Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-24
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY p, 1853.

growing heavier IN my pocket. Atlengtn
! was near enough to see IN spite of dim
ness that had gathered over my eyes; and
with Sensation of absolute ialntness ] be-
held upon the spoon an engraved crest-the
red right hand of a baronet
crept back again, holding by the banls-
ters, iancying every now aud then that |
heard door open behind me, aud yet my
feet no more conserving to quicken my mo-
ton than If had been pursued by muir
derer in the nightmare. | al length got
into the room, CROPPED for char and sat
down. No more hurry now. . mol
There was plenty Of time; and plenty to do
in it, for had to wipe away the perspira-
ton that ran down my face in streams
What was TO be done What had done
Oh, trihe. had only sneaked Into gem
tleman's house by the area window, and
pockeied his table spoons; and here was
locked aud barred and boiled in, sitting
very comfortably, in the dark and alone, in
his drawing room. Very particularly COM
Portable What a capital fellow, to be sure
What an amusing parsonage Wouldn't
the baronet laugh IN the morningl wouldn't
he ask me TO stay to breakfast! And
wouldn't eat heartily out Of the spoons ]
had stolen But what name IS that =
Who calls me house breaker Who gives
me IN charge Who ugs me off by The
neck ! will not stand il. | am innocent,
except Of breaking INTO baronets house.
| am gentleman, with another genlleman's
Spoons IN my pocket ! CLAIM the protec-
ton Of the law. Police Police
Ny brain was wandering. pressed my
hand upon my wet forehead, to keep down
the thick coming ,ancies, and determined,
for the first time IN my lie, To hold delib-
crate consultation with myself was III
an awkward predlcament-ii was lmpossi-
bic To deny the fact; but was there anything
really serious IN the case | had unques-
tlonaby descended into the wrong area, The
nght-hand one instead OF the leil-hand one ;
bat was not as unquestiouabIy the relation
the very distant relauon-of the ueXt-
door nelghborl had been four years lb-
sent from the house, and was there any
thing more natural than that ] should de-
sire to pas nv next visit through a snbter-
ranean window had appropriated, 1t Is
true, a quantity of sIlyer-plale bad found !;
but with what other intention could have
done this than to present It 10 my distant
relations daugh'er, aud reproach her with
he carelessaess IN leaving ii exposed FL
naliy, ! was shared, Gagged, trapped door
aud window had been bolted upon me with
odt any remonstrance on my part-and
was now some considerable lime III the
house, unsupported, yet a prisoner. The
position was serious, but come, suppose
The worst, that J was actually leid bold 81
as a malefacior, aud commanded TO give an
account Of myself Well: | was, as alore-
said, a distant relation to the individual
next door. | belonged 10 nobody ~ the
world, if not 10 him; | bore bat an indil-
ferent reputation 10 regard to sleadiness /;
and after four wears residence IN loreigd
country, had returned, idle, penniess and
obiecic,s-iust in time to find an area-wiu-
dow opeu IA the dusk of tie evening, aud a
heap OF plate lying behind 1t within view OF
the street.
This discrimination was not encourag-
iug the case was decidedly queer aud as
sal thus bordering IA The dark with the
spoons IA my hand, ! am sure tat no male
factor IA dungeon could have enyled my
reflections. Ia fact the evidence was SO
dead against me that began 10 doubt my
own innocence. Why should | desire to
come into any individuals area window III
stead of the door And how came il that
all this SILVER plate had found It's way INTO
my pockets was angry as well as terri
Ell was Judge auu criminal IN one but
the instincts Of nature got the better ol my
sense Of Justice anu rose suddenly up to
ascertain whether ii ws possible to get
from the window into the street.
As moved, however, the horrible booty
/ had in my pockets moved likewise, APP
pearlng to ne 10 shrek, like score OF
iends. "Police Pohce" and the next Iu-
slant heard quick foo, step ascendingthe
stair. Now was the fatal moment come
was on my feet; my eyes gared on the
door my hands were clenched; the perspi-
ration had dried suddenly upon my skin, my
tongue cave To the root OF my moalh But
the footsiep, accompanied by CLEAN oil
light passed-passed and from very weak
ness sat down again, with dreadful III
difference to the screams of the plate ia my
pocket. Presently there were more foot
steps IN the hall then voices then draw
ing of bolts aud creaking of locks then Ut
ter darkness; then sllence-laslIng, terri
ble, profound The house had gone 10 bed
the house would quickly be asleep twas
time To be up aud doing. But first and
foremost, must get rid of the plate. With
out that hldeous corpus dcieeti | should
have some chance. / must al all hazards
creep down into the hall, find my way "a
4 the lower regions, and replace the accursed
thing where | found 1t. Ii required nen e
TO attempt this; but | was thoroughly
wound up aud after allowing a reasonable
time to elapse, to give my enemies fair
opportunity of falling asleep, | set out upon
the adventure The door creaked as went
out; the plate grated against my very soul
as descended the steps, but slowly, steal
thily crept along the wall and at length
found myself ON the level floor. There was
but one door on that side olthe hall, which
led 10 the area room-l recolect the fact
distinctly -aud IL was with ineApressible re-
lief reached II in safety, and grasped The
knob IA my hand. The knob turned-bul
the door did not open; II was locked; II
was my fate To be theft aud after a mo-
ment of new dismay, turned again logged
ly, reached the star, aud re-entered the Il
partmenl had left.