The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-06-14
EBENsBURG, THURSDAY. JUNE Ii, 1919

| al of a very tinid nature, now lived in a
lconstant state of alarm and dread-more
| particularly whenever her husband paid
visit to the nelghboring town for such ne
! Cessarles as they required. And what
| tended to increase this feeling Of alarm to
Z stlll greater extent, that part OF the
tcountry was at that time infested by a
band of lawless men, who almost nightly
robbed and murdered some unfortunate
casalier, or broke into and plundered some
Hone farm house; nor could the utmost vi
giiance of the authorities succeed in detect
ing them. OF these men she lived in daily
dread, lest they, discovering that her hus-
band was possessed of large sum of mon
ey-the savings of former years-should
seize an opportunity, when he was from
home, and murder her to obtain it. She
| frequently pressed her husband to give up
| his station, and remove to some safer place
OF abode; but he inevitably laughed at her
| iears, assuring her that there was not the
least danger, as none but themselves were
aware of the fact of his possessing the
/ money in question. One day In Decem-
nsE he received . Letter, informing him that
his father was lying al the point OF death,
and earnestly wished to see him before that
event took place. This letter gave him
great uneasiness, for, apart from the grief
ltoccasioned at his fathers situation, if he
went he could not possibly return before
the next day, as his parents resided more
than thirty miles distant, and his wife
would be obliged to stay and take care Of
the gate lie must 60, however-he
could notssrefuse his fathers dying request
When he impaired his intention to his
wife, she was seized with the utmost ter
ror, and earnestly entreated him to forego
| his resolution; nor was it until after Ion
time, during which he had used the utpaT,
endeavors to sooth her, that he couieHG.
ture to proceed on his journey. LIZ
y Itwas on Saturday morning Warough
istastadS and one of the dreariest iriea,' >
the season. The SNOW lay siri-,i. IN oectt
ground. and still continued to falln par''c,H
catfsing the face of the surroundint q
to look more wild and lonely than {. Of +
As Mrs. Pollard sat in the small froIncth
partment of the house, her fears gradually
increased more and more, as her Imagina-
ton conjured up thousand dread forebo-
dings, and almost fancied that each sound
ofthe wind whistling through the valley,
was some one even now about to break IN.
Time sped, when at length Godfrey, the
butcher, approached; her terror had attain
ed to such height that she determined to
ask him to stay IN the house until her hus-
band returned.
This Godfrey was tall, powerfully built
man; about forty live or fifty years of age,
and with a rough countenance by no
means prepossesslng. He resided in a
house some five miles distant, and which
was at least that distance from any other
He had occupied it for years, followed his
present business, and disposed ofhis meat
by taking it in his wagon to the different
families in the vicinity.
She was unacquainted with him until
the time other marriage; but the lamiliari-
ty arising from his weekly visit to her
house, and the cordiality with which her
husband invariably received him, now in
spired her with more confidence towards
him, than from his looks she would other
wise have done.
i am so glad you are comet said Mrs
Pollard, as the butcher entered her dwell
lug. John has gone to see his father.
s.ao is not expected to live, and will not
return until tomorrow. and | am nearly
ktvFhtened TO death, for we have got more
IA. IN a hundred sovereigns in the house,
u if any of these robbers were to come
A1ey would murder me. Won't you stop
and keep me company until John comes
sack?'
During the first part of this address
Godfrey did notappeart to listen with much
apparent interest; but the moment Mrs
Pollard mentioned the money, his face
assume an expression of singular import
and his grey eyes flashed quick glances
from beneath his peat and shaggy brows
! as though something had suddenly moved
, him. i am very sorry he replied-ant
speaking in a low deliberate tone-.but
, cannot possibly stay-I've got to call a
two or three more places with meat yet
and before could return it would be pas
) midnight. But | tell you what will dc
there Dash-a better dog never lived
-Pll leave him with you, and I'll agree
: TO forfeit my head if he lets any one entel
: the house while he is there.
4 With many thanks, Mrs. Pollard accept
ed his offer; for she had often heard hel
husband speak of the courage and sagacity
! Of the animal in question:
) Stay here, said Godfrey, now, as he
J looked at his dog, and pointed within the
room with his finger, .and see that you
don't let any one come near
5 The dog, which was very large one
one of the breed called, .mastiff,' answered
his command of his master hy WaGoiuo