, 1863-12-05


than those Of seventy years ago KNEW moth.
ing to be afraid Of.
There lay nv rod, and there was my cher.
ished knife. How strange the room looked
Everything was very black or very bright.
teasted my ewes at the big window, and then I
turned to the little one.
Opposite to me rose up the steep tiled roof
and at the top was the lighthouse, its vane
shining in the clear light, and its windows look.
ing just as though there were candle inside.
I had turned to go down to my bed again, for
| was beginning to be conscioms that Il was
cold, when saw the window Of the Clubhouse
that was nearest to me slowly open. I was
spell bound with astonishment, and stood mo.
tionless to watch. The sash was raised, and
man cautiously got out. had just time to re.
eognize his features, when great cloud came
over the NOM, and in the sudden gloom Of the
comparative darkness I could see but little.
The man was one James COnnor, laborer on
the farm. He had come to the house some
weeks ago, and though my father knew moth.
ing Of him, and he looked like mere tramp,
he had been received. Ills Gellow-servants had
complained, once or twice, that he was drunk.
ard, but he had promised amendment He
was in the kitchen when my father had indis
creetly answered my indiscreet question.
What he was doing vas clear enough He
had passed through my fathers room before the
house was closed for the night, had conceded
himself In the garret till oil was still, and had
then mounted 70 the lighthouse 10 steal the
money.
He could not descend through my fhther's
room without rOusing him. Nor was Il need.
ful to do 81. lie knew the premises well, and
was aware that if he could descend the roof
and gain the little window, be could at once
reach the farm yard, and 50 make his way
whithersoever he would. An this flashed
through my mir d as the cloud fell owe the
moon. In momtnt was watching more "a.
gerly through the night, as the dim figure
crcpt heedTully downward. He wore his shirt
stockings, shoes, and pair Of rough brecches.
10 his hands he held his spoils, perhaps, be-
cause, rs his stupid look showed, he was half
drunk, and ran the risk Of marring his plot,
and manning himself fnr life by bis folly. This
| could not explain. saw him coming lower,
lower, lower, with my fathers gold cissptd In
his hands. The bottom sash alone was stand
ing in the window, about yard from the floor
In height, and there was nothing between us
but the abyss between th two buildings. was
hidden completely in the dark corner Of the
win ow. ! though, the man must fall He
reached the eornice In salty, and stood up for
. second bef1re he stepped across. Then he
stepped from roof to roof and, in . moment,
was leaning over the sasf supporting himself
upon il by bis arms, and resting his feet on
the gutter that ran round the wall outside.
An this time had simply watched. had
not thought what TO do. could not run away
for help. ] vas chained to the spot I knew
that if the rObber YES to be bafiled, 1t must
be done now. As he paused beiOre he clam
k,aa. 49, @nA H. hi l. a.
hands with their spoil within them, | struck
them with oil my strength. The suddennesS
Of the shock effected what my weak form could
never have done. The man was startled, his
hands parted, and the gold all rolled over the
floor. With curse he clutched at my arm
as darted from the window, and caught il
with grasp that feel 10 this hour. Had his
power not been crippled by his dangerous po
siti0n, should have stood but . sorry chance
against him. He could only use one arm, Tor
with the other he was compelled 70 steady
himself on the window. With that one arm
he held me, and raised his knee to step into
the room do not know Why be did not LET
me 90. He could have caught me long before
could have given any serious alarm, and have
silenced me eiIectually. He could not at the
same time, hold me and enter the room. All
this time did not scream. u seemed to NE
that the struggle was too serious to be inter-
rupted, and Felt 80 intense an eaFnestness in
the work Of trying to escape, that | was pre-
vented from utteTing . sUun,l. At last the
thief eontrivsd 10 h0ld my little wrist In his
huge hand, and grasp the sash with il at the
same time. In second be would have beeh
in the room. He could have stunned, or per.
haps murdered me in . moment-have re-cOl-
lected the gold, have descended into the court,
s.,a IL U..ka van Nhann
neither detectives nor telrgraphs, have escaped.
Il was my LETT arm that was prisOned. In my
right held the knife. was desperate then.
Tear cnuld have slain the man with small
eOmpunction OF the instant Of the deed.
Lifted the elasp-knife to my mouth, and tore
open the blade with my teeth, aud then cut
at the wrist Of my foe as though could have
cut it through. He started back with cry u
pain and fury, lost bis hold on the WindOW,
and iell. heard the dull, heavy sound Of his
body as it struck the ground below. My cit
arm vas covered with the hot blood had shed. |
Then turned round 10 rouse tho house. But
my young nerves remained strung only while |
the work vas 70 be done. staggered and felI |
lainting among the broad guineas had saved. |
lay senselvss f0r some hours, and then woke |
with strange feeling q having done or suf |
lered somsthing-l hardly knew what. Slow.
" I remembered what had happened. Il was
still dark. went 10 the window TO see what |
had become Of my antagonist. There vas light |
euDugh Tor me TO sec . dark mass below me, |
which thought could be nothing sks than |
Oonnor's body. turned my head TO the left, |
and saw the fiFst faint light Of morning break. |
ing through the clouds. Slowly returned to
my deserted chamber, and passed through Il |
70 my fathers.
Il Did not take long to assure him Of my be- |
ing whole and unhurt, in spite Of my bloody |
night dress. Wondering Is | told him my tale, |
hs called some Of his men, and re went out 70
see the enemy. lie was alive. I felt thrill
Of pleasure Of knowing that, though ! could
have taken his lie 50 Tuthlessly in my rage. |
He was alive, but 50 bruised and injured BY
his iall that be was perfectly helpless. One Of
his legs was broken and his right arm was ont |
Of joint The cash Of my knife bad done him |
no serious injury. Il was . bad cut; but no
more. He was carried OF TO jail Is soon as be
could be moved.
win not tell you the story Of his trial and
his punishment ! remember the judge said
that the little girl was iuore &c to carry her
eountry's eolors than many man twice her |
years But doubt whether could carry .
big Gag. though ! conquered thieG And
now my story Is done.