White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-13

usual fervor, and marked with joy the glow of
health on his smooth cheek, and the rich red of
| his slightly parted lips, revealing the even and
white teeth that adorned his beautiful mouth.
Harry moved slightly in his sleep as his mother
kissed him, but did not wake. A heavy cloud
| passing across the moon cast deep shadow in
the chamber, and sOSnaed to come like an evil
omen to the widows heart, but it soon passed
away, and the shadow gradually lifteditself from
| the heart of the lovely mother. In an hour from
this time all was still in that grand mansion
The spirit Of slumber reigned unbroken.
Tranquil and beautiful the night wore away,
and the moon was rapidly verging towards the
horizon. In her dreams Helen Armitage was
with the beloved husband Of her youth, and a
heavenly smile rested on the sweet countenance.
The white coverlid hardly moved beneath her
light and regular breathing; the blue veined eye
lids pressed gently over her dark, hazel eyes,
and the soft lashes family Swallowed her fair
cheek. As the moon went down, the wind arose,
and the branches of the cherry tree grated
against the windows, and the buds of the passion
flower shook in the breeze; these were sweet
and natural sound, and disturbed no one. But
now other sounds were mingled with these. A
stealthy hand raises the easement softly in the
room below, a cautious tread sounds family up
on the stairs, which are old, and creak beneath
the slow, wary step. The shadow Of tall man,
falls across the chamber floor; dark, sinister
countenance bends over the sleeping Harry,
nervous hand raises the cleaning knife. Harry
sleeps and stirs not. StealthilY, steadily creeps
the step over the creaking floor. The dark, sin
lister visage is bent over Mrs. Armitage; she too
sleeps, oh, so TRANQUILITY.
! In that small box is large sum of gold and
many jewels; it is now removed from its place;
in that open drawer is watch set in precious
stones; another hand than that of its owner has
seized it; the purse well filed with paly silver
and cleaning gold is in the hand of the rufian;
but these, these can all be spared. The light of
the setting moon is gloomy; light mingled as it
were with darkness. By this gloomy Light, young
Harry Armitage was watching the proceedings
of the william in his mothers chamber. Brave
Harry Armitage! he made no motion, he uttered
no word, he breathed no breath that could waken
his mother, he knew her safety was in sleep, still
quiet sleep Accidentally the robber let fall his
knife, and with fearful, muttered imprecation,
he stopped to regain it. The noise, though
slight. startled Mrs. Armitage, and lifting up her
head from the pillow, she encountered the dark,
gllring eyes Of the william, who at the same mo
ment rushed towards her with the knife in his
hand, its blade cleaning in the moonlight. Mrs.
| Armitage shrieked aloud in mortal terror, and
in an Instant Harry rushed to his mothers res
cue, armed only with heavy cane, with which
he struck the villain on his head shouting at the
same moment for help, in clear ringing tones.
Ten thousand devils!' imprecated the robber.
'Will you stop your bawling7 Take that them
and plunging the knife deep into the side Of the
unfortunate boy, he bore him to the floor, and
fed in haste, with his ill-gotten booty.
In moment Helen Armitage was bending
over her poor boy, and in few more the maid
servants we're weeping and ringing their hands,
and the men confusedly running about, all but
old Joe, who put them all aside and drawing the
knife from the wound, he staunched the blood,
and laying the -insensible boy on the bed, he
spoke few soothing words to Mrs. Armitage,
who white as marble, seemed struck dumb by
horror. While old Joe was doing what be could
for his young master, he ordereaone of the youn-
ger servants to bring out Master Hary's black
pony, and ride with speed to the surgeons who
lived nearly three miles distant. In brief space
L. ,.F Io--oY, To- haop1 nm hnI
road that led to c..
Up to this time no one had asked what mad
occurred, but now cid Joe said,
'Who can tell how this happenedP
Mrs. Armitage laid her hand on his arm, and
the pressure of her trembling fingers told her an
euish, as she hoarsely murmured,
They have murdered him. They have muir
dered my beautiful, brave Harry
BE comforted, madam, think he will do
well. DR.. Clarke will be here soon. You see
he breathes easier and old Joe with difficulty
restrained tear while he bent his white head
over the unconscious sufferer.
'Merciful God. spare him" prayed Mrs. Ar
mitage, in a low shuddering tone. would to
heaven it had beefme. Oh my poor boy
It was not till just before the surgeon arrived,
which fortunately was soon, as he wr3 at home
when the messenger came, that Mrs. Armitage
was able to give any account of the manner in
which her son received the CHASTITY wound. A
thorough search round the premises revealed but
little, except the manner in which the house had
been entered.
When Dr.. Clarke came, he ordered every one
from the room but Mrs. Armitage and old Joe.
He spoke geatly to Mrs. Armitage, for he was a
kind hearted man, and examined the wound care
fully, then dressed it and gave his orders to old
Joe, who quietly obeyed them. Mrs. Armitage
dared not ask him if her boy would live, but her
sweet face, 50 deadly pale, was fixed on him with
such an imploring agony that the doctor gently
told her
1T is a deep and dangerous wound, but trust
not deadly
Thank Godp said Mrs. Armitage, drawing
deep sigh, 'he viii recover
NAY, said not so, madam; but the Issues Of
life and death are in the hands Of higher pow
or, and human skill Is permitted to do much. We
will hope
The doctor looked with the most tender COM
passion on his young patient, and when Mrs
Armitage told in what noble manner he OBJ
tanned his CHASTITY wound, his interest was deep
ened almost to painfnlness- He remained there
the rest of the night, and when he left he en-
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