Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-09-29

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saw how worn he was, how wretched
how his eyes glistened, and how under
his rough, blue shirt bis heart beat so
that you could count the pulses, / forgot
my caution. l brought out cold meat
and bread, drew a mug of cider, and
spread them on the table. The negro eat
voraciously, as only starving man could
eat, and left him, to find Anthony, to
whom l intended to give directions for
bis lodging through the night.
To my surprise, Anthony was no.
where about the house, nor about the
garden.
Hannah must have taken him with
her across the lonely road to Mapletown.'
1t was natural, but yet l felt angry
She should not have left me there quite
alone and what if the negro should be
an imposter, after all ? l shuddered to
think of it but when returned to the
kitchen, there he sat, humble and fearful
as before, and | could harbor no such fan
cy.
Yet i longed for Hannah's return, and
listened very anxiously until the clock
struck nine. Then, instead of her foot
steps, heard the patter Of rain drops
and the rumbling of thunder, and looking
out, saw that heavy storm had sudden
ly come on.
Now, certainly, grandpa and grand
ma would not return, and perhaps Han
nah, waiting for the storm TO pass, would
not be there for hours. However, my
fear of the negro was quite gone, and !
felt certain pride in conducting myself
braYely under these trying circumstan-
ces.
Accordingly, / went up stairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters
and carried them kitchenward.
Here l said, make yourself bed on
the settee yonder, and be easy for the
night. No one will follow you in this
storm, and, no doubt, grandpa will assist
you, when be returns. Goodnight
Goodnight, and God bless you, Miss,
said the negro, speaking i n the same
husky whisper. And so left him.
But not to go up stairs to my bedroom.
intended for that night to remain dress
ed, aud sit up in grandpa's arm chair,
with candles and book to keep me COM
pany. Therefore, l locked myself in,
took the most comfortable position posi-.
BILE, and opening a volume, composed
myself to read.
Reading l fell asleep. How long i
sumbered I cannot tell. l was awaken
ed by low sound like the prying of
chisel.
AT first it mixed with my dream so
thoroughly that took no heed Of it; but
at last understood that someone was at
work upon the lock of door.
sat perfectly motionless-the blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip, chip,
chip went the horrible little instrument,
until, at last, l knew whence the sounds
came.
Back of the sitting>room was grandpa's
study. There, in a great old fashioned
safe, were stored the family silver, grand
mas jewelry, and sundry sums of money,
and important papers. The safe itself
stood in a closet in deep recess, and at
the closet the thief was at work.
The thief-ah without doubt the
negro / had admitted, had fed and shell
tered.
Perhaps his next act would be to mur.
der me. l listened. The storm was still
raging but though the road was lonely,
better that and the pelting rain than this
house with such horrible company. l
could not save my grandfathers' proper
ty; but l might save my own life from
those horrible black hounds.
l crept across the room, out into the
hall, and TO the door. There softly as /
could, / unfastened bars and bolts but,
alas one was above my reach. ! waits
ed, listened.
Then moved hall chair to the spot
and climbed upon it. In doing so 1 struck
my shoulder against the door frame.
1t was but a slight noise, but at that
moment the chip of the chisel stopped, I
heard gliding foot, and-horror of hor-
rors-a man came from the study, sprang
toward me, and clutched me with both
hands, holding my arms as in vice,
while he hissed in my ear:
"You'd tell would ye? You'd call
help You'd better have slept, you had !;
for, you see, you've got to pay for wax
ing. I'd ruther hev let a chit like you
off; but you know me now, and l can't
LET Won live"