Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-07-13
Saint Maru's Beacon


Her blue eyes were big and bright,
and they looked him through and
through.
Then this is our finish, Tom, she
said. i never knew you before.
II would "a been just like me TO
make a mistake that would "a done
for me forever. / guess this is my
lucky day. I don't feel much as il
il was, but there can't be any better
luck for a girl than to find out her
mistake before she makes it,.
He leaned in from the window sill,
thrusting his face as near TO hers as
possible.
Are you goin to stand in my
way 2 he whispered.
Me |? she said con;usedly. Me
stand in your way 2
I'm goin' to have those di 'monds, ;
said he. It's for you TO say wheth-
or you'll squeal on me or keep still. ,
His voice sounded sharp and hard.
He was in deadly earnest. Annie
was frightened, heartbroken and
angry all together.
Don't count on me, Tom,' she
said: This is our finish. I've said
that once before, an mean it. I'm
done.
He gathered himself up in the
window, watching her with dire in
tentness.
You can get out o. here. he said.
There's nobody in the lower part o.
the house. You needn't know any
thing about this. Go. Now's your
chance.
Don't fool yourself, she retorted
angrily. I'm stayin' right here.
His face took on a peculiar express
sion. She saw that his lower lip
was between his teeth, and suddenly
there was blood upon it. The next
instant he sprang at her. He had
made his plan upon the assumption
that she would try TO run away, and
perhaps this error accounts for the
surprising sequel. Annie did not
run; she advanced. The collision
between them occurred very much
earlier than MIR. Wilson anticipated.
He was overbalanced he lost the
battle and vanished from the scene
OF it. There was a horrible crash of
the stepladder, and Wilson lay for a
few seconds quite still amid its ruins,
while Annie, weak with fright, hung
over the window sill. She had not
intended TO push Tom out of the
window she had merely accepted
combat with true courage.
A voice from above cried. Fob
de Tub o heavenl' And Annie,
looking upward, saw the ebony
countenance of Mrs. Booth s cook.
Tom climbed up on the ladder TO
speak to me, said the girl. Tom,
you amt hurt? Say you ain Z hurt. ;
Wilson sat upon the ground and
glared up at her.
I'm no such liar as that, said he,
with unconscious humor.
IL was passing through his mind
that the game was up, that Armies
explanation was the only way of dis
erection and that he was lucky to be
alive. He struggled to his feet and
began to brush his clothes. At this
moment Annie heard q voice behind
her.
Why, it's Annie Johnson Now.
isn't this the greatest luck I'd
lost your address,.
Marcia Colbert was standing in
the doorway, n vision of loneliness
in the eyes Of poor Annie.
i hadn't ought to have come in
here, said the girl, but knocked.
an thought | heard your voice.
An after | got in | waited because
because
Well, I'm mighty glad you did,
said Miss Colbert. i have some
clothes for you-about a dray load.
| should Judge. l dom know how
you II carry them.
She removed a gold chain from
around her neck. 1t had supported
a little bag which was so full of money
that it burst open when it was DROP
ped upon the table. Behol0ing the
display OF green notes, Annie pass
ed into a species of trance, which
was so long continued that it attract
ed Miss Colbert's attention.
I've just drawn some money for
clothes, said she. Had to have it,
Annie. I've got to buy costumes in
a terrible hurry, and hadn t a cent.
So what could the poor manager dor
Intensity of thought wrinkled and
twisted Annie's brow. She was en-
gagged in the high grade intellectual
labor of classification aud COMPARE
son.
You don't need any costumes TO
wear when you wash clothes, she
said at last, and you don I have any
manager.
Miss Colbert looked at her steadi-