The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-10-26

Of a row Of nine expresses which grow on
your bluff at the river side half mile south
from the villa, and let doWn the money %
I much. as YOU can send. ii notes that are not
marked or in any, way arranged 10. trap him,
Z by a fish line from TIE last tree (away from
the wlla), that he will be in the stream and
take the money, and that 4 shall be let come
home Please do it after dark, and go right
back to the villa where will meet you before
midnight. Oh, do this, dear mother do this,
for want to come home.
"your
"MARGARErrA."
When her watch registered midnight, she
stole out Of the cave and over the face Of the
cliff to the trees. She walked along buoy
antIy, full Of exultation to think that she
might not pass that way again in secrecy.
The next day went so slowly that she all
most died Of its length, It seemed as if all the
sad days Of the world were hours init, and as
il the heart Of her mother were turned from
her. A great tree grew on the bank below
her, and in its branches she at last saw the
sun trapped and vanquished before it fell
behind the other lower river bank, invisible
till morning Then the darkness came on
by degrees, like shades in the ebb Of dying
tone, until night settled over everything.
And then she heard her mothers voice far
above ner, not raised in any words, but in
strange little sobbing noises, that told her
Of love and lonely fear-hlled nights and
horrid dreams and unlovely visions. She
heard something rattle on the stones, and
Enrico's voice said, ~ can find my way to a
tiny cave down there, and see that the brute
gets his money"
Margaretta heart stood still for very fear,
she flung herself across the darkness, grasped
the trunk Of that one tree and, with a sobof
horror, raised herself into its branches.
:" can't find the track" Enrico called,
turn the lantern on it, dearest. / can't
get down to the cave"
He came on steadily until a shrek
sounded from the cliff. Enrico, someone
has caught me" He turned and felt his
yaytothe summit, while Margaretta slipped
ircm Inc tree again. Its trunk had stopped
Ike progress Of tin dispatch box which she
"..;lay tried to jerk from the string. She
Il, and tore at the cord until it yielded,
a!cf cutting her mouth and tearing her
irnds with its hot nip Of friction. She
Lard reassuring voices from above; their
irSh. Was over. Signora Ritz had fancied
r. 81. seized from behind; she received the
...-p;.. without its dispatch box, and Mar
g'.-c't;;s hear. her pass along the path, half
.rad ,,i.h excitement. Enrico's voice satis-
fcl lei. il ~ss as tender as her dreams Of
li'nhad b--n; She found her opinion of him
iust;'-.G. .i,.j mentally defed Uncle Elipha-
Ie. $ { passed quickly over the face OF the
III, ), yrss .'tcuiid nature to her now, and
iorl. lie y s.li between the first and second
-yprsS>cs Tic dispatch box she had long
slnco .ictidsd to hide under the veranda,
out Sc rnr-sd along with it under her arm,
Lnngf; aa1 tFils. forgotten, her diaryin her
!,nsst. A,fl,cs ..,ca came TO her: she had
grown th;n. size would I'LL her irock with
her -,lr ~; ard ii,erc under plane tree
sae3ll, .ks box iar from her, and packed
her frociS .i.n .-,o;s', the prics Of a l,ome,"
.heeaid. "Yo', ;Jncle Liphcy, the price OF an
La ms happ,sess and Of mothers
pace" She had pins 10 n c her wealth
safe although they wcrc rnsled, and joy at
her heart, as she ran 10 the front Of the villa
aad pounded at che door. "Let me in,
mother let me IN; I'm well and strong and
happy"