Year: 1859

Duna uncOnscionsly went up to the table,


and drew away the chair, whilst the robber
held the rope fast in both hands, having slip
| ped it over one arm up to the elbow to con-
vince himself of its strength by swinging on it


with the whole weight of his body
Push the table aside" Duna did so.
:" All right: it is a capital rope; it will
| bear more than yOu-yOu and me together"
| He now let go the rope, intending to jump


to the ground. Apparently it was his pur
! pose to startle the poor girl by the bold and


sudden leap but the moose intended for her
glided along his arm, caught him fast by the
/ wrist. Dumas eXecutiOner had in fact, hang
ed himself by the hand.


| Though experiencing the most acute pain,
he wished to conceal bis critical position from
the girl, that she might no. avail herself of it
to escape. lie tried to reach the imprisoned
hand with his left but the weight of his bo-


dy prevented his bringing his shoulders paral-


lei. Suddenly he began to whirl and Ring


himself wildly through the air, hoping the rope


would snap: but in vain if he had but the


knife in his boot, be might haze Seyeredit, or.


at the worst. have cut off his hand, and saved


himself by flight But unluckily for him the


knife was sticking in the beam. How was he


to get at it


He thought o. one means-a desperate one
the last He collected all his strength, to


shake the knife out with powerful spring


The effort failed


The weight of his heavy frame dangling in


the air by one hand only his violent efforts,
the pressure Of the tight-drawn knot. occasion


ed the villain intense torture the joints Of his
arm cracked and began to part the blood
Oozed out under the rope from the laceTated
skin, and trickIed into the sleeve Of his cloak


while that of the rest Of his frame rushed from
the extremities to his head Every moment
it seemed as if the hand would be torn off He
eyea wished that it might. His anxiety lest
the people Of the house should return bis
dread Of being taken in this predicament i'm
patience, rage ; the thought of his misleeds
Of his punishment: all his guilty life all this
possessed his tumultuous Imagination. and
brought his dark soul TO despair Cold sweat
broke from his forehead. In spite of his IL
ger-iike endurance, a cry Of agony burst al last
from his iron bosom.


Duna, petrifed, and thinking only Of death,


had hitherto looked on in idiotic Indifference
For a long time she did not understand what


he was doing, and made no attempt 10 under
stand it, True, she was still standing upright


ike living thing but living she was not


The involuntary cry of the murderer walked


her, however, from her trance She saw him


bleeding as if it were half dream she saw


blood on the f0or a hideous gaping mouth,


with great miSShaped teeth, red fiery eyes start


ing from their sockets: she read his anguish


in his CHASTITY distorted features. and guessed


at last what had happened Hope animated


her: She began to think of deliyerance.


Aydotya push tile table nearer said the


r1bber. in altered, but still harsh ami CON


mandiug accents, that terrified her again. and


compelled her TO blind obedience. Once more


She lost her presence of mind. and pushed the


corner Of the table towards him The villain
reached it with the toes Of one foot be rails


ed himself up few inches Il was for b II


moment Of heavenly enjoyment Ncver in his


whole life had he known one ike it-nOt even


after the most successful murder His agony


was ie>S iutolerahle; he drew breath again


but his left hand which he tried 10 use 10 free


his right was benumbed aud powerlcsS. The


knot, too. had grown too tight. the rcprOba.e


felt he could DO no more without aid


AydOtya 1eremeyevna kind friend =


COOL girl do me the favor! jump upon the


table; unite ny arm-pray 90! l will not


kill yOu | only meant TO frightcn you. Oh


how nv head swimS -


The miScveant's torture touched the kind


hearted girls soul The feeling OF compassion


uUfrequeutly extiBguiShes in woman the thought


Of their own danger. That woman thinks with


her heart has been said thousands Of times


since the invention Of printing In Duna's bo-
. som compassion prevailed over fear. aud sl-


fed the voice Of self-preseryatiOn. She SPFaag


upon the table. and laborcd long and hard at
the knot She could not undo it .
Do ne the favor. sweet, sweet, Duna =


Fetch kuife-cut the cursed rope-I an dy-


lug with pain"


The girl Jumped off the table and ran to the


pantry. Poor creature she little knew the


return the red-uo<ed guest was prepared to


make for the kindness Of her heart She
+ found a kuiie: she hurried back she vas on
the Ihresho, when the table on which ;he
r0bber had rested hjs foo; turned over with
loud noise He had upset it in eudeavoriug
! 10 change his feet. Once more he was swung
/ with ail his weight in the sir \ piercing yell
F told Of the sudden renewal Of his former tor
. tgr5s Dqna stopped short a. the door HIS
hideoaSy distorted face struck her with invol-
untsry horror she thought il was Satau'S Own
+ features She beheld Tie ght r.Teted her 10
! the spot where she stood: she shuideged, and
dared not move a step forward


/ She looked round and sap window open
/ The thought flashed upon Der that she might
avail herself of the circumstance. Bot he suf-
+ fers 81 dreadfully, How frightfgIly he screams,
/ The rope must be cut. Duna advanced few
steps That horrid gaping mouth Dana
/ tottered back and mechanically unconscious Of
what she did, she raised herself 10 tie window
'ge, and dropped from il into the courty yard
! When she was in the courtyard she knew not
what she had done. or what she had 10 do
/ She had escaped the sight q that ferociO1S
/ satanic month, but no; the influence OF Der tor
mentor. lie had fascinated her. lie was still