit and this |
fragment whereon the house was |
builded lay lost in space. She felt that |
the fathomless ocean held no more i'm |
perious or sterner solitude.
After these maddening moments
that deride the longevity of the CEN
turies, she suddenly thought of an es-
cape.
She rose slowly. 1t were easier to
step barefoot on burning plowshares,
yet the girl did not falter. She
reached the bureau where the dia-
monds lay, drew them with trembling
fingers from their case and stood alb
sently lingering the blazing jewels as
though loath to leave their sparkling
then, without replacing any
of the stones, she left them in scat
tered confusion and walked slowly to
the other end of the room.
Those blazing crystals might well
hold the attention of that terrifying
head for the moment at least.
Then, summoning all her resolution,
she rushed to the door and with fu-
rious haste pressed the spring that
closed the heavy transom.
AS it closed with crushing force up
IN the clinging fingers an unearthly
cry rang out upon the stiffness of the
night, and the black cat sprang
through the open window into the i'm
penetrable gloom.
X n
Some hours later Flora's father and
brother returned. Their return was
not coincdent through design, but the
'esult of an accident which was elicit
ng an earnest but incoherent narra-
i've from the younger man and an ap-
Of dark disapproval from the
elder. Their conversation was abrupt
l. \