Marshall County Republican., 1865-11-02
A MIGHT OF DANGER.

A
lonesome place at all times, and the handsome
rambling mansion, which might have sheltered a
regiment had a ghostly air about it when one
walked through the upper rooms alone.
There were but two servants in the kitchen
Hannah Oaks and the IRISH lad, Anthony. | heard
them laughing merrily together, for, though Han
nah wss an old woman, she was full of fun, and in
Eve Minutes the door orened and Hannah came
with the trayL 80 U4AFh 81
Please Miss,' said she "a she sat il down
'mayn't j run over TO Mapleton to-nightl Ny
sisters married daughter had boy last night
they say, and want to see II nat'rally-it's the
first one I've ever had Of grand niece q nephew
who brought you the newsH asked.
'Anthony. Miss said Hannah HE met George
-tkat's my niece's husband-when he out af-
ter the COW ,-straving. as she always is, and he
told him to tell me was grand-aunt.'
You may co. said, but don't stay late
Granma and grandpa NAV be away all night, and
feel nervous To be sure there is Anthony, but
never RELY on him. Be certain not to stay late.
] Irereaied this injunction with sort of fright
stealing over me- Pre- sentiment of evil ght
say-and something prompied me to add. BE
back by nine.' Why. cannot say, but felS AZ
If al nine, should be in some peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and after doing all that re-
quired, went away. and hsard her heavy shoes
on the ga den walk outside.
Early as ii was bad dropped the curtains and
lighted the wax candles on the mantel. and I sat
long over my tea, finding certain compan;onship
in il, as women ofal ages viii.
sat thus long while. and was startled from
my reveric bv Fap at tho door-a timid sort oi
rap-so that knew at once that il was ueithcr a
member of the household. nor an intimate friend
waited, expecting Anthony to answer the door,
but finding he did not went TO IL myself,
II had grown quite dark, and the neon rose late
that night. At first | could only make ont =
crouching figure at the bottom of the porch. But
when spoke il advanced and by the light Of the
hall lamp saw black man. had always had a
sort OF fear OF negro, and nstinctivev shrunk
awav, but as did so he spoke in husky whisper:
This is Massa Msr,on's isn't itl'
Yes, replied. but grandfather is OUT
reireated lie advanced
Please. Miss he said, Judge B scnt me
here. He said Mlsst'ud help me on. lie, me
stay here tonight. Miss, Fse trabeed FIVE DAYS
days sense lei' hip-hidin' like Is awful hun.
gry-'pears like I'd drop. and Ole Massl is artcr
me- For dc lub OBJ liebcn, Miss, let me hide
some where, and Glib me ies 4 crust, Massa Judge
promised me Massa Morton'ud help me, and it's
KEEP me up Missus will, know
| knew that grandfather had given succor 10
some of these poor tches before but | felt that
might be doing wrong in admitting stranger in
his ABSENCE
Caution and pity struggled within me. At las,
said
You have note from the Judge, SUPPOSED!
i had some writin on paper said the man,
but Is lost it, de night it rained Ah Miss,
Use ten dc truf-Judge sent me, cure rs is a
sinner. Use been helped along fur 1nd II pears
like must Git TO Canada. Can't 20 back noways.
Wife's dar, and de Young 'uns. Cot clear year
ago. Miss. I'll gray for you ebery day OBJ my life,
il You'll jus, be good to me. So will Dina
Tank you. Miss
For somehow. when be spoke OF his wife and
children, had stepped back and let him in.
II was the buck hall door at which he raped.
and the kitchen was close at hand. | led him.
thi.hcr.- When saw how he was, how
wrctched. how his eyes glistencd. and how, under
his rough blue shirt, his heart beat SO that you
could couut the pulses, | forgot my caution.
brought out cold beef and bread, drew 4 mug Of
cider and spread them on the table. The negro
eat voraciousy. as onlY a starving man could eat,
and lefs him to find Anthony, to whom intend
Ell to give directions for his lodging through the
night.
To nv surprise Anthony nowhere about the
house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him along with her
across the lonely road to Maplcton.'
II WAS natural, but yet felt angry. She sho'd
not hare left me there all aione, and what il the
thought, but when relnsned to the kitchen there
he sat, humble aud fearful as before, and could
hsrbor srch fancy. ~
Yet loneed Tor Hannah's return, and listened
very an1iou.Iy until the clock struck nine Then
instead of her footsteps heard heepatter OF rain
drops aL1 the rumblins Of thunder. and looking
cut saw tha. heavy storm was coming on.
Now, cei ir, grandpa and grandma would not
come, and H.. nah, waiting for the storm to pass
would not be IN, &c for hours. However, my fear
Of the negro quite gone, and felt certain
pride in conducting myself bravey under these
irving circumstances.
Accordingly, wen. up stairs, found in the at
tic sundry pillows and holsters, aud carried them
kitchen nward.
Here said. make yourself bed on the set
tee FOUNDER, and be easy for the night. No one
will follow YOU in the storm, and no doubt prandpa
will assist YOU when he returns. Good night
Good night. and God bress you, Miss said he,
still speaking in the husky whisper.
And so left him, but not TO go up stairs to my
bed room. intended for that night TO remain
dressed and so sit up in grandpa's arm chair with
candles and book for company. Therefore
locked the door, took the most comfortable posi-
tion. and opened tie volume, and composed myself
TO read. -,
Reading fell asleep. How lonsai slept can.
not tell. | was awakened by low sound like the
pryinG Of q chisei.
At first it mixed so thoroughly with nv last
dream that ;ook no heed OF ir, but ut last un-
derstood that some one Was at work upon the lock
of the door. a
sat perfectly motionless. the blood curiiin. in
my veins, and still chip. chip. chip the hor
ribie little Instrument, until at last knew whence
the soun6s came.
Back of the sitting room was grandpas study
There. in great, old fashioned safe, were stored
the family silver erandpa's jewelry, and sundry
sums of money and important papers. The safe
stood in clos Ell in recess and az the closet the
thief WAS at work.
The thief-ah. withou. doubt. the negso had
admitted, f. / and sheltered. p
Perhaps n next act would be to murder ne.
listened The storm was still raging, but though
the road was lonely. better that than the house
with such horrible company. | could not save nv
grandfather property, but | might save my own
life from the horrible black hound. I
/ crcpt across the room and into the hall. and to
the door. There, softly as could, unfastened
the bars and bolts, but alas, ore was above my
reach. / waited and listened.
Then moved hall chair to the spot and climb
ed upon it. In doing SO l struck my shoulder
against the door frame