delightful anticipation kept my mind in happy
occupation.

Mail-day had come round, and I knew my poor
Harry would be detained, probably even longer
than usual; for many important letters were
expected to be received and written, and until the
work was thoroughly done he could not leave
his desk.

The day had been especially sultry, with a red,
fierce, pitiless heat, that it was very hard to be
cheerful under, and to keep up my spirits I had
had many times to go over baby's prettiest
dresses, and picture for the hundredth time, but
always as freshly as at first, how he— it was to
be a boy, and called Launcelot — would look
in this and that one; how old he would be
when he cut his first tooth, walked his first step,
and, oh joy of joys! how it would all be when
Harry and I went home, and presented our
son to mother, and compared him with Katey's
youngest, who would be nearly the same age.

With the evening the sea-breeze had sprung
up, and after a vain attempt to eat a dainty dish
the cook had prepared to tempt the appetite of
missis, I had had my American rocking-chair
taken out on the verandah, and there, under a
perfect bower of my lovely climbers, I had seated
myself, watching the large red moon slowly
rising, and inhaling in long deep breaths the sea-
breeze and the rich perfume of my Espiritu
Santo orchids, on whose every blossom sat the
curiously perfect image of the brooding dove,
whence its name is derived.

All was still and silent. Two of the black
servants had, according to the custom there
prevailing, gone home to their families for the night,
and no one remained in the house but Jane, at
work in the nursery, as it was already called, and
stupid Jim, who, being a bachelor, and having no
family to go to, remained in the house at night.
He, too, had crept out to enjoy the comparative
coolness, and, from where I sat, I could see him
squatted, half or wholly asleep, on the threshold
of the always-open front door.

Before long my attention was dreamily
awakened to a figure that appeared at a little
distance, approaching slowly from the town. At
that hour— about nine o'clock— it was seldom
persons passed that way, and something loitering
and, as it were, reconnoitring in the man's
step and air caused me, as he came nearer, to
watch his movements more closely. I had often
been asked by my lady-visitors if I were not
afraid to remain so much alone in a somewhat
out-of-the-way place; but I had never before
experienced the least uneasiness, or any apparent
cause for it. Now, however, I can hardly
tell why, a chill of mistrust crept over me.
I had little faith in either the courage or
efficiency of sleepy Jim as a guardian; and as to
Jane, I knew that if screaming could be of any
service in a case of danger, real or imaginary,
she might be fully relied on; but my confidence
was weak in such assistance. So I watched and
waited with a fluttering heart.

As the man came nearer, I could see him
plainly; but I knew that if I kept perfectly
quiet he could hardly see me. I felt sure he
was carefully studying the aspect of the place,
and especially concentrating his attention on Jim,
who was sound asleep, and wholly unsuspicious
of his presence. If I could but awaken Jim! But
by this time I had become so nervous that my
usual presence of mind deserted me, and I dared
not move, nor do anything that could call attention
to myself. The man was, I could see, as
the moon fell full on him, a tall brawny negro,
with a round bullet head and high heavy
shoulders, denoting great brute strength; and
Jim, even had he been awake, was but a puny
creature in comparison.

Presently the man put his hand to his breast,
and I saw the glint of steel in the moonlight. I
shut my eyes; I knew what was coming as well
as the man himself did. In another second there
was a blow; Jim sprang up with a gasp and a
gurgling cry, then fell dead and heavy, and the
assassin shoved his body within the hall, and
stepped over it. I knew that in less than a
minute he would probably be up-stairs, and the
power of thought and movement returned to
me, now that I knew the worst. I sprang up,
glided across the sitting-room into my bedroom
beyond, and turned to lock the door: the key
was on the outer side, and resisted all attempts
to take it out. I could hear the footstep on the
stair as I struggled with it, so I could but rush
at once and possess myself of the revolver Harry
kept always loaded there; then I hid myself in a
closet, covering myself with the dresses that
hung on the pegs.

I heard the steps faintly in the drawing-room,
more distinctly as they crossed the threshold of
the bedroom, now nearer, now further, as the
murderer moved about the room, evidently searching
for plunder. I heard the drawers gently
opened, my writing-desk forced, and, as it
contained a small sum of money— a few pounds I
kept there for household expenses— I had a slight
hope that the robber might be content with that
booty and go away. But it was not to be so;
after ransacking the desk, he turned from it, and
approached the closet. At the door he paused,
then it was opened, and his hand was laid on the
garments that covered me, feeling among them,
then the great hot strong hand was laid on my
shoulder.

"Ha!" he said, with a low guttural laugh, " I
tought I should find de little missis. Now,
missis, come out, and don't squeal, else I settle
you as I settle de damn nigger down-stairs."

In an instant, flinging aside the dresses
that covered me, I discharged the pistol within
three inches of his face. With a yell that
rang in my ears for long weeks afterwards, he
fell forward against me, and I was deluged and
blinded by a hot, thick, crimson rain. Then my
strength gave way, and I sank down, the body
upon me.

How long I lay there I cannot tell. I was