Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-06-10

ew, but | might as well have attempted, wit
my single strength, TO force the building
itself from its foundations. | threw mysel
madly upon the ground, and clasped m,
hands over my eyes as il to shut out the hor
ribe images which crowded upon me.
The paroxysm passed away. | prayed
once more with the bitter, agonized feIvor o
one who feels that the hour OF death is pres
ent and inevitable, When l arose, wen
once more 10 the window and looked our
just in time TO sec a shadowy figure glide
stealthly along the wall. The task was, fin.
ished. The catastrophe of the tragedy mus
soou be accomplished. determined nov
10 defend my life to the last; and that nigh
be able TO do so with some effect searched
the room for something which might serve as
a weapon; but either, through accident, OF
else in anticipation of such possibility, eve
rything which might have been made availa-
BILE for such purpose had oeen removed.
must then die tamely and without an ef-
fort 10 defend myself. A thought suddenly
struck me; might il not be possible to escape
through the door, which the assassin must
open in order TO enter the room? | resolved
TO make the attempt. Iielt assured that tho
door through which ingress to the room
would be effected was that which opened
upon the lobby 1t was the moro direct way.
besides being, for obvious reasons, less liable
10 interruption than the other. resolved,
then, to place myself behind projection of
the wall. the shadow would serve fully to
conceal me, and when the door should be
opened, and before they should have discov-
cred the identity of the occupant of the bed +,
fxo tb th
TO trust TO Providence for escape. la order
TO facilitate this scheme, removed all the
lumber which had hcaped against the door;
and had nearly completed my arrangements
when perceived the room suddenly dark
ened, by the close approach Of some shad
ow. On turning my eyes in that dlrection,l
observed at the top of the easement, as if
suspended from above, first the feet, then the
legs; then the body, and at length the whole
figure Of man present itself. 1t was Tyrrel
He appeared to be guiding his descent so as
10 bring his feet upon the centre of the stone
block which occupied the lower part Of the
window and having secured his footing upon
this, he kneeei down ond began TO gaze in
to the room. As the moon was gleeming
INTO the chamber. and the bed-c uftains were
drawn, he was able to distinguish the bed
itself and its contents. He appeared salts
fed with his scrutiny, for he looked up and
made a sign with his hand. He then applied
his hands to the window-irame, which must
have been ingeniously contriVed for the pur-
pose, for with apparently no resistance the
whole frame, containing easement and all,
slipped from its position IN the wall. and was
~ him lowered into the room. The cold
light wind waved bed-curtaics, and he paus-
ID for a moment; all was still again, aud he
topped in upon the floor of the room. He
ield in his hand what appearde TO steel
shaped something like ham
ner. This he held rather behind him,
While, with three long Hp-toe strides, he
,rought hinasclf 10 the bedside. felt that
he discovery must now be made, and held
ny breath in mnmentary expectation OF the
in which he would vent his sur
rise and disappointment. | closed my eyes;
here was a pause, but il was short one
heard two dull blows, given III rapid sue
session; aquivering sigh, and the long -draws,
Ieavy breathing of the sleeper was forever
uspended. Enclosed my eyes, and saw
be murderer tling the quilt across the head
lls victim; he then, with the instrument |
death still in his hand, proceeded to the
We u ise or thrice. A quick step was then
ca I'd appro aching, and voice Whispered
,n ething from without. Edward answer
|, with kind Of shuddeting chuckle, "her
dy ship is past complaining; unlocked the
1ot. in the DEVILS name, unless you're a
and. to come in, and help me to lift her out
tlae window" The key was turned IN the
ok, the door opened, aud my uncle entered
10 room. | have told you already that l
ld placed myself under the shade OF pro-
ction of the wall, close to the door. had
stinctivey ';hrunk down covering toward
Ie ground on the entrance of Edward
lough the window. Whom my uncle en-
red the roo IN. he and his son both stood SO
,ry close to me that his hand was every
oincnt upon the point of touching my face.
held my br cath, aud remained motlonlesS
death.
"lrou had no interruption from the next
,om?" said any uncle.
"No," was the brief reply.
Secure the jewels, Ned; the French mar
must not | ly her claws on them. fosre
steady hand, by Cd; not much blood
n"
Not twenty drops" replied his sou, "and
lose on the quilt"
"P,n glad i is over" whispered my uncle
rain; Eve m tast liti the--the thing through
e window, and lay the rubbish over 1t"
They then turned to the bedside, and win.
ng the clothes round the body, carried
between th em slowly to the window, and
,cha nging few briefwords with some one
low, they sh owed it over the window-s'Il
I'd | heard il tall heavily on the ground
1dcr meath.
an take the. jewels" said my uncle;
here arc two caske,s in tho lower drawer.'
He proceeded, with an accuracy which,
I'd been more at ease, would have furnish
mo with matter of sstonishment. TO lay
s hand upon the very spot where my jew
5 lay; and having possessed himself olthem
called TO his son:
ais the rop'e made fast aboyel"
"l'm 40 foo |; to be sure il is" replied he.
They then lowered themselves from the
indow; and rose lightly and cautiously,
arcely DARN to breathe, from my place OF
,ucealment' nd was creeping towards the
,or, when n card my uncle's voice. IN