Year: 1878

~ limb, the poor woman got into bed by the
side of her child. An idea-a plan-had
suggested itself 1t had flashed through her
brain like lightning. 1t was the only chance
left.


Her bed was so disposed that the robber could
only get out from beneath it by narrow ap-
erture at the head, without making noise ;
and it was probable that he would choose,
from prudence, this means of exit. There
were no curtains in the way, so Mrs. Martin,
with terrible decision and noiseless energy,
made running knot in her silk scarf, and
held it poised over the aperture by which her
enemy was to make his appearance. She
had resolved to strangle him in defence OF her
own life and that of her child.


The position was an awful one; and, prob.
ably, had she been able to direct her atten-
ton to the surrounding circumstances, she
might have given way to her fears, and en-
deavored to raise the house by screams. The
fire on the hearth-unattended to-had fallen
abroad, and now gave only dull, sullen
light, with an occasional bright CLEAN. Eve
~ object in the vast apartment showed dimly
and uncertainty, and seemed to be endowed
with restless motion. Now and then q
mouse advanced stealthily along the floor,
but, startled by some movement under the
bed, went securing back in terror to its hole.
The child breathed steadily in its unconscious
repose the mother endeavored also to initiate
slumber, but the man under the bed, uneasy
in his position, could not avoid occasionally
making slight noise.


Mrs. Martin was occupied with only two
ideas. First, she reflected on the extraord-
nary delusion by which she had been led to
see enemies in the people of the house and a
friend in this red-haired man and, secondly,
it struck her that as he could fear no resist
snce from a woman, he might push aside the
chairs that were in the way, regardless of the
noise, and thus avoid the snare that was laid
for him. Once even she thought, while her
attention was strongly directed to one spot,
he had made his exit, and was leaning over
her; but she was deceived by Pickering
shadow on the opposite wall. In reality there
was no danger that he would compromise the
success of his sanguinary enterprise the
shrieks of victim, put on his guard, might
alarm the house.


Have you ever stood, hour after -FOUR,
with your fishing-rod in hand, waiting with
the ferocious patience of an angler for nib
BILE? If you have, you have some faint idea
of the state of mind in which Mrs. Martin
with far other interests at stake-passed the
time, until an old clock on the chimney piece
told one hour after midnight. Another
source of anxiety now presented itsef-the
fire had nearly burnt out. Her dizzy eyes
could scarcely see the floor, as she bent with
fearful attention over the head OF the bed
the terrible moose hanging, like the sword
of Damocles, above ths gloomy aperture
"What," she thought, eff he delays his ap-
pearauce until the night has completely pass.
ed away? Will it not then be impossible for
me to adjust the scarf-to do the deco ito
kill this assassin-to save myself and my
child? o, God deliver him into my hands!'


A cautious movement below-the dragging
of hands and knees along the foor-a heavy,
breathing-announced that the
supreme moment was near at hand. Her
white arms were barred to the shoulder !;
her hair fell wildly around her face like the
name of a lioness about to leap upon its prey i;
the distended orbits of her eyes glared down
upon the spot where the question of life and
death was soon to be decided. Time seemed
heightened out-every second
assumed the proportions of an hour. But at
last, Just as all lines and forms began to float
before her sight through an indistinct me-
dium of blendid light and darkness, black
mass interposed between her eyes and the
floor. Susp pense being over, the time of &C.
ton having arrived, every thug seemed to
pass with magical rapidity. The robber
thrust his head cautiously forward. Mrs.
Martin bent down. There was halfchoked
cry-the sound of a knife falling on the floor
"a convulsive struggle. Pull pull pull {!
Mrs. Martin heard nothing-saw nothing but
the scarf passing over the head of the bed be-.
tween her two naked feet. She had half
thrown herself back, and, holding her scarf
with both her hands, pulled with desperate
energy for her life The conflict had begun ;
and one or the other must perish. The robber
was powerful man, and made furious efforts
to get loose; but in vain. Not sound es-
capped from his lips-not sound from hers.
The dreadful tragedy was enacted in silence.


"Well, Mother Guerard," cried young
man, leaping out Of a carriage that stopped
before the door of the auberge next morning !;
"what news have you for me7 Has my
mother arrived ?"


"Is it your motherS" replied the landlady,
who seemed quite good natured after her
nights rest. "There is lady up stairs wait
ing for some friends; but she does not speak
French easily, and seemed unwilling to talk.
We could scarce persuade her to 20 to bed. %


"Show me the room!'' cried Arthur, run
ming into the house.


They soon arrived at the door.


"Mother motherw cried he, but received
no answer.


"The door is only latched, for we have no
robbers in this part of the country" said the
landlady.


But formidable obstacle opposed their en-
trance They became alarmed especially
when they heard the shrieks of the little girl,
and burst open the door.


The first object that presented itself was
the face of the robber, violently upturned
from beneath the bed, and with protruding
tongue and eyeballs; the next was the form of
Mrs. Martin in the position which we left her.
She was still pulling with both hands at the
scarf, and glaring wildly at the head of the
bed. The child had thrown its arms around
her neck, and was crying but she paid no
attention. The terror of that dreadful night
had driven her mad.


DIVERSITY OF DYE CoLoRs.-An English
magazine, in an article on colorS and their
durability in relation to dress, gives some in
teresting particulars of the infinite diversity