The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-05-18

it in The night, it rained so. All, Miss, Use
tellin' dc trud. Judge sent me, sure as Tn
a sinner. l'so been h,lped along 80 far,
aud pears like must go to Canady. Can't
go back uoways. Wite's dar, aud young
'uns, Got clar, year ago. III pray for
you ebery day of my life if you'll be so
good TO me. SO will Diuah. Tank you.
VI IS "
For somehow when he spoke Of his wife
aud children | had stepped back aud lot
him in.
1t was the back hall door at which the
rap came. and the kitchen was close at
hand. led him thither. When saw how
worn he was, how wretched, how his eyes
slstened, aud how under bis rough blue
shirt his heart beat SO that you could count
the pulses, / forgot my caution. brought
out cold meat aud bread, drew mug OF ci.
der, and spread them on the table. The
negro ate voraciously, as only starving
man could eat, and Left him to find Autho.
ny, to whom intended to give directions
for his lodging through the night.
To my surprise, Anthony was nowhere
about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him with her
across the lonely road to Maplelon.
1t was natural and yet | felt angry. Sire
should not have left mo there alone aud
what if the negro should be on impostor,
after all III shuddered at the thought but
when returned to the kitchen, and there
hC sat, humble and fearful as belor,, and L
could harbor no such fancyss
Yeti loEgod for Hauuah's return, and
listened very anxiously until tho clock
struck nine. Then, instead OF her footsteps
heard the patter of rain drops and the
rumbling Of thunder, and looking out, saw
that heavy storm was coming on, .
Now, certainly, grandpa aid grandma
would not come home, and Hannah, waiting
for the storm TO pass, would not be there
for hours. However, my fears were quite
gone, and Iielta certain pride in conduct
ing myself bravely under these trying cir
GU instances. .#.
Accordingly, went up stairs, and found
in the attic suudry pillows aud holsters ahC
clrried them kiichenward.
Here, said !, "make yourself bed OF
the settee yonder, and be easy for tho nigh,
| No ono will follow you in the storm, and
no doubt grandpa wi assist you when hi
returns. Good nigh"
Good night, and God bless you, Miss,
still speaking in the husky whisper. An,
so left him.
| But not to 60 up stairs to my bedroom
| intended to remain dreVsed for that night
and to sit up in grandpu's arm chair viii
candles and book for company. There.
fore, / locked the door, took the most com
Portable position and opening u volume,
composed myself 80 read.
Reading, fell asleep How long ] FleTt
| cannot tell, | WAS awakened by q low
sound like the pryng of a chisel.
A. first it mixed so thoroughly with my
last dream that took no heed of it. but at
last ] understood that some one was vt work
at the lock of the door.
sat perfectly motionless, tho blood
curdling in my veins. and still chip chip,
chip, went the horrible little instrument,
until at last | knew whence the sounds
came.
Back Of the sitting room was grandpas $
study. There, in 4 great oll.fashioned safe,
were the family silver, grandma 6 jewelry,
sundry sums of money. and important pa,
pers. The safe itself stood in a closet, and
at the closet the thief WAS at work.
The thief--ah without doubt the negro
| admitted, fed and sheltered.
Perhaps the next act would be to murder
me, | listened. The storm was still ra-
ging, but though the road was lonely, better
that than this house with such horrible
company. | could not save my grandfath-
er's property; but might save my own
life from those horrible black hands.
| crept across the room and into tho hall
and to the door. There, softly as could l
unfasteued the bars aud bolts, but alas one
was above my reach. Then moved hall
chair to the spot aud climbed upon it. In
doing SO, struck my shoulder against the
door frame. 1t was slight noise, but at
that moment the chip of the chisel stopped,
heard gliding footstep, and-horror Of
horrors-a man came from the study, sprang
toward me, and clutched mo with both
hands, holding my arms as in vice, while
he Kissed in my ear 'ioa
"You'd tell, would you? you'd call help.
You'd better hey slept, you had, for you
see you've got to pay for waking. I'd rath-
er hev let a child like you off, but you
know me now and can't let you live" e
stared in his face with horror, mingled
with an awful surprise, for now that he
was close to me ! saw. not the negro, but
our hired man, Anthony-Anthon whom
| had supposed miles away with Hannah.
He was little more than youA, and / had
given him many present, and always
treated him kindly. rs.
plead with him wildly.
Anthony-l never did you harm. am
am girl. Don't kill me. Antho.
ny. Take the money but don't kill me for
poor grandmas sake ,...r
You'd tell on me. said Anthony, dog
gcdly. Likely Id be caught! No, I've
got to kill you
As he spoke, he took his hands from my
arms. aid clntched my throat liercely.
had time to utter one suffocating shrek,
then | was straDgling, dying, with sparks
in my eyes, and sound OF roaring water
in my ears, and then
What had sprang on my assassin with
the swift silence of the leopard WHAT
mad clutched me from him. and stood over
MIN with something glI;tering above his
loart? The mist cleared away the blurred
mist that had gathered over my eyes, aud
As sight returned | saw the negro with his
loot on Anthony's breast
The fugitive whom had housed aud fed,
lad saved my life. eI.t-ga-
Ten minutes aiter--ten minutes in which, J
Dut for thatpoor slaves presence, would
nave been hurried out of lifc-the rattle OF
wheels aud the tardy feet of Ajax were
heard without, and my grandparents were
Ii is needless 10 say that We were not |
to my preserver needless, also, |
% tell of Anhouy S punishment. ..t
1t came out during his trial, that ho had |
ong contemplated the robbery, that the alb !
'ence of my grandparents appearing TO |
lfford au opportunity, he had dec0yed Han |
lah away with a lie, and hidden in The |
- a -