Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-01-20

rived at last at the Widows house. The thun-
der ceased for time, but the rain still came
down in torrents Hans knocked loudly at the
gate, and cried ont, ''1is Inc, Tonderplanken.
tam; openm' but his summons was unheeded
All was silent he tried to pierce the darkness,
but in vain. Then imagination setitSelf to work.
Perhaps he was too late and the robbers had
already accomplished their designs. Horrible
thought; "I will see," said Hans, and. he
climbed over the fence There was at the mo,
ment a. fash of lightning followed instantly BY
loud clap of thunder. The place lighted up
only for all instant, but in that instant Hans
thought he discovered, right beneath .Catheri-
mats window, the figure Of a man, and mingled
with the thunder peal woman's scream. He
sprang into the garden. Flash after flash now
followed each other in rapid succession and
Hans could plainly distinguish the figure of a
man, facing the window with outstretched arms
as though supplicating his companion to hasten
1t was tue robber, and perhaps at that mo-
mcnt Catherine was struggling with his rufhan
accolnplicc.
The thought was maddening What was to
be done? Delay may be fatal Hans acted as
brave man would. Spriuging forward, before
the robber could turn, he caught him by the
throat and plunged dagger in his breast. The
robber fell without groan. Not the slightest
sound escaped his lips to warn his companion
This was fortunate.
Rushing up to the door with one vigorous
kick esent it open. Scream after scream now
rung on his ears. -
A few rapid steps brought him into the cham
ber where the frightened women WERE. With
the dagger cutched tightly in his hand he sprane
into the room, expecting to see the robbel
standing over the body of his murdered Cathe-
rina. A candle family burning on the mantle
piece lighted up the room. He looked around.
There was no robbers, but instead, 1.-THE two wo-
men in dishabile, frightened almost 10 DEATH
were clasped in each others arms, shrieking
frantically at the sight of his drawn dagger.
.s IT. was sometime ere he calmed them. Hc
told them his motives in coming, his anxieties
and fears, his dreadful rencontrewith the robher
in the garden, and then after searching the
house, even to the clothes boiler, and being sat
isfed that no human besides themselves re-
NAMED therein, they besoughtto take some rest,
while lie, like the flaming sword at the gate ol
Paradise, would prevent any from entering there.
The widow and her daughter retired, but could
not sleep. Thoughts of the murdered man
would continually obtrude, and little rest visi-
ted their cyelds. All that long night Hans
kept vigilant watch, but none came to brave
his wrath. The morning came and with it the
beautiful sun. But alas no longer may it shine
for the poor unfortunate robbcr. His sun on
earth had set. ~
Hans and the widow and Catherine walked
imournfully forth to view. the body. They ap-
preached the dead. A nearer view and the
widow smiled, Catherine laughing tillshe was
Hans looked blue, for between
me and you. he only killed a scarecrow. This
is fact. The widow had brought it to the
garden from the field, and Hans naturally enough
mistouk it for a robLer. The act did not lesson
him in GATHERINGS estimation, for she reasoned
to herself that it may have been real robber,
anl how good it would be, in that case, to have
So brave man to defend her. Hans said he
was willing to defend her always, so matters
were settled, and Hans and Kate were tied one
unto the other.