Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-31

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tongues of the patchwork quilt. |
was very ingenious piece of work
l tried to follow the kaleidoscope pat
tern into which the various shreds hat
been wrought with that strange devic,
of crimson cloth at regular intervals
Regular? No. At one place in tht
corner, perceived now that three OF
four tongues seemed to have beer
sewn together. l held down the can
die to examine them, and started
back. What l had taken for crimson
cloth was stain of coagulated blood
| shuddered. perhaps some one
cut his finger here" | said. But
didn't believe my own words; and
then | tried to laugh at myself, and
said my brain was giving way. ]
started up. | saw nothing clearly
The Robbers and Lorely were dane
ing hobgoblin dances ON the wall
The moonlight through the sycamore
branches played in a shivering shad
ow on one spot of the floor. knclt
down and crept along on my hands
and knees, examining the boards
But there was no stain there; only the
smell of the beer in one place, and an
army of those horrid BEETLES, who ran
away from the light as [ lowered it
to the back of the stove. [ pursued
them with sudden savage impetus to.
wards destruction. They all disap
peared between two chinks in the floor
[ sat my foot on the boards. | tho't
one moved. [ stopped, and saw al
once that the two boards Immediately
behind the stove, though fitting closely,
were not nailed downright be. re.
moved no doubt, with some little
trouble. | dug my nails into the
chinks and tried to lift one In vain
| only tore my finger with a splinter.
Then [ bethought me of the old knife
| had seen in the cupboard. With
its help | presently raised the end Of
one of the boards, and so drew it out
A square deal box lay concealed be.
meath. 1t had no lock or fastenings
of any kind.
Although my excitement was so
stong that remember my two hands
trembling as they laid hold of the lid
yet | paused for a moment before
raising it. Was it a dishonorable
action? My conscience told me
was justified; and l tore the box open.
| nearly dropped the candle as my
eyes beheld the contents.
First, there was a great bundle Of
coarse, black hair; then one of curly
faxen, like a child's; then another of
very long and silky brown,-a wo-
mans evidently. Along with these
were four,-six,--eight.- ght.--rows of
teeth, some large and strong, some
fine and white. A common ring OIL
two, silver watch chain, poor cloth
cap, filled the remaining space in the
box.
The horrible truth flashed upon me
| had been brought here, not to be
robbed ofmy poor clothes, nor of what
little coin l had about me. These
were only to be thrown into the bar
gain. They were seeking to compass;
my life, as they had done the lives of
others, for the sake of such posses
sions as these before me-possessions
independent of poverty or wealth
remembered the tales that had beer
rife in my own country, not long be
fore that time, touching Burke anC
Hare. And | now remembered, too
the look that Lori had given her sis
ter, when, in my idiotic vanity, | haC
smiled and showed my teeth.
Now, | knew what was the danger
to which Gretchen, in a sudden com
junction and softening of heart to
wards me, had referred. Now | could
see clearly whittier every incident Of
the evening tended. The beer at sup
per was drugged with some stron!
narcotic. Gretchen had tried to saw,
me. Had she really done SO? ha,
tasted the drink; and though neve
felt wider awake in my life than | di'
at that horrible moment when tn
sweat started out upon my brow, i
the consciousness that my life nigh
not be worth an hours purchase, ,migh
not the effect of the drug, be onl
weakened and retarded for awhile
The small quantity [ had imbibed ha
excited my brain into an abnorms
condition for the time. | had littl
doubt of this. Might it not be SUI
ceeded by a reaction? | was seize
with horrible dread of succumbin
sooner or later, to sleep. | shoul
then be powerless. cared for notl
ing, comparatively, if could only kee
awake. | started up. 1t was dai
gerous to sit still. | traversed th
room with hasty strides. | tried
turn the handle of the door; it di
not yield; it was locked on the ou
side. There could be no longer
doubt of design against me. III
many clocks through the old cit
struck two. ] listened for any NOV
ment in the house, and once l fancie
; | heard some one breathing outsid
t my door,. But l waited a long tin
/ and it was followed by no otht
[ sound Then / began to drag I'll
; bed, the table and the chairs, and
| pile them up into barricade again
: the door. This occupied some lit
3 time, and, work as quietly as l migl
4 the necessary noise prevented n
: hearing anything else. 1t was n
: until my task was done that / becan
: conscious of something moving in tt
garden just below my window.
r There was dull, low sound, as
lo, fha =.