arms around those fair necks of yours be pleasanter
than an ugly rope, adjusted by the hands of the hangman? You will one
day admit the force of the argument; at present I will not press the
matter, but content myself with a moderate demand on your purse. Oblige
me with the loan--ha, ha!--of the small trifle of one thousand dollars.'

After a moment's consultation with her daughter, Mrs. Franklin left the
room to get the money from her _escritoire_. The door had scarcely
closed upon her, when the Dead Man advanced to Josephine, caught her in
his arms, despite her resistance, imprinted numberless foul kisses upon
her glowing cheeks, her ripe lips, and alabaster shoulders. It was a
rare scene; Beauty struggling in the arms of the Beast!

The lecherous monster did not release her until he heard her mother
returning. Mrs. Franklin handed to him a roll of bank-notes, and said--

'There is the amount you asked for and you must grant that you are
liberally paid for your silence. I trust that you will consider the
reward sufficient, and that we shall see you no more.'

'Bah!' exclaimed the ruffian, as he deposited the money in his
pocket--'do you think I will let you off so cheaply? No, no, my pretty
mistress--you may expect to see me often; and at my next visit I must
have something besides money--a few little amative favors will then
prove acceptable, both from you and your fair daughter, whose lips, by
Satan! are as sweet to my taste as human blood. I know very well you
will attempt to run away from me, by secretly removing from the city;
but hark'ee--though you remove to hell, and assume the hardest name of
Beelzebub's family of fourth cousins--I'll find you out! Remember, I
have said it. Adieu.'

And bowing with mock politeness, the miscreant took his departure from
the house.

'Good heavens!' exclaimed Mrs. Franklin--'we are completely in the power
of that dreadful man. We must leave the city, without delay, for Boston;
yet we will spread the report that we are going to Philadelphia, in
order to escape from that monster, if possible.'

'A monster indeed!' said Josephine shuddering--'during your absence from
the room, he took the most insolent liberties with me, and besmeared me
with his loathsome kisses. How horrible it will be, if he ever finds us
out, and compels us to yield our persons to his savage lust!'

'True,' said her mother--'and yet, for my own part, sooner than pay him
another thousand, I would yield t