The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-16

could even laugh about my husband alb
sence, and Jest at the idea ofrobbers.
After tea we heard merry sounds Of bell,
outside; the sleigh stopped in front Of ou1
door, and the knocker gave notice that ".
were about to have visitors. Presently Mr.
and Mrs. Dustin--sone friends of ours wht
lived few miles beyond us-wcre usheret
into the sitting room.
"How do you dor said Mrs. Dustin
throwing her arms around me and giving mt
rapturous kiss. "I heard that your hus
band was going to be away from you to
night, and SO thought I would come in and
comfort you little. Amt you dreadfuly
afraid to stay in this great house without
any gentlemen ?' she continued, at the same
time extricating herself from few of hel
numerous wrappers.
"Oh no." J replied, very bravely; 81
don't think there is any danger"
perhaps not" said she, shaking her head
and glancing timidly into the dark corners
which our candles Eve had no gas there)
refused to illuminate; ''but then know
should feel afraid. You know you do some
times hear OF such awful things happen
penng when the gentleman of the house
leaves home for night. remember sto-
~ nv molhsf used to tell about family
that lived very near here: The gentleman
had gone away to spend the night, and when
he returned the next day, he found every
thing so perfectly quiet through the house
that it quite startled him; and when he went
to his wife's room, he found her lying in bed
murdered, and so were all the children and
the servants; and the silver, and jewelry,
and all the valuab les were missing
"Oh? WE'LL" said +, forcing laugh in
spite ofmy trembling, 81 don't believe that
tragedy viii be repeated here"
81 should hope not" said she sit would
bea dreadful thing. But then should advise
you to search your house well before you re
tire; for you so often hear of burglars secre-
ting themselves in some dark corner, and
coming out after all the family are asleep"
After considerable more conversation of
the same kind, splced with stories even more
horrible, if possible, than the above, she
arose to depart, saying, as she bade us
good. night, 81 hope you won't feel afraid all
alone by yourselves"
She certainly had done all she could to
make us afraid.
After the departure Of our friends, we all
stood and looked at each other as though a
murder had b, en- committed before our eyes
The two children, partsking of our fears,
came and tucked their little warm hands
in mine for protection. Finally l resolved
to put an end to the predominant feeling,
and exclaimed gayly.
"Come, girls, let US go up stairs to sit, and
we viii amuse ourselves with making mo-
lasses candy"
We, accordingly, adjourned to the second
floor and gathered around blazing hickory
fire. We had put the molasses to boil, and
while we were shelling the nuts, it was pro-
posed that each one in turn should tel a
story; and, as is very apt to he the case at
such times, ghosts, hobgoblins, and robbers
figured as heroes in all our tales Presently
we heard Biddy's heavy tread on the stairs,
and then knock at the door of our room,
IN 20, IN
tered and remarked,
Faith, an it's iheself that's afeard to be
afther stayin' alone in the kitchen, an the
mssiher of the house away"
We were only too glad to be able to add
another one to our now excited company, and
we readily told her to stay with us. So the
nuts and the stories progressed together un-
til the candy was finally declared finished
and Biddy was commissioned TO take it off
the fire and pour it into the pans. As she
was about to do so, noise like mans step
was heard onsthe stairs. We all started,
drew up To each other, aid listened then
glided softly to the door and gently turned
the key. While Biddy. with her eyes open
ed to their widest extent by this act Of bra
very on my part, exclaimed,
"Shure, an it's yerself they'll be afther
taking r. And at the same time her molas-
ses candy was suddenly deposited on the
hearth and ran in wild stream over the car
pet.
"Hark y said Bell, raising her finger; ''let
US listen"
The two children drew up to us and COW
cred themselves with our dresses The step
seemed to be light and sprinyy, as it stead'
ly ascended the stairs. Bel! put her arms
around me and whispered, II am sure it is a
manr'
| trembled and turned dcathly sick as if
should faint. / thought ofmy husband re-
turning on the morrow. and how suddenly
his happiness would be turned into sorrow
when he saw onl, the body Of his murdered
wife. Steadily the fearful noise continued !;
we looked aghast at each other and almost
held our breath.
"I'll jist call in one ofthe neighbors," said
Biddy, steering for the window. She seemed
to have been suddenly animated with new
courage.
With desperate effort held her back.
"Yo, forget" whispered, 'that we are
not within mile OF any human being"