The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-17

Jou pun dliJ aOSOuue's sEsfaf DsTfi rs.
"You had better not" observed the
burglar, grimly, cor it. will be worse for
you." lie produced a key like that my
husband used, and approached the iron
safe, but as he did, his guilty ear caught
a footstep.upon the staircase. ss4s.,,
"Who's that?" cried be-, ,oif,;m bsesgo6
"My husband, SIR, returned I, s.but
pray don't hurt him." stt
aIs he not gone to town, then?'" cried
the ruf6an, with an oath of disappoint-
ment. IN -.
eHe isgoing at twelve o'clock, = replied
|, The is indeed. = ,ee1 .s.-. S
aIf you tell him. said the burglar,
hoarsels, ..if you breathe but one word of
my presence here, 1t viii be the death
doom of both of you" He had slipped
into the alcove and drawn back the bed
again to its place in an instant. Ny hus-l
band entered Immediately afterward, and
even while he was in the room heard the
awful threat repeated once again through
the thick curtain behind me: ''if you do
but whisper it, woman, / will kill you
where you lie. Will you swear not TO
tell hima" @ -. -
81 will I said solemnly, Il promise
not to open my lips about the matter
Frank leaned over the pillow to kiss
me, and observed how terrified look
ed.
"You have been frightening yourself
about robbers agaiu, I suppose, you silly
child"
"Not l, Frank" returned I, as cheer
fully as could, II have only little
headache" but said with my fingers so
he could plainly read it in the fire light:
"For Gods sake, husht but there's man
behind the bedhead." Tq2E3 I8
Frank, was as bold as a lion, and had
nerves like iron, although he was so ten
der hearted and kind. He only answer
ed; where's your salvolatile, dearestY''
and went to the mantle piece to get it.. I
thought he never could have understood
me, he spoke with such GOODNESS and un-
concern, until | saw his fingers reply. as
be took up the bottle: Gall right-don' t
tbe afraid" And then I was not afraid,
or at least not much, for I knew that
should not be left for one instant in that
room alonesand / felt that my Frank was
a match for any two men in such cause
only be had no weapon. "fIe has a
life preserver," said I with my fingers.
.Your FIRE is getting rather low, Geor
i gey," observed he, as he took up the DO.
ker. (Ah, he had weapon. then!) ~
must leave you good blaze to comfor
you, before I ge.'9 He poked the FIRE
and left the poker in, but without evel
taking his eyes off me and the bedbead
II will just ring the bell and see whether
Thomas has got the portmanteau ready
Mary" continued he to the woman tha
had answered the bell, asend Thomas up.
Then, when she had gone upon that er
rand, "By JoveI 1 never gave him tha
key. Where isIit, Georgey2 Ihave no
minute tolose. If it is in your, .dres
sing case with the rest there, shall be al
age in hooking for it. Might I ask 20,
to get out Of bed for an Instant and show
me which it is2' He said with his fin
lgers, Jump and | jumped you may b
sure, quickly enough, and was inside the
dressiDg-room, and with the door locket
in less than second 4 i5a6 70
"Come in, Thomas, !" said Frank, scom'
in." For Thomas was modestly hesita
ting at the chamber door. "There i
some blackguard who has got. into th,
house behir d my bed there. If he make
the least resistance, | will kill him witt
this hot poker"
At these words the bed was pushed
slowly outward, and the burglar, withou
his Grape mask, and with face as pale a
ashes, emerged from his hiding place.
Frank knew him at once as having beel
bank messenger, who had been turned
out of his sitnation since the fire upol
suspicion Of dishonesty - y
"Oh, sir, have pity upon me, he cried
I'm an unlucLy dog. If ii had, not beel
for sneeze / should have had ten thou
sand pounds in my pocket by this time.
"Oh, you came after that, did you?'
said my husband, coolly. "Well, pleas
to give up that life -preserver you have il
your pocket, before we. have any NOR
conversation. " - s ss. s
! "And did your lady tell you that, ,tooS'
! cried the villain in accents Of astonish
ment, as he delivered up the weapon t
3 the man-sel want, aand yet stood by he
yonder, and never heard her utter
word" u s. : Z. is'''i'
s'T never spoke d word cried I.throug
/. the dressing room key hole, for / did nc
9 wish the man to think l had broken m
1 oath, nor, to tell the truth, was | anxiou
to make deadly enemy of him, in cas-
g he should ever be at large again ~
aThen it is a judgment on me, ez
i claimed the miserable wretch, "and it
no good for me to fight against it an
a more" .'' IS s 9
!. saIt's not the least good replied Franz
e decisiyely, "and well 50 to the police o.
fee at once - -
t So of the burglar went. in their custt
r dy, leaving me safe and sound after all
q And, now, don't you think there may ,
D some use in learning everything, even !
small thing as the deaf and dumb alph'
bet2 80 '-
!, sgA parson ohce,prefaced his sermo
with, AMY friends, let us say a few wore
:, before We begin" That is about equi