Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-16

emily hearu crashing noise, not as II he
was counting the plate, but rather thrust
ing 1t aside en- nldSSe. Then / heard the
window closed, the shutters bOlted, and an
alarm bell hung upon them, and the man
reascended the stair, halt scolding, half
laughing at the girls superstition. He
took care, Notwithstanding, to examine the
fastenlngs of the street door, and even to
lock it, and put the key in his pocket. He
then retired into a room, and all was silence.
| began to feel pretty considerably queer.
The Governor kept no male servant that ]
knew Of, and had never done so. 1T was
impossible that he could have introduced
this change into his household without my
being informed OF it by sister Laura, whose
letters we're an exact chronicle of every
thing, down to the health Of the cat. This
was puzzling. And now that had time to
think, the house was much too large for
family requiring only three sleeping rooms,
even when was at home. 1t was what is
called double house, with rooms on both
sides of the hall; and the apartment on the
threshold of which was still lingering,
appeared, from the dim light of the win
dOws, to be of very considerable size. |
now rGcOllected that the quantity of plate
had seen-a portion of which at this very
moment felt preternaturally heavy in my
pockets must have been three times great
er than any the Governor ever possessed,
and that various pieces were OF a size and
massiyeness | had never before seen in the
establishment. In vain | bethought my
self that | had seen and recognized the
well known doOr-plate, and that the area
from which entered was Immediately un-
der; in vain argued that since Laura was
about to be married, the extra quantity of
plate might be intended to form part of
her trotSSedu; could not convince myself.
But the course of my thoughts suggested
an idea, and pulling hastily from my pock
ct tablespoon, felt, for [ could not see,
the legend which contained my fate. But
my fingers were tremulous; they seemed to
have lost sensatiOn-Only | fancied | did
feel something more than the Governors
plain initials. There was still n light in
the hall. If could but bring that spoon
within its illumination. All was silent; and
Iventured to descend step by step-nOta as
had bounded up, but with the stealthy pace
of a thief, and the plate growing heavier
and heavier in my pocket. At length |
was near enough to see, in spite of dim
ness that had gathered over my eyes, and
with sensation of absolute faintness [ be-
held upon the spoon an engraved crest-the
red right hand of a barOnet!
Icrept back again, holding by the banis-
ters, fancying every now and then that
heard door opening behind me, and yet
my feet no more consenting to quicken
their motion than if had been pursued by
a murderer in the nightmare. | at length
got into the room, groped for chair, aud
sat down. No more hurry now. Oh no!
There was plenty OF time; and plenty to do
in it, for had to wipe away the perspira-
ton that ran down my face in streams.
81 10, t,o1 4 "a .
On. trihp, mere trihe. | had only
sneaked into gentleman's house by the
area winOw, and pocketed his tablespoons;
and here was locked and barred and bell
ed in, sitting very comfortably, in the dark
and alone, in his drIwing-rOOm. Very
particularly comfortable. What capital
fellow, to be sure! What an amusing per-
sonage! Wouldn't the barOnet laugh in the
morning? Wouldn't he ask me to stay to
breakfast? And wouldn't | eat heartily
out of the spoons had stolen? But what
name is that? Who calls me housebreak-
er? Who gives me in charge? Who lu!s
me off by the neck? | will not stand it,.
| am innocent except of breaking into bar
Onet's house. l am gentleman, with an
other gentleman's spoons in my pocket. |
claim the protection of the law. Police !!
police!
My brain was wandering. pressed my
hand upon my wet forehead, to keep down
the thick-cOming fancies, and determined,
for the first time in my life, to hold a de-
lberate consultation with myself | was in
an awkward predicament-it was impossi
BILE to deny the fact; but was there any
thing really serious in the case? had un-
questiOnably descended into the wrong area,
the right hand one instead of the left hand
one; but was not as unquestionably the
relaton-the distant relatiOn-the very
distant relatiOn-Ot the next door neigh
Dor? had been four years absent from
his house, and was there anything more
natural than that should desire to pay my
next visit through subterranean window?
[ had appi opriated, it is true, a quantity
of silver plate had found; but with what
other intention could have done this than
to present it to my very distant relations
daughter, TeDrOach her with her careless
ness in leaving it next door? Finally,
was shared, Gagged, trapped-doOr and win
dow had been Doited upon me without any
resistance on my part-and | was now
some considerable time in the house, un-
suspected, yet a prisoner The position
was serious; but come, suppose the worst
that l was actually laid hold of as a male
factor, and commanded to give an account
of myself, Well: was, as aforesaid, a
distant relation of the individual next door,
belonged to nobody in the world, if not
to him; bore but an Indifferent reputa-
ton in regard to steadiness; and after four
years absence in foreign country, had
returned, idle, penniless, and Objectless,
lust in time to find an area window open
in the dusk of the evening, and heap of
plate lying behind it, within view of the
street. ... ..... ..... ..... .... .....,.
This self-examnation was not encourage
ing; the case was decidedly queer; and as
sat thus pcndering in the dark. with the
spoons in my hand, am quite sure that no
malefactor in dungeon could have envied
my reflections. In fact, the evidence was
so dead against me, that began to doubt
nv own innocence. What was | here for,
if my Intentions had really been honest?
Why should desire to come into any in
dividual's area window instead of the door?
And how came it that all this silver-plate
had found its way into my pockets? | was
angry as we'll as terrified; was judge and
crimi inO one but the Instincts of nature
got the better of my sense of justice, and
rose suddenly up to ascertain whether it
was mol. possible to get from the window
into the street., ..A---y-
AZ moved, however, the horrible booty
[ had in my pockets moved likewise, ap-
bearing to me to shrek, 'like7a Score OF
lends, 1'Police! police !" and thenext in
slant heard quick footstep ascending the
stair: Now was the fearful moment come!
| was on my, feet; my eyes glared upon the
door: nv hands were clenched; perspira-
ton had dried suddenly on my skin; and
nv tongue clave to the roof of my mouth.
But the footstep, accompanied by gleam
Il, I'D