The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-12

taken the precaution, before / put
the candle out, looking everywhere
in the room where it was quite i'm
possible any person could be hid; but
in the little alcove into which .hs
bed was pushed, I had never thought
of looking, although that was capi-
tai hiding place, for anybody, ever
since I had slept in that room; in
short, 1 had been like the ostrich,
who puts his head in the sand, and
then imagines himself in perfect Sc
curity. I had piqued myself upon.
precautionary measures that, after
all, might just as we'll have been
omitted. The only thing, as I be-
lieve, which saved my reason from
departing altogether, when I first
heard that terrible sound, was that
my mind clung to the hope that it
might be, after all, only the sneeze
of q cat. Fifty cats together could
not have made half so much noise, it
is true, for it was the sneeze of O
man who sneezes in spite of himself.
and almost shook the house; but the
idea sustained me over the first
shock. The next instant, the wretch
had sneezed again, and pushing
aside the bed, which rolled on castors,
I felt was standing behind my pillow
looking at me. If he had only given
one sneeze, he might perhaps have
believed me, as I lay perfectly still,
breathing ne regularly rs I could, and
pretending to be asleep; but he rea-
soned very justly, that, unless I was
deaf or dead, I must have been
awakened by the second.
you're awake, marm," said he,
in o gruff voice, "and it's no use
of shamming! If you don't want
tap with this life-preserver, just look
alive!"
I opened my eyes exceedingly wide
at this, and beheld man with Grape
over his face, standing by the bed;
he held sort of club with two knobs
upon it, in his right hand, and with
his left he pointed to the iron safe.
is the money there?" said he.
"The plate is" said I, in trem-
bling voice; "pray take it, sir; 1 am
sure you are very welcome;" for he
might have had everything of value
out of the house. SO long as he left
my life.
"The money-the gold-the notes
are they there?" cried he again,
in terrible sort of whisper.
cts all there" replied I, although
I knew nothing about it; ''all except
fifteen and sixteen pence in my
purse on the dressing table yonder.
There's silver mustard pot besides
in the pantry, and couple of candle
sticks in the study, only plated, for I
would not deceive you, sir, upon
any account" )"
"You had better not" observed
the burglar, grimly, or it will be all
the worse for you"
He produced key like that my
husband used, and approached the
iron safe; but as he did so, his guilty
ear caught foot-step on the stair
case.
'Who's that?" cried he.
"My husband, SIR" returned I;
"but pray, don't hurt him-pray.
''Is he not gone to town, then?"
cried the ruffian, with all oath of
disappointment.
"He is going at IL O clock" replied
L; she is, indeed"
eff you tell him, said the burglar
hoarsely; "if you breathe but one
word of my presence here, it will be
the death of both" He had slipped
into the alcove back of the bed in
an instant. My husband entered
Immediately afterward, and even
while he was in the room, I heard
the awful threat repeated once again
through the thick curtain behind
me: ''if you do but whisper it, wo-
man, L will kill you where you lie
Will you swear not to tell him?"
81 will. )" said I, solemnly; "I pro-
mise not to open my lips about the
matter"
Frank leaned over the pillow to kiss
me, and observed how terrified I