Year: 1860

ened to kill her instantly if she stirred from the spot where she stood--placed chair on the table-and sprang nimbly upon it. Having fastened the rope around the beam, he drew the knife from his boot, cut off the proje cting part of the rope, stuck the knife into the beam and set about making 0 double running knot on the rope. Duna stood motlonless in the middle of the room !: heat and cold rushed alternately through her frame; sparks of fire danced before her eyes she saw nothing she did nothing but pray, confess her sins, commend herself to all the saints, and mentally bid farewell to all that was dear to her in life.

 Presently, presently, my precious , said the murderer, going on with his work r" you shall see how nicely will hang you am not new hand at the job. Do you see now, all is ready, only we must try whet!.tr the rope is strong enough. would not for the world you should fall to the ground and break your ribs. It is for your interest and my own that--Draw the chair away from under my feet"

 Duna unconscious!y went up to the table, and drew away the chair whilst the rob- Der held the rope fast in both hands, having slipped it over one arm up to the elbow, to convince himself of its strength by swinging on it with the whole weight of his body.

 Push the table asde" Duna did so.

 All right it is capital rope it will bear more than you--ycu and me together

 He now let go the rope, intending to jump to the ground. Apparently it was his purpose to statle the poor girl by the bold and sudden leap; but the moose intended for her, gliding along his arm, caught hin fast by the wrist: Dumas executioner, had in fact, hanged himself by the hand.

 Though experiencing the most acute pain, he wished to conceal his critical position from the girl, that she might not avail her self of it to escpe. He tried to reach the imprisoned hand with his left but the weight of his body prevented his bringing his shoulders parallel. Suddenly he began to whirl and fling himself wildly through the air, hoping the rope would snap: but in vain if he had but the kuife in his boot, he might have severed it, or, at the worst, have cut off his hand, and saved himself by fight But unluckily for hlm, the knife was sticking ill the beam. How was he to get at it?

 He thought of 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 ill the air by one hand only, his violent ef. forts, the pressure of the tight-drawn knot, occasioncd the villain intense torture the joints of his arm cracked and began to part; the blood oozed out under the rope from the lacerated skin, and trickled into the sleeve of his cloak while that of the rest of his frame rushed from the extremi- ties to his head Every moment it seemed as if the hand would be torn off. He even wished that it might. His anxiety lest the people of the house should return his dread of being taken in this predicament impa- ticnce, rage the thought of his misdeeds, 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 tiger-like endurance, cry of agony burst at last from his iron bosom.

 Duna, pctri6ed, and thinking only of death had hitherto looked on in idiotc n- difference. For long time she did not un-- derstand what he was doing, and made no attempt to understand it. True, she was still standing upright like a 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 floor hideous gaping mouth with great missha- pen teeth, red fiery eyes. starting from the socket she read his anguish in his ghastly distorted features. and guessed at last what had happened Hope animated her she began to think of deliverance.

 "Avdotya push the table nearer," said the robber, in altered, but still harsh d commanding accents, that terrified heragain 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 he raised himself up few times. It was for bm moment of heavenly eljoy- ment. Never in his whole life had he known ore like it-not even after the most successful murder. His agony was less in- tolerable be drew breath again {; but his left hand. which he tried to use to free his right, was benumbed and powerless. The kHOt, too, Hdu SIoNu loo tiSHI Iho ICFlo- bate felt that he could do no more without aid. .

 "Aydotya Yeremeyevna!- !-kind friend!- good girl do me the favor jump upon the table; unite my arm-pray do /! will not kill you ouly meant to frighten you. Oh! how my head swims ]"

 The miscreant's torture touched the kind hearted girls soul The feeling of compass sion not unfrequently extinguishes in women the thought of their own danger. 1hat woman thinks with her heart has been saia thousands of times since the invention ol printing. In Dumas bosom comPasSioh pre-, vailed over fear, and stiaed the Voice oi selfpreservation. She sprang upon the ta' ble. and labored hard and long at the knot She could not undo it..

 "Do me the favor, sweet, sweet Duna Fetch a knfe-cut the cursed rope-I am dying with pain",

 Tie girl jumped off the table, and ran to the pantry. Poor creature she little knew the return the red-nosed guest was prepared to make for her kindness of heart. She found knife she hurried back she was on the threshold of the scene of torture when the table on which the robber had rested his foot turned over with loud noise He had upset it in endeavoring to change his feet. Once more he was swinging with all his feet@in the air.. A piercing yell toio [the sudden renewal of his former tortures lDupa stopped short at the door. Ills nlue