A WOMAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 2

A WOMAN.

The moonlight streamed in at the open window and through the doorway, outside of which a self-reliant young woman sat enjoying the cool, fresh air. The woman seemed to be lost in contemplation of the luminous spaces and broad shadows on the field which stretched back from the forbidden buildings ; but, really, she scarcely saw these things, so intently was she listening for the first intimation in the heavier breathing of the invalid that he was yielding to sleep. Instead, she only heard a restless shifting of his body on the bed. ' "Mary," he said. at last, "I wish you would come in and close the door," and then with an effort to disguise his real anxiety he coughed and complained of the dampness of the outside air. She was quick to obey his request, having no thought for herself and not suspecting his motive. "Is there any fastening for the door?" ho asked, as she closed it from within! " Only a wooden latch, James ; but if you will feel easier, I can take in the string which serves to raise it." She drew up a chair and sat down by the bedside. For awhile she talked cheerfully to him of the journey in the morning, and then she sang, in a low voice, some of the songs he loved to hear, until, in his weakness, he yielded to her stronger will, and fell into a gentle slumber. As she made her last preparations to lie down, she. stood at the foot of the bed, a tall, white figure projecting a slender shadow on the opposite wall. She took up her watch, which lay on a table to the left with her hat and gloves. The light was strong enoxigh to enable her to read the figures on the. dial. It was just five minutes to ten. She had been standing with her back to the window, and as she extended her right hand to lay down the watch, the action naturally brought her around facing that opening. Most women would have screamed. Some would have fainted. ; This woman calmly laid down the watch, her eyes fixed on fclie shaggy head ■which arose above the window-sill, black against the moonlight. , The position indicated that the body was crouching close to the ground. The man could spring through the window at will. One coarse hand was already extended along the frame. Of the face the woman could see nothing, but she observed that the head at the jaws was heavy, like that of au animal, and fringed with closecropped hair and bristling beard. The great eare stood out from the head in bold relief, and the powerful arm which lay along the window-sill was encircled by broad, dingy stripes. . All her life she had been used to control men. If she feared this dangerous visitor, it was not observable in the tremor of a muscle or of an eyelid as she stood.wellpoised in the soft light. She thought only of her brother, and of the crimson lifeblood which had welled so easily from his lips. She had a peculiar faith in her power to conquer this human animal whose face she had not yet seen. In the brief time during which these two opposing natures had confronted each other, the man outside had the advantage. Ho had been able to scrutinise every lineament of the woman's face. For an instant he had seen the thin upper lip drawn tightly across the gleaming teeth. In that instant she had formed a resolution. To the man's brutal instinct this was a menace. It was no longer necessary to affect any concealment of his person, and as the woman's face relaxed to a softer expression he rose boldly from his cramped position and stood at his full height before her, trembling with base passion, and striped around his huge body like a hyena. Only a quick surprise prevented him leaping through the window. If she had flinched or cried out his hands would have been on her throat in an instant. As the man rose up, the woman walked calmly forward until her face was close to his. She was of a good height, and the slight advantage of the floor on which she stood enabled her to confront him with a level gaze, and read the full import of his evil face. She felt his hot breath on her cheek. "Is there anything I can do for you?" she said. The sweetness of the voice, coupled with the courage of the woman, was like a knock-down blow to the man. The confidence she had so suddenly reposed in him staggered him. .As she paused for a reply she looked steadily into the burning eyes and grimy face of the convict. The man was too surprised to speak. His face was like a face of stone, as dumb and expressionless as the face of a graven image. "Then," said tho woman, following up her advantage by laying her white hand trustingly upon the greasy - striped shoulder, "if there is nothing I can do for you, there is something you can do for me." She turned quickly back for a bucket and passed it to the man through the window. " You can get me some water." The man took the bucket without uttering a word and walked away across the sparkling grass, until he presently disappeared " among the shadows of the trees. The woman stood patiently at the open windo\x__awaiting his return, as confidently as if her will had only subdued a dog or a vicious horse. When he came she thanked him. stepping slightly to one side and holdinc back the skirt of her robe. He understood the motion, and projecting his broad shoulders through the window, he set the measure of water carefully on the floor. Then he straightened himself and took a step backward. Before he spoke he drew his sleeve awkwardly across his mouth. "By G— — , you're a good one, you are !" After this remark, than which no lady ever received a more sincere compliment, the convict swept his eyea over the spac9 in front of the house, and then going to the door ho stretched his huge frame along the hard ground outside. The woman stood a moment at the open window, and then, wrapping herself in a travelling rug, she lay down on the bed beside her brother and Tell asleep.