Year: 1871

opOas eaa~ s'seAs
still rivited on his, / put my hand to
my breast as if to grasp the revolver
| did not carry, but which l devoutly
wished l had, and l thought the time
had come. But no; he stepped to the
ground and turned as if expecting me
to follow. Still keeping my hand in
my breast, l got down, and we walked
on. Always the same order, one on
either side, one behind.


AS we went on, the path seemed
very dismal. Great black shadows
fell across our track. Sometimes it
was quite dark; again the silver moon
light made its brightness in vivid con-
trast with the surrounding obscurity.
"It will be here," 1 thought; "and
there could be no better place for an
attack. No chance that cry for
help could be heard" Still we hur-
ried on; 1 could hear the quick
breathing of my companions, but no
one proposed to retard our steps-on
through the woods till the tower rose
before us, and 1 thought that would
be the spot chosen for the murder. A
body thrown from there would be
dashed upon the rocks below, and the
water would swallow it up in an in
slant. The tower reached, there was
no choice for me but to go up, for /
had proposed coming, had set this
tower as the aim of this wild night
walk, and must not appear to falter.
At the lower door, one of the men, l
could scarcely distinguish which one
in the half-light, stopped.


"Arent you going up?" I deman-
ded.


"No," he replied, ~ have been up
so often that 1 believe 1 will wait for
you here; have you cigars"


"No," l returned; but knew that
he only wanted me to remove my hand
from my breast (where 1 had kept it
without change all through the walk)
that I might thus be attacked and
more easily overcome. I knew he de-
clined to 60 up that he might stay be-
low to watch the door, and prevent
any one else from ascending till the
diabolical work was accomplished. 1
hesitated for q moment, so did the
others; but l felt hesitation was use
less, and stepped in. Once on the
dark stairway, l went up as quickly
as 1 could, determined that l would
not be seized and murdered there
Quite out of breath, l gained the top
and walked out on the balcony that
encircles the tower. / listened, but
heard no approaching footsteps, and 1
knew the three villains were still in
consultation below. 1 was determined
to make fight for my life and to die
struggling. l had not even pen
knife, having lost mine in my morn
ing's ramble. 1 stood with my hand
concealed in my breast, awaiting the
coming of my enemies. They came
at last; the man we had overtaken on
the bridge came first. Looking in
tently at me, they made no pretense
of noticing the view. I stood perfect
ly still, giving them look for look
The wind was blowing furiously, and
presently one of the two proposed
that we should 60 down. dreaded
going down the long, dark stairway,
and l almost wished that we might
stand casing at one another till day
break but followed them down.
"When they attack me-" l thought,
81 will endeavor to push them down
the steep stairs" trusting thus to dis
able them. / went down slowly, list
ening to their footsteps in advance of
me. 1 heard them stumble, for they
went quickly. At the door l heard
their voices as they spoke to the
watcher posted below. When l joined
them they were not speaking, and al
most in silence we began our way to-
ward the home l feared should never
reach. The dark wood was to see my
fate desided. I understood that my
air of determination, the weapon /
was supposed to carry, and, perhaps,
other reasons that did not know Of
had combined in my favor to postpone
the moment of my murder but | was
sure that 1t was only deferred. L had
heard their hasty consultation, though
not their words, but 1 believed that
some new plan had been arranged BY
which l was to be deprived Of life.


Again we pushed our way through
the brush. Several times I fanciet
that / saw relief coming, but the OBJ
ject turned ont to be bush or de
caycd stump that, in the moonlight
cheated me with its resemblance to
human figure. The spoken word