The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-01-12

board
There was scarcely u pause before
llortcnse smiled, saying, 81 return the
complimcnt-check, and bringing up Il
bishop, she at once covered her own
king, and gave check to her adversary
William moved his king hastily back,
and it was now on line with his cas-
tlej but he had moved mwarily.-
Hortense saw the advantage, and she
looked in his face and laughed as she
pushed forward her second bishop, and
checked at once his king and castle.
"Ah, pcstc," he exclaimed, "that 10.
scs me the game" Bnta deeper game
was being played--a game of mighty
import, to he won and lost that night.
The old tree in the garden, whose
branches sometimes touched the win
dow, was shaking vioIcntIy-it was not
the wind that shook it--ior strong
man had climbed the trunk, and was
straining every nerve to reach the win
dow by the aid ofits sturdy arms.
"You are not playing well to night,
love-" said his wife.
81 am not altogether well, IIor-
tcnsc," was the reply. "Thc weather
influences ones spirit So"
"Iou must not give way to dcspon-
ding thoughts, dear husband, am not
with you :"
alt is on y0W account, my pet, that
/ feel SO, DO you never long for your
native countyy'
William, my loving husband" she
replied, as she rose and threw her arms
around him, "whcre yoN are is my coun-
try, and the only homo ask is in your
heart"
"My God" exclaimed her husband,
and started TO his feet MS though IN ad-
der had stung him. His eye had
glanced upon the window as the human
i;l'epreSsed against the glass, and they
were features incredibly stamped upon
his memory. Quick as thought he put
his wife from him and dartcd across the
room, flung open the easement and
gazcd ont into the night. But the quiet
stars looked down upon him; and as
the cool autumn air gently famed his
forehead, the strong, clear moonlight
strcamcd past him into the chamber,
and played upon the marble mantle
piece. lie passed his hand across his
brow as he fastened the window and
drew the curtains more closely to-
g,thcr.
"What is the NATTER love-" asked
Ilortensc anXiouSly.
"Why, ] thought--oh-nothing-a
idle iancy--no morc,' and he stood
awhile gazing abStractcdIy upon the
fire, then stepping to the doorand open
ing it, he called, mildly:
"Gcorgc-Gcorgc."
A domestic appeared at this sum
mons.
care the outer gates closed Y
secured them myself, sir"
at is wcll-scc that all the doors
are barred, and-good night"
An hour elapsed, and the servants
had retired to rest; Ilortcnse had
sought her chambcr-it was within
that where they had played at chess
and William was alone. Above the
staircase, on the second story Of the
house, II powerful alarm bell had been
erected, and from it's divcrgcd wires
that passed down the walls, and were
and secretly attached to the
principal chamber doors, leaving it in
the power of the occupant Of the room
to set, or loose, at will, the springs con-
nectcd with the wire above the door;
but should the door be accidentally
moved, or an entry attempted by Il
strange hand, the entire machinery was
instantly set in motion, and the alarm
ctfcctuaIIy spread.
William went to the door and set the
spring; but before doing 50, he opened
it, and looked for moment through
the staircase window. And there he
leaned against the doorway, and muscd
until the cold air reminded him Of bed,
and, signing, he scarce knew why, he
softly closed the door, and went to-
wards the hearth.
1t was no fancy ofhis, when, an hour
before, he had sprung towards the win
dow-but when he looked forth he saw
nOthing-i0r the intruder had sudden
~ dropped from the WlhdoW-sIll among
the shrubbcry Of the garden, and the
dark dress had blended with the leaves,
while the dccpcncd shade that hung
around the spot had aided the deception,
nor could William know, rs he gazcd
afterwards through the staircase win
dow, that the same being had crept
round to that side Of the house, and was
seeking the means of climbing to that
very window-that, indeed, he was
accomplishing his object as William fas-
tened the door and set the spring.
The lamp upon the table was family