The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-08-01

pleaeaut room, where there were seat
Cd two ladies reading.
Ladies' said Mr.. Christmas. A
gracefully as tAough ! held the position
Of gentleman rather than Of ser
want This Is Ned Graham. the shep
herd, TO whom you remember sendin.
medicine and comforts during his IN
ness. The ladies bowed pleasantly
as Mr. Christmas continued. He /
now come TO return your kindness
with some surprise; principally.
think, because Of the emphatic, dis
tinet way in which the last few word,
were spoken. After a pause, tht
master said. Amelia, Emily wisf
TO speak 10 you both for a moment.
They all three left the room. while
/, curious in such matters, looked ut
the open books that we're lying on the
table One was Ivanhoe a second
some Freuchs work; and that oppo.
site the old centleman's chair, large
family Bible.
In a few minutes ! heard Mr.
Christmas step as he returned with
two double barrsled guns. There
was a rigid expression on his face
very different from what had ever
seen there before; not the slightest
evidence Of faltering or fear.
Are You cool and a good shot 2
were the first words he uttered
am, sir replied. confidently
Are the guns loaded, and the ladies
safe I?
They are iu as safe a position as |
can find for them. Ned, and the guns
are loaded with coarse shot and ball.
You had better see if the powder is
well up in the nipples. | am sorry TO
say my caps are none of the best
A shot missed may be death to us,
and TO those ] value more than my
self. However we are in the hands
Of God
What plan do you propose, Mr.,
Christmas 2 | asked earnestly.
Take half a glass OF brandy, and
and ! will tell YOU
He signed to the sidrboard, where
a decanter stood. | was about to toll
low his suggestion, when he said,
Stay Don't pass between the light
and the window. Go round the ta-
BILE. Everything must wear the APP
pewanee of peace. We cannot tell
where they are now, and it would
not do to arouse their suspicious.
In few minutes the light was ex.
tinguished, the door was bolted. and
we stepped quickly out of the little
parterre in front
Now said my master, slowly,
there are only cur two selves TO de-
fend my home and my children. My
servants arc all absent at bush-fire
that was resorted this afternoon, and
everything will depend upon our cool
ness and determination. We cannot
do otherwise than to shoot to kill
The gang will, of course, enter by
the slip panels, for they will not run
the risk OF leaving their horses be-
hind. Then, as the fain'est noise can
be heard on such night as this. they
will not hazard the pulling down of
the fence. We will each take up a
position behind the large posts. take
sure aim, and fire low. I'll fire first
AS silently as speters, we walked
across to the paddock entrance, and
opposite each other at the place indi-
Gated. With straining eyes and beat
ing heart, | peered into the obscurity.
Afar, | thought could see faint tint
on the sky, like the reflection Of the
ruffian's camp fire. The night was
terribly silent and oppressive. There
was nothing apparently on which TO
exercise the senses but kind of over
powering hush. There was a dim,
hazy curtain across the sky, and the
night was of q black darkness. ] should
have thought oftentimes that | was
dreaming, were il not for the patient
motionless figure opposite. and the
faint stars. lnaction under such cir
cum tances is hardly to be borne, and
my thoughts often wandered from their
very intensity ! began TO speculate
how long il would take STAY TO pass
some black ragged patch Of cloud and
then I would look before me and see
it dancing on the darkness. Then
the face Of Red Jim would grow up
on me. till saw the hideou features
TO where | stood. Still, no sound broke
on the dark shrouhng night Some
times | thought, with chilly star I,
that the hnshrangers might have APP
preached the house by some other
way. hut up behind me all was quiet.
At last there came a thin, faint mur-
mur that barely caught the ear, and
a. listened to know if il were real. /
caught another but better define d
noise that overpowered the first. At
last detected something that might
b. footfaIls of horse; sometimes it
would die away and come again, but
each time more clearly than before
And vet ] conld not feel certain that
I was not deeeiying myself. Event
uslly. | heard muffied sound, distinct
and defined enough TO proclaim the
approach Of horse, or horses.
Mr.. Christmas heard il also, for |
dimlv saw him move.