severed the heavy
cord by which it was held in place, and then exerting all her strength,
she let it carefully down until the bottom of the frame rested upon the
marble, while the top leaned against the wall.

Having accomplished this and assured herself that the glass was
perfectly safe, she went quietly back to her reading and managed to
amuse herself until the clock struck twelve.

Shortly afterward she heard a step on the stairs, accompanied by the
rattle of dishes, and knew that Sarah was bringing her up some luncheon.

Darting into her dressing-room, Violet seized the mirror, drew it to the
very edge of the marble and assuming a strained position, she had the
appearance of having caught the glass just as it was falling and in time
to save it from being dashed in pieces.

Sarah unlocked the chamber-door, and finding no one there, called out:

"Miss Violet, where are you?"

"Oh, Sarah, is that you? Come here quickly, for I am in trouble," the
young girl cried, appealingly.

Sarah put down her tray, but took the precaution to change the key from
the outside of the door to the inside and lock it before going to the
other room.

Then she went to see what was the matter.

"Why, Miss Violet," she cried, with dismay, as she took in the
situation, "how did that happen?"

"The cord has parted," panted Violet, as she glanced at the ragged ends
where she had sawed it asunder with her dull knife. "You will have to
help me," she added, "and I think we can manage to lift it to the floor
without breaking it. I do not dare to leave it standing here; it might
slip on the marble."

"No," said the girl, never suspecting any ruse to outwit her, "we must
take it down."

She seized one side of it in her strong arms, and, with Violet's help,
managed to get it safely down upon the floor.

"Hold it a moment, please, until I get my breath," Violet said, as if
wearied out by the exertion.

"Have you had to hold it there long?" Sarah asked, innocently, as she
allowed the heavy frame to rest against her.

"No, not very long; but I am so glad that you came just as you did, for
if it had fallen it would have frightened me terribly," Violet answered,
and she uttered no untruth, for she was glad that Sarah came just as she
did, because she was getting very anxious to go to Wallace and she would
have been frightened if the glass had been broken.

"Sure enough, miss," the girl replied, gravely, "and it's a sign of
death in the h