Year: 1873




got, and was not much rsassured on
finding that both were, II possible,
greater towards than / was myself.


The sound OF G whistle at no great
distance from the cottage reused me TO
the necessity of instantly making every
place Ms secure rs possible. Accom-.
panied by the two trembling servants,
and with baby in my arms, began my
tour Of inspection. At last every bolt
was drawn, every shutter closed, and
nothing more remained to be done.
found, on looking at the clsck, that il
was little past five, so that long even
ing was before me-


Not a sound was to he heard moth
ing fresh occurred to alarm us in the
least, and at last grew almost ashamed
OF the panic had giren way to, merely
from having seen man glance through
the window. Very probably he was
some strolling vagrant who had been at
tracted by the bright light Of the fire to
look in, without doing us any harm.


80 l reasoned with myself, and so l
tried to reassure the servants. Under
any circumstances, 1 was glad to feel
that we were safely shut up for the
night, and determined to go soon to my
room, where felt less lonely than in
the empty drawing-room.


Had there not been the chance of
Arthur returning. l would have pro-
posed that the servants should s.eeep IN
n bed there happened 70 De in his dress.
ing-room but as they assured me they
were ROT at .,i afraid, now that nothing
more nad been heard of the man, and ]
know it would be a great nuisance to
Arthur, if he did return, concluded
that it was wiser to let them sleep in
their own room, though it was at some
distance from mine.


l went to my room at about half-past
nine, and proceeded to undress after
which | put on my white fanra dress
ing-gown, placed my candles behind
me, and seating myself in front of the
! fire began to read.


In spite of all my assurances to my
self and my servants, felt strangely
nervous and restless My book was a
very interesting one, but it failed to
obliterate from my mind the horrible
remembrance of the face at the window.
Perhaps he was there still-perhaps he
was watching for Arthur's return to
waylay and murder him. All sorts of
wild visions presented themselves to
my mind. Once baby moved slightly,
and it made me start nearly to my feet
with terror


was thoroughly upset, and the only
thought that consoled me was, that !
had begged Arthur not to return so he
was. no doubt, safely at the barracks,
little dreaming of my state of mind.


1t was showing heavily still. knew
it by the dropping that came steadily
down the chimney. The atmosphere
seemed to choke me somehow. And
ever and anon found myself listening
intently.


The hall clock struck eleven, every
stroke vibrating through me. Still
| sat on; my fire growing dim, and my
self feeling cramped, cold and almost
immovable


What was so afraid Off l asked my
self n hundred times. l could not tell
it was a vague, shadowy terror that
seemed to be claiming me down. l had
heard of peoples hair turning white in
q night from fear. Surely mine would
be as snowy as the ground without if l
had to spend the whole night thus.


Oh, for the sound of Arthur's voice
Perhaps T should never hear it again
perhaps he would never know what
night | had spent, as either he or |
might be murdered before morning.
Half-past eleven-only thirty minutes
since the clock struck. In eight hours
our servant from the barracks would
come, even if Arthur had settled not to
return till morning. Eight hours of
this.


A quarter from twelve. By mighty
effort / forced myself to get up
Glancing at the glass, my own ghostly
reflection terrified me. l laid my watch
under my pillow, and was in the act of
lying down beside baby-not to sleep,
as till two o'clock I should hope for
Arthur-when a sound, awful, wild, un-
earthly, broke the stiffness of the dark
December night. 1t was scream from
a woman's voice in dire distress an
other followed, and it came from some
where in the house. Not moment did |
| hesitate.


Springing ont of bed and putting on
only my slippers happily having kept
on my dressing seized my |
child, pausing only to snatch up her lit
tie shawl that lay beside her on the
bed. l unbarred my shutter, opened the
windo W, and the next moment was on
the veranda 1t needed not a third
wild shrek to impel me to speed be-
yond what ! had ever dreamed of as
possible.


In second or two l was beyond the
gate, flying for life, for my own and
another existence, dearer far, in my
arms, clasped tightly to me-fying
through the lanes, past the dreadful
hedges, on, stumbling now and then,
but recovering myself only to resume
my race for life with greater despera-
lion. Death was surely behind us. If
the pale, piercing face of the outside
overlook me now, what would
be my fate?
gave me the power to proceed in my
awful extremity.


Heavens portals could hardly have
been more rapturously reached than the
Darrack gates, as l flew inside of them. .
saw group of men standing in the
doorway /; and towards them / rushed,
to my unutterable thank
ulness, among them my husband.
His amazement may be better imagin- {
d than described, as he beheld us and {
IS could not do more than point be-
lind me. believe poor Arthur must
lave thought / had gone suddenly raw. q
ng mad. 1 only heard their voices .
nnrmuring round me, and I felt baby r
fitted out of nv arms, though they told n
ne afterwards / held her so tightly they
ould scarcely separate us. The next q
hing knew was that Arthur had laid