Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-10-06
MY LITTLE BLACK POCKET NOOK.
[From the New York sunday Times. j

and at an early age my mother placed m,
in the counting-house Of a rich Londol
merchant, as preparation for the mercan
tile life which she had planned for me-
A dry, tedious life it was at first, to mer
ny boy, fresh from the country, but | grew
used to the dull routine in time, and from
my steadiness and respectful demeanor
soon became 4 fayorite with those abou
me. My great pleasure was to wander
through the handsome streets at eventide
building castles in the air, where every
thing was bright and glowing, and the
flowers were one and allfragrant and thorn
less. One brilliant autumn night was Ia
king solitary raInble along one Of the
most splendid streets in London. 1t was
very late, and nearly all the windows were
closed and darkened, while the few carrisl.
ges which rolled at long intervals over the
stones waksned the lurking echoes, and
seemed to make the returning silence deep
er as the sound Of their wheels died away
in the distance. Over the smooth pave
ment the full moon shed a flood OF molten
silver, the sky was studded thickly with
golden stars, and, near the horizon, flame
Of diamond light beautiful Venus arose,
like a queen among her subjects.
stood looking at her from the shadow
Of a stately marble building, dreaming,
Heaven knows what, for in those days my
heart was full of hope, ambition and 70
nance, and so absorbed was in the Wis
ions my own brain had conjured up, that
it was with start that suddenly remem-
bered | ought to have been in bed and
asleep for some four or five hours at least.
AS this conviction forced itself upon HE !
turned to retrace mp steps, but as | did 50
my eyes encountered face so evil and sim
lister in its expression, that | inyoluntarily
drew back into the shadow with some rath-
er disagreeable nnisgivings, and watched its
possessor as he advanced into the clear light
of the moon. He was short, stout per-
son, clad in shabby garments, and as he
came on he looked about him warily, and
turning beckoned to some one behind him,
and called, in thick, husky whisper, "Come
on, Bill, alPs quiet"
AT this invitation another man emerged
from the other side Of the uiliing aud APP
preached him with stealthy footsteps draw
ing so near to me that | could hayetouch-
ed them with my outstretcbed hand.
"Are the keys safe 2" said the first man.
YES replied the other.
"And the jimmies :"
"All right"
"Come on them" said tile first, "lt's oaly
a step now, and wen be thele In a twink
ling. We can make a good job Of ii, for
there's nobody home but the young lady
and the servants, most of 'em winmin, and
if they squall we can settle EN- easy
They moved away as they spoke, but |
had heard enough to give me clue to their
character and intentions. What could |
do? To reveal myscli would have been to
court death; to follow them unseen would
probably be useless, but it was all that |
could do, and Providence might provide
through me, the means Of succour for the
innocent beings threatened by such peril.
Ny resolution was made at once, and keep
ing as much in the shadow as possible, /
followed the rlffians down the quiet street.
Turning two corners, they presently ap
preached row Of handsome buildings with
which / was familiar, and, with hasty
glance behind them, disappeared down the
area Of on9 near the centre. As | watched
them | could scarcely restrain the scream
which arose to my lips, for this very dwell
ling was ,he residence of my employee
Mr.. Markham. The truth flashed upon
me at once. Mr. Markham and his wife
had, / knew, left for a short journey, the
day before, and she whose life might per-
haps be in danger, was his only daughter
Ia beautiful girl whom / had long admi-
red and worshipped at a distance would
have periled my life TO save her, but what
could | do? | could near the stealthy
working Of the two men at the area door,
and onecry or movement on my part might
put it out ofmy power to afford any assist
ance.
| stepped softly back into the street and
looked up at the house. Through a win
dow on the second floor | distinguished a
faint CLEAN Of light, and, as | gazed, | fan
died that a human shadow passed across
the white curtain just visible within the
shutters. Some one was awake in that
apartment, and if warning could be con-
veyed to them in time, all might perhaps
be saved.
Below the window ran q stone balcony,
supported BY columns which rested on 4
level with the steps. A thought flashed
upon me as | observed this, and | aeTed up
on il at once. An expert climber from my
childhood, elambered up the pillars with
little difficulty. and drawing myself uP BY
my own weight, stood safely upon the stone
work beneath the easement whence | had
seen the light. Ipeeped through the shut
tiers, the window was open, and at table
near it sat young girl reading, i white
robe wrapped about her, and her golden
hair falling in a cloud about her shoulders.
/ nervcd myself to lhe task and called hef
hy name. Miss Markham Miss Mark
ham = / said, do not be frightened, bhs
come to the window for q moment
How brave she was: she neither scream
ed nor started, but putting back her long
tres; es. looked around her and answered:
aANhn Is IL that snaaks TO me ~