Butte record., 1854-12-30

struck us both at the same moment that
if we could effect lodgment here, it
would be impossible for the man to slip
into the village without our observation
After listening for awhile at the windows
and doors of the building. we concluded
it was uniuhabited, gently pushing open
the door, we climbed a narrow stone
stair case, and were making for gable
end window which we had observed
from the road, and which commanded the
whole approach to the village, when we
heard voice say in whisper. as we
attained the garret we were in search
of, lis that you, William ~
We stopped for minute or two and
the speakers expectations were disrp-
pointed, We now placed ourselves at the
window and listened for the slightest
sound. We r, mained there listening,
for long time. Several quarters had
died off into the eternal melodies, far up
in the Church tower, and were beginning
to despair of seeing the object of our
search, when Tom nudged me noiselessly
with his elbow.
"Tell ye what.'' he whispered very
softly, "there's footstep round lhe cor
ner. See there's a man under the
hedge looking up at the next window
There-he moves we must be after
him. Halo Siop-he crosses the
lane. He is coming into this very house,"
certainly did see figure silently
steal across the road and disappear un-
der the doorway of the building we were
in. But we had no light, neither did We
know anything about the arrangements
of the rooms. Another quarter thrown
off from the old church clock, warned
US that the night was rapidly passing
away. We had almost resolved to re-
trace our steps if possible, and get back
to where we had left our unfortunate
horse, when was again nudged by my
friends elbow.
"Tell ye whatn he whispered
Something's going on; and he pointed
to feeble glimmer on the rafters Of the
roof above u.s.
The light proceeded from the next
room, which had not been built above
the height of the ceiling joists, so that
The roof was common to both chambers
the adjoining one. and that iu which
we were-the partition wall being only
seven or eight feet high. We could
have heard anything that was said, but
we listened in vain for the slightest
sound, the light however, continued to
burn We saw it Pickering across the
top of the habitation, and dimly playing
far up among the dark thatch of the
roof.
"Tell yo what p said Tom. 'It we
ccould get up on those old joists, we
could see into the next room. Hold my
pistol till I get up, and-tell ye what
then can shoot 'em easy"
''For Heavens sake, Tum," said I
'be careful. Let me see whether it i:
the man."
"Come up then, said Tom !" who now
bestrode one of the main beams and
gave me hand to aid my ascent. We
were both on the left of the dividing
wall, and by placing our heads little
forward could see every portion of the
neighboring room. A miserable room
it was There was small roond table
there we're a couple of old chairs; but
utter wretchedness was the chnracferis-
tic of the chcerless and fre.ess apart.
ment.
There was person apparently regard.
less of the cold, seated at a table and
reading book. The little taper which
had been lighted without any noise, was
only sufficient to throw its illumination
on the features and figure of the reader
and on the table at which she sat. The '
were wasted and palid features-but
she was young and very pretty or the
mystery and strangeness of the incident
threw such an interest around her that
thought SO. Her dress was very scanty
and a shawl, wrspped closely around her
shoulders, perhaps displayed, rather
than concealed the deficiency of her clo-
thing in other respects Suddenly we
sew at the farther end of the room a
figure emerge from the darkness; Tom
grasped his pistol more firmly, and put
the cock back, preventing it from making
any noise with his thumb. The man
stood in the door way, as if uncertain
! whether to enter or not. He looked for