The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-20

ridly forgotten c,cG my coil of rope. The
governors house, found, had either no bal
conv at al, or !: was too far apart to be reach
RI. Presently heard footstep on the to'-
ter. a little way oil. 1t was approaching with
slow and treasured pace, the person wa.
walking IS calmly and gravely in the night
as il i, had hecg: .,.uad day. Suppose l hail
this rh;lo.oi, hical stranger, and ceniide to
him. in 4 fricnjl. va. The fac; that the baro-
net. without tire slightest proyocation, had
locked lie ~ ii his house, with his silver
ypoor, in NJ rcc,.j Perhaps he would
advise iar mat to to III the predicament.-
Perhaps he wou,. TAX" the trouble of knock
ing at the door. OF CRYING fire. and when the
servants opened. might rush out and so
make Mn escape. But while was looking
wistfulv down to see if ! could not discern
the walking figure. which was now under the
Windows, a sudden glare from the spot daz
lied ~ sight 1t was the bulls eye Of a
policeman :; and viii, the instinct of pre-
Jatory character. shank back trembling,
crcpt into the room. and shut the window.
By this time was sensible that there was
G little confusion in my thoughts, and by way
Of employing them Oh practical and useful
objects, Determined 10 make tour of the
room. BUTT vas necessary to get rid. SOME
ho" cT other OF. ny l,'ur,ier-to plant the
property. I, we cal i and with that view, |
lat! !. carefully. piece b: !,iece, in the corner
ola so:t and yoncealtii it with the cover.
This was : great relief, almost began to
fee! Ike the injured parry-more like a cap
tive than . roller; and CROPPED my way
through tie room with :: sort of vague idea
that i might perhaps stumble upon some
.-.p-toor OF sliding parc!. which would lead
into open air, 81. at worst. into a secret cham
be-, H}e.c sl.o;lti be safe for any given
number Ct years from ny prosecutors. But
thc-c was nuthii54 OF the kind in this pro~aic
place nothing h%t :, few cabinets, and tables
ard coucho>. ats! :.rni-chairs. and common
chairs. and ,.eyot:2nai chairs and foot-stools
and lamps AID >tatuc;tcS, and glass-shades.
and krit! -knachs and one elaborate gran
dole. hung around viii: crystal pr;sms, which
:layc;i such m i:.,"r:ninsble tune against
zach other when CHARGED to move them
that stumbled away a fast as l could, and
suhsit!.l iatn & tl;A'cnI 30 rich. so deep, that
felt n. sc!f swallowed Up, as it were, in the
pillows Of swan s-down.
How lonS hal been in the house by this
tine, can net tel. Il seemed to me, When
looked bach, to form considerable portion
of lifetime. Indeed. did not very vel
remember the more distant events Of the
night although cyery TOW and then the fac,
occurred to me with startling distiEctneSs
that all y! lGd gone through was only prelimi
nary T. something still TO happen (; that the
morning was 10 come. the family to be astir
and the h""sc-brrah2r 10 be apprehended.-
Nv reflections wee Hot continuous 1t may
be that doz,l il, .wynn whites. How else
car account for my ceiling myself graspcd
by TIE ,aro1t. to the very brink of suIiocatioll
hv q hand itho,t Aodyo How else can
account for sister Laura standing over me
whore r,clinc,i. pointing to the stolen plate
on the sot, ana occurring me on my horrible
;,-ope;.>itc, I'll ne crew black in the face.
.rl her V ice rose 10 wild. unearthly scream.
which pierced through my brain
When this fancy occurred started from
Ill. rcculnhvn, posture. \ voice was actually
in my ar. and {. living form before my eyes.
\ la: =; stood contemplating me, with half
.csc:,.. Oil hcr liz. and the color fading from
her check and q, moved. she would have
-,lleil to the .,ro-nd. had not sprung up
al caught :s-r ii my arms. | laid her softly
Gown y the f;t,',NH. Il was the morning
twilight. TIE Silence was profound. The
boundaries Of the room were still dim and
.i.,,. ;i'nc;. j. !; any wonder that was in
"Yn's Gu. siderable degree of perpexiry as to
"ij,@am." SAD |, If you are vision. it is
ri 10 t5A>"qa,nce bat if rot. | want particl.-
isf., I" gtt our.
"'}zte.I.o Injury" she replied, in tren,:-
lpus oin~. and nc one will modest vou-
lake what you have come for, and bcsor"."
fiat is sooner said than done. The
'ioors AMI winlows below are locked and
',o::r.. .AI Dcneath those of this room the
area is dec, and the spikes sharp. assure
yea ha,e ';cen in very considerable perpex-
i:y III " T. of last night : and drawing Il
chair. ST down i'll font of her. Whether
i; W owing to this action. or to my com
;,!a:.;,;'s voice, or to the mere fact of her
iiadi..2 hcr,clf in quiet tetc-0-fste with a
l9us breaker. / can not tell but the lady
box alto 4 low hystcrical laugh.
"i"w ei;i vo,! brc;:i: i'll >" said she.
i did ~; break in it is far from icing
NV character. assure you. But the area
window was open, and so just thought
would come in.
10. ~crc attracted by the plate take i,
Jor heavens sake, desperate man, and 60
away -
= ill take some fit, but with no evil in
tcn:ion-only by way Of amusement. Here
It Is : a.id going over to the sofa, threw
off tn cover. and showed her the plate.
"Eo'. have been generous said she. her
voice CITING quarcrou, again "for the
vhclc must have been il your power will
'ut yot oJt 50 softly that no one Will know
Put up IN Your pocl< cts what YOU have risked
so Ea.uch to possess, and fellow me-
Il will follow vou with PLEASURE said |,
W., Il all tie world over = for the incrcas-
ig}: zhoved N as lovely creature as the
FL. 4:-r sho,c upon "but as for the plum
err. los ul.St excuse me there Incyer stole
in!tsine before, and. ! lease Heaven, never
viii again =;
",I,ryiy yG,: are q most extraordinary per-
on, sad the yoling lady suddenly, for tie
.Ch1 seemed 10 have made a revelation to
Ter i::,e~ise "you neither lock nor tax Ike
y robbery
Nor am J. am not even robhcr-!!
''ln nothing; and have not property in the
World to the value OF these articles Of plate :"
Then Il YOU arc 10. robber, ,bs are you
mere why creep III at the area window. 40,
proprlatc other peoples spoons. and get lock
cd up all night in their housco'
"For no other rca>cn than that was in
I. hurry. had come home from Barcelona,
and was going into my guardians next door,
when yn'lr unfortunate area window caught
my eye. with the plate on the table inside
in an instant ] was over the rails and in
through the window Ike = harleau;n With