Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-04

her long, loud breathing again, as no
reply was made to her question.
"That woman was not awake" whis-
pered Clarence, "yet she may awake
at any moment, as her sleep is natur-
al"
Dear Clarence, am stronger than
you think said Helen. ooh, let me
try to escape to-night-at least from
this prison"
Nay, | must have both food and re-
pose myself" said Clarence. 1T is
nearly three days since sleep has CLOS
ed my eyes, and for twenty-four hours
neither food nor drink has passed my
lips Patience-courage! Continue to
feign to be delirious, and tomorrow
night l will try to rescue. Sleep, and
gain all the strength you can. Adleu
for few hours"
"Ah. then you must go?'
81 must, for your sake as well rs my
own" replied Clarence, upon whose
frame his immense fatigue and ankle
ties had begun to bear warningly. i
must, dear Helen. God bless and guard
you! Courage and patience!"
Dear Clarence, All! he has gomez
sighed Helen, after listening in vain
for a response. Courage and pa
tience? Indeed l have great need OF
both, and of heavens aid, tool"
And here a sob of bitter heart-an-
guish burst from her lips.
What is it? What is the matter?''
said Martha, aroused by the sound,
and sitting up. did you call, my
daughter?"
Helen made no reply, but feigned a
deep sleeo, saying, however to herself:
"Ah, Clarence was right The slight
est unusual sound awakes this dread
full woman. Oh, it. will be very diff
cult to evade her vigilance!
Martha arose and rent over the pre-
tended sleeper.
Eyes, she is asleep" muttered Mar
tha "But she has been weeping in her
sleep, for see tears on her cheek She
must have sobbed, too, for some such
noise awoke me. "Why cannot | sleep
as sound as she? had queer dream,
too" she added, looking up at the hole
in the ceiling II dreamed that Claude
de Lavet was at that hole, whispering
to the young lady"
ooh, heaven! what narrow es-
cape!" thought Helen, hearing the
woman's whispered soliloquy.
81 Go not think | can sleep we'll in
room with hole like that in the
ceiling continued Martha, as she
filled a glass with wine from bottle
on the tray. 81 must get Bashfort to
nail boards over that hole tomorrow
or shall be dreaming that the sorcer-
er's ghost is peeping down at me. But
l must sleep, even if l take little
opium" she continued pouring few
drops of laudanum into the glass from
vial which she took from her bosom.
81 feel nervous and shaky.'
She drank and again Frustrated her
self on the couch.
Meanwhile Clarence had made his
way back to his former spying place,
| in the room above the kitchen.
The two Osreds were sound asleep
upon their chairs, their heads upon the
| table; and Bashfort was also asleep,
stretched out at full length upon a
| bench.
Bashfort, on his return from Helen's
room, had found his master and the
other asleep; and mindful of Lord Gen
| lis order, did not disturb them, but re-
solved to take a nap@ himself, till his
lord of Capt Osred should awake.
Lord Genlis' head slipped from the
table just as Clarence regained the
spying place, and he called out loudly:
"Ha, Bashfort! Awake, man, and
show me to a bed! My joints ache
| from sleeping here"
"And mine," said the captain, awal1,
ing heavily.
"This way, gentlemen" said Bash,
| fort, rising with great yawn, and TAX,
| ing lamp from the table.
Ito Be Continued.)