Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-14

SAID my BRAIN was giving way. |
started up. l saw nothing clearly.
The Robbers and Loreley were dane
ing hobgoblin dances on the wall.
I The moonlight through the sycamore
branches played in shivering shad-
ow on one spot of the floor. | knelt
down, and crept along upon 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 hor-
rid beetles, who ran away from the
light as | lowered it, to the back OF
the stove. | pursued them with a
sudden savage impetus towards des-
truction. They all disappeared be-
tween two chinks in the floor | sat
my foot on the boards. | thought
one moved.
| stopped, and saw at once that the
two boards Immediately behind the
stove, though fitting closely, were
not nailed down might be removed
no doubt, with some little trouble. |
dug my nails into the chinks and tried
to lift one. In vain. | only tore my
finger with splinter. Then l be-
thought me of the old knife l 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 fastening
Of any kind
Although my excitement was so
strong that remember my two hands
trembling as they laid hold of the
lid, yet paused for moment before
raising it! Was it a dishonorable
action? My conscience told me
was justified, and 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,-rows of teeth
some large and strong, some fine and
white. A common ring or two, a sill
yer watch-chain, a poor cloth cap fill
ed the remaining space in the box
| The horrible truth flashed upon me.
l had been brought here, not to be
robbed of my poor clothes, nor of
what little coin | might have about
me. These were only to be thrown
into the bargain. They were seeking
to compass my life, as they had done
the lives Of others, for the sake of
such possessions as these before me,
possessions independent of power
| ty or wealth ! | remembered the tales
that had been rife in my own coun-
try, not long before that time, touch
ing Burke and Hare. And l now re-
membered, too, the look that Lori had
! given her sister, when, in my idiotic
vanity, | had smiled and showed my
teeth.
Now, | knew what was the danger,
to which Gretchen, in a sudden COM
Function and softening of heart to-
wards nae, had referred. Now,
could see clearly whittier every Incl
dent OF the evening tended. The
beer at supper was drugged with
some strong narcotic Gretchen had
tried to save me- Had she really
done SO? | had tasted the drink ::
and though never felt wider awake
in my life than l did at that horrible
moment whei the sweat started out
upon my brow, in the Consciousness
that my life might not be worth an
hours purchase, might not the effect
OF the drug be only weakened and
retarded for a while The small
quantity had imbibed had excited
my brain into an abnormal condition
for the time | had little doubt of
this. Might it not be succeeded by
"a reaction | was seized with hor-
rible dread Of succumbing, sooner or
later, to sleep. | should then be
powerless. l cared for nothing, COM
paratively, if could only keep
awake. started up. 1t was dan
gerou5 to sit still. l traversed the
room with hasty strides. I tried to
turn the handle of the door it did
not yield it was locked on the out
side. There could be no longer a
doubt Of the design against me,
The many church-clocks through
the old city struck two. | listened
for any movement in the house, and
once | fancied | heard ONE one
breathing outside my door. But l
waited a long time, and it was follow
ed by no other sound. Then l began
to drag the bed, the table, and the
chairs, and to pile them up into bar
ricade against the door. This occu-
pied some little time, and, work as
! quietly as l might, the necessary
noise prevented my hearing anything
else. 1t was not until my task was
done that | became conscious of some
thing moving in the garden, Just be-
low my window.
There was a dull low thud, as of
some hard substance striking the
earth at regular intervals | crept
to the window and looked out into the
moonlight, which was now fast dis
appearing behind gabled roof. In
stead OF Illuminating the entire plot
of ground, the faint rays now fell
slantwise into the garden, of which
more than one half was swallowed in
black shadow But ] clearly distin-
guished two figures. Do you remem-
ber Millais's Vale of Rest? When
saw that picture, years afterwards,
could not help shuddering. " recall
ed so vfvidly the attitude of the two
sisters as | beheld them in that terri
BILE moment. The women were Dig
ging grave the elder one with all
her masculine ennrry the vnnnrer