The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-25

me goodbye 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 secret
had he endeavored to keep it--had many
thousand pounds belonging to the concern
in his temporary possession, locked up in
the 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
Twas in no hurry to leave it and get into
bed, but sat up, looking into the fiery
Goals; as have seen you do, Dickey, and
thinking about all sorts of things; not so
much about your favorite palaces, and fairy
gardens, and the castles which Jack the
Giant.killer took, that are to be seen
there, doubtless, as you say; bat 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 how lonely should feel in
that great room all by myself, when he
would be away; for was dreadful COW
ard. Dickey, and not like you, who go to
'sleepin the dark like brave boy, and
never want a nurse maid to sit in your
ROOM, 1t was little after eleven O'Clock
whenI got into bed, but I did not feel
the least inclined for sleep even then; 1
knew Uncle Frank would be coming to
wish me good~bye presently, and besides,
there seemed to be all sorts ofnoises about
the room, which my foolish ears always
used%to hear whenever was alone at
Nighttime.
'Ifa 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 squeaked in the wainscot, it was
the creaking of some dreadful PERSONS
shoes, coming up the stairs to kill your
silly old aunt with carving knife; and
if the wind blew at the easement, it was
somebody else trying to get in at the
window. although it was two stories high.
You may imagine, then. my horror when l
heard tremendous sueeze withina quar-
ter of an inch of me, just behind the head
board of the bed, and between that and
the wall, where there was considerable
space. l had, as usual, taken the pre-
caution, before I put the candle out, of
looking everywhere in the room where it
was quite impossible any person could be
hid; but into the little .alcQye Into which
the bed was pushed, had never SO much
as thought of looking, although that Was
2 capital hiding place for anybody. Ever
since / had slept in that room. in short,
had been like the ostrich of whom we read
yesterday, Dickey, who puts his head ir
the sand, and then imagines himself il
perfect security. I had piqued mysel
upon precautionary measures that, after al
might just as well have been omitted
The Ply thing, as believe, which saved
my reason from departing altogether
when I first heard that terrible sound, wa
that my mind clung to the hope that i
might be, after ALL only the sneeze of
cat. Fifty cats together could not hav
made half such disturbance, it is true
for 1t was the sneeze ola man, who sneeze
in spite of himself, and almost shook tn
house; but the idea sustained me over tn
first shock. The next instant the wretc
1had sneezed again, and pushing aside tn
bed, which rolled on castors, l felt him be
side my pillow looking at me. If he ha
only given one sneeze, he might have be
lieved me, as lay quite still, breathing a
regularly as could, and pretending to b
asleep; but he reasoned, very justly, tina
unless was deaf or dead, must hav
been awakened by the second. a,i7
You're awake, marm,' said be, IN.
CUFF voice, and it's no use shammingl
4 you don't want a tap with this life preser
yer, just look alive.' Sd rs ag1
7 Iopened my eyes exceedingly wide q
this, and beheld man with Grape over hi
fa:e, ssanding by the bed; he held a sol
:. of club with two knobs upon it in hi
} right HAND, and with bis left he pointe
to the iron safe. is tie money there
said he. rae 81. ,-,..o
!. The plate is,' said I. in tremblin
voice; pray take it, sir; l am sue you al
very welcome;' for he might have had any
thing of value about of the house with a
my heart so long as he left me my life.
The money--the gold-the notes. al
they there?' cried he again, in q terrib
sort of O whisper. e 7rsa a+iv g-lt.
It's all there replied I. although
knew nothing about it; 'all except ifteel
and six-pence in my purse, on the DIRE
/, sing table yonder. There's silver mu
!. tard pot besides in the pantry, and a col
|. pie of candlesticks in the study, only the
!. are plated, for I would not deceive 20
! : sir, upon any account = aa4s
h you had better not observed the bu
q glar grimly, 'or it win be all the worse #
E you He produced a key like that n
! husband used, and approached the ire
safe; but as he did so, his guilty e.
t caught footstep upon the staircase.
| IN Al til ho e.