Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-21


like YOU. who 20 to sleep inthe dark like a
brave boy and never want hursemaid to SIT
in your room. 1t was lit, after eleven o.
clock when got into bed, bt did not seem
in the least inclined for sleei then; | knew
Uncle Frank would be cominto wish me good
bye nresently. and besides, tleIc seemed to be
all sorts OF 1oises 1bout the room, which my
foolish ear always used 10 lear when was
alone at night time.
"If little SCOT fell down thichimncy il was,
| thought great black croy nj least, which
would soon be flying about tla room, anu set
tling on my pillow; if a mousesqueaked IN the
wainscot it was the creaking Of some dreadful
PERSONS shoes, coming up stfrs to Kill your
silly old aunt with carving lniic ana II the
wind blew nc the easement was someoouy
else irving TO get in ut the window, although it
was two stories high. You my imagine, then,
my horror when heard tremendous sneeze
within quarter of an inch oimc, just behind
the head d-board of the bed, aud between that
and the wall, where there wis considerable
space. had, as usual, taken the precaution
before put the candle out, ,f looking every
where in the room, where it wis quite impossl'
BILE any person could be hid but in the ilttie
alcoyc into which the bed vas pushed had
never so much ms thought of looking, although
that was n capital hiding place tor anybody
Ever since had slept in that room, in short,
had been like the ostrich Of whom we read yes
terday, Dickcy, who puts his head IN tue Sahu'
and then imagincs himself in perfect security
had piqued myself upon precautionary mea-
sures. that. after all, might just as well have
been omitted. The only thing, as | believed
which saved my reason from departing arc
gether, when first heard that terrible souhu'
was that my mind clnng to the nope Una. "
mpht he, after all, only the sneeze OF cat
Fifty cats together could not make such q as
turbance, il is true for ii was the sneeze OF II
man who sneezes in spite of himself, ana almost
shook the house; but the idea sustained me
over the first shock. The next instant the
wretch had sneezed again, and pushing ASIDE
the bed. which rolled on casters, was stahuihg
beside my pillow looking at me. lfhe had only
given one sneeze he might perhaps have be-
leyed me, Ms lay quite still, breathing quite
regularly as I could, and pretending to be
asleep but he reasoned very justly, that, unless
I was dear or dead, musthave been awakened
by the second -
aYoure awake, marm," said he in grutf
voice Uond it's no use shammingl Ii you
don't want tap of this life preserver, just look
alive"
81 opened my eyes exceedingly wide at this,
and behcld man with Grape over MS iace'
standing by the bed; he held sort OF cino
with two knobs upon il in his right hand, ana
with his left he pointed to the iron safe
ais the money there?" said he.
uThe plate is" said I, in trembling voice.
,Pray, take il, sir; am sure you are very
welcome" :" for he might have had everything
of value out of the house with all my heart so
long us he left me my life,
aThe money-the gold-the notes, are lhey
there?" cried he again, in terrible sort OF
whisper.
ats all there" replied ], although ! know
nothing about it "all except fifteen ana SIN
pence in my purse on the dressing table yonoer'
There's silver mustard pot besides IN the pan
try, and a couple of candlesticks in the study
only they are plated, for would not deceive
you, sir, upon any account
oYou had better not" observed the burglar
primly, DOR it will be all the worse for you
He produced key like that my husband useu'
and approached the iron snfei but as he did so'
his guilty ear caught a footstep upon the STAIR
ease. wWhos that ?" cried he.
aMy husband, sir" returned Il "pn'i pray
don't hurt him, pray
.Is he not gone to town then cried the
ruflian, with an oath of disappointment.
aHe is going at twelve O'Clock" replied | J
che is indeed" ~.
aIf YOU tell,o said the burglar, hoarscly ''if
YOU breathe but one word ofmy presence here
IL will be the deatli-doom OF you both 4 ne
had slipped into the alcove, and drawn p@eS
the bed to its place. in an instant. Myhusoah"
entered Immediately afterwards, and even whiie
he was in the room, | heard the awful threat
repeated once again through, the thick curtain
behind-"If you do but whisper 1t, womah'
will kill YOU where you lie. viii you swear
not to tell him?"
81 will" said /, solemnlyi "Ipremise not to
open my lips about the matter"
Your Uncle Frank leaned over the pillow 70
kiss me, and observed how terrified looked
oYou have been frightening yourself about
robbers again, suppose, you silly child
oNot I, Frank" returned I, as cheerfully MS
I could II have only little headache !" but
said with my fingers, so that he could plainly
read it in the firelight--"For Gods sake, hush
there is a man behind the 5ed-hedd!
"Your Uncle Frank was as bold as lion,
and had nerveo like iron, although he was SO
tender hearted and kind. He only answered
aWhere is your salvolatile, dearest?' and went
to the mantle-piece to get it. | thought he
could not have understood me, he spoke with
such coolness and unconcern, until saw his
fingers reply as he took up the bottles "A"
,;o6t. don't be afraidP And then | was not
afraid. Dick, or at least not so much for
knew that should not be left one instant in
that room alone; and felt that my Frank was
n match for any two men in such cause
Only he has no weapon. He has iJe-pres7I
ver," (pistol) said with my finger.
aYour FIRE is getting rather low, Geeq
observed he as took up the poker. Able hNa
weapon then ~ must leave YOU" gov
blaze to comfort you before CO." He poHeu
the fire, and left the poker in, but without ever r