The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-09-17

, ard ielapsed again into feigned seni-uncon.
sciousness. Another shake. did not stir
Still another, and this time it lifted me square
ly upon my feet. could hesitate no longer.
The worst had come, and must face it cour.
ageusly.
$50 about your businessl'' said, resolutely
| standing up firm and unhinching before them
"but leave this box. If you carry it one inch
from here, you will have to kill me first"
She stepped back few PAGES, and glared
at me with the maligninty OF fiend; but
though trembled from head to foo with fear
did not quail or falter at her gaze. They
looked at each other understandiagly;, and
then, as If some sudden plan had been silently
matured between them, both sprang towards
me. Quick as the movement was, I had time
to comprehend it, and as the woman came for
ward with the bound of an enraged tiger,
stretched out my hands ard planted them full
in her chest so forcibly that she reeled. and
staggered backwards against the wall. The
next thing the fierce, brawny arms of her COM
panion held me fast. l felt his strong hand
upon my throat, his hot, filthy breath in my
face. II gave quick, silent prayer to Heaven
for protection, and knew nothing more.
When came back to consciousness, the dim
rays Of lantern illuminated the howell, and
Lucy, white, frightened and sobbing, was
clinging to my neck. Father, Caleb and Viii
lie, with two of our neighbors, were standing
over me and in one corner Of the room, bound
fast together, were the man and woman,
whose very presence made me shudder and
grow faint again.
Going home that night, with Lucy by my
side, Willie in front carrying the lantern, and
father, Caleb and the neighbors bringing up
the rear with the prisoners, Willie told me the
| story. @ s.t.a n. @
Bravo had reached home about FIVE minutes
after they had returned from fruitless search
! They had deciphered the ill-written message,
and started Immediately to the rescue. Fall
ing in with two of the neighbors, they had
asked them 10 accompany them, and what
had seemed such an age of waiting and sus-
pense TO me, could not have been more than
three quarters Of an hour.
They had fou I'd me just after tainted, and
had no difficulty in oyerpowering the wretch
es who assailed me. FiHding escape impos-
sibe, and hoping by Iha. means to obtain their
release, they had confessed to the abduction
of Lucy, and told them where to find her.
When they opened the chest, she vas lying
tied flat of her back, her white tunic torn off
and used as gag, her hands fastened by the
ribbons of her hat, and her ancles bound.
They had stolen her because they thought
she would make valuable addition to their
number, and attract money by her beauty and
dancing. They had notioned her from the
piazza, aud under pretence of showing her
some pretty images, decoyed her into the
woods. They had intended to travel that
night, to escape detection, and compel her to
exhibit herself till they were safe from rur-
suit; but their plans were thwartei, and they
We're punished by Imprisonment.
Many years have passed since then. Faith
er and mother are sleeping side by side in the
churchvard. Willie has just graduated hou-
orably at college, and Caleb aud still occu-
py the old homestead. A little Lucy, with
blue eyes and brown curls now sits upon our
I.ucy's knee. and calls her mother.