Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-11-07

IL was ten minutes after IL when
she began reading and now it was
three minutes later. She had read
for at least half an hour-of course
she had-and ii 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
.ess than a quarter of an hour for her
entire literary recreation.
She rose TO her feet, wondering why
her father did not come. Feeling OPP
pressed, she opened a 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-
sinue her study of tactics-she had
oeen reading the manual Of Arms"
eft through her brothers error.
She now determined to retire, feel
,ng 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
-tbe melody of the birds whose notes
fell In liquid showers amid the showers
, Of dew. She would 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 it's furious energy.
She would know the. exact time to
arise by noting through the transom
when a golden lance Of sunshine ripped
the palpitating shadow in the hall.
As she lay mediAting, 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 glazing
eyes.
CHANGING up. she saw outlined
against the transom a human head
Death was hers for the asking, and
lessl
She looked upon the floor and in
moment Il was peopled with shadowy
faces, and she felt the carpet torn by
rhamping 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 thorns OF danger.
Slowly the girl realized her situa-
ton. The first signal was like a stun
ming blow; then she came 10 the real
lzed anguish. the nerves working into
tormented surprise, the chaos of mis-
rry, 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 a head
against her face, while the congested
veins blackened. oh, the horror Of
such a deathl And worse than all
physical pain. the nameless agony Of
fear.
Was there no help2 Could that des-
perate intruder terminate the whole
design and mystery OF her existence?
Doubt and agony and cropping 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 inn |
perlous or sterner solitude.
After these maddening moments |
that deride the longevity of the CEN
turtles, she suddenly thought Of an es-
cape.
She rose slowly. II 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 abb
sently lingering the blazing jewels as
thOugn lOdtn TO ltdNe tncH Spanning |
company; then, without replacing any
II the stones, she left them in scat
tered confusion and walked slowly to
he other end of the room.
Those blazing crystals might well
hold the attention of that terrifying
lead for the moment at least.
Then. summoning all her resolution,
The rushed to the door and with fu-
'ious haste pressed the spring that
.losed the heavy transom.
As il closed with crushing force up
N the clinging fingers an unearthly
nv rang out upon the stiffness of the
light, and the black cat sprang
through the open window into the i'm
'enetrable gloom.
Some hours later Flora's father and
,rother returned. Their return was
lot coincident through design, but the
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