The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23

with such quick eager eyes did they watch
every movement of our lips. We soon,
however, got to talk as easily with our fin
gers as with our tongues and sometimes,
when the lads were not with US, Uncle
Frank and used to converse in that man.
ner when we were alone, for practice.
at happened on one occasion that he had
to 60 up to London on important business /;
be was to have gone by an afternoon train,
but something delayed him, so that be was
not able to leave before the night express.
1 was not in very good health, and retired
to my bedroom about two hours before his
departure; he promised, however, to come
up and wish me good bye before he started,
which would be between twelve and one
O'Clock in the morning. The matter which
called him away was connected with the
bank here, which had just been burned
down; and my husband, it seems, though I
did not know it at the time-so great a
secret had he endeavored to keep it-had
many thousand pounds belonging to the
concern in his temporary possession, locked
up in an iron safe in our bedroom, where the
plate was kept. He was bank manager,
and responsible for the whole of it. 1t was
winter time, and there was fire in the
room, so bright and comfortable that I was
in no hurry to leave it and get into bed, but
sat up, looking into the fiery Goals, as I have
seen you do, Dickey, and thinking about all
sorts of things-not so much about your
favorite palaces, and fairy gardens, and the
castle which Jack the Giantkiller took,
that are to be seen there, doubtless, as you
say, but upon the long journey your uncle
Frank had to take that night, and of how
dreary the days would seem until he returned,
and in particular of how lonely l should feel
in that great room all by myself when he
should be away; for I was dreadful cow
ard, Dickey, and not like you, who go to
sleep in the dark like brave boy, and never
want nursemaid to sit in your room. It
was little after eleven o'clock when l got
into bed, but did not seem in the least in
clined for sleep then knew Uncle Frank
would be coming to wish me goodbye pre-
sently, and besides, there seemed to be all
sorts of noises about the room, which my
foolish ear always used to hear when was
alone at night time.
eff little SCOT fell down the chimney it
was, thought, great black crow at least,
which would soon be flying about the room,
and settling on my pillow; if a mouse squeak.
ed in the wainscot it was the creaking of
some dreadful persons shoes, coming up
stairs to kill your silly old aunt with carv-
ing knife; and if the wind blew at the case
ment it was somebody else trying to get in
at the window, although it was two stories
high. You may imagine, then, my horror
when heard tremendous sneeze within a
quarter of an inch of nae, just behind the
head board of the bed, and between that and
the wall, where there was considerable
space. I had, as usual, taken the precau~
tion, before put the candle out, of looking
everywhere in the room, where it was quite
impossible any person could be hid; but in
the little alcove into which the bed was
pushed had never so much as thought OF
looking, although that was capital hiding
placing for anybody. Ever since I had slept
in that room, in short, / had been like the
ostrich of whom we read yesterday, Dickey,
who puts his head in the sand, and then i'm
agines himself in perfect security. I had
piqued myself upon precautionary measures,
that, after all, might just as well have been
omitted. The only thing, as believed,
which saved my reason from departing alto
gether, when l first heard that terrible sound,
was that my mind clung to the hope that it
might be, after ALL only the sneeze of cat.
Fifty cats together could not make such a
disturbance, it is true; for it was the sneeze
of man who sneezes in spite of himself and
almost shook the house; but the idea sus-
tanned me over the first shock. The next
instant the wretch had sneezed again, and
pushing aside the bed, which rolled on cas-.
tiers, was standing beside my pillow looking
at me. If he had only given one sneeze be
might perhaps have believed me, as I lay
quite still, breathing quite regularly as l
could, and pretending to be asleep; but he
reasoned very justly, that, unless l was deaf
or dead, must have been awakened by the
second.
"You're awake, marm," said he in gruff
voice, "and it's no use shamming If you
don't want tap of this life preServer, just
look alive" ..-. it
II opened my eyes exceedingly wide at
this, and beheld man with Grape over his
face, standing by the bed be held sort of
club with two knobs upon it in his right
hand, and with his left he pointed to the
iron safe.
"Is the money there ?" said be.
"The plate is." said I, in a trembling
voice. "Pray, take it, sir; am sure you
are very welcomes" for he might have had
everything of value out of the house with
all my heart, SO long as be lett me my life.
"The money-the gold-the notes, are
they there 2" cried he again, in terrible
sort of whisper. s.s
It's all there" replied I, although /
knew nothing about it; call except fifteen
and six pence in my purse on the dressing
table yonder. There's silver mustard pot
besides in tho oontrv opd q oouplo oorJlc