The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-05-15

ularly as cOulu, duu Pio1ohuiHS
asleep, but he reasoned very justly, that
unless was deaf or dead, l must have
been awakened by the sonnd.
"You are awake, marm,' said he IN
very gruff voice, "and it's no use your
shanming! If you don't want q lap
with this life preserver, just look
alive.D
l Iopened my eyes exceedingly wide at
this, aud saw a man with Grape orer
his face, standing by the bed; he had q
club with two knobs on it, In his right
hand and with his left hand pointed to
the safe.
sis the money there 7"
"The plate is" said 1, with tremu-
lous vsice; "pray take it, sir, Pm sure
you are very welcome;" for he migh
have taken everything valuable ia the
house, with all my heart, so long as he
would leave me alive.
"The money-the gold-the notes
are they there7' he cried again in a
whisper. ,
"It's all there" replied l, though l
knew nothing about; "all except fifteen
and six pence in my purse, on the dress
ing table yonder. There's silver mus
tard pots, besides, in the pantry, and
couple of candlesticks in my husbands
study, only they are plated and l would
not deceive you, sir, on any account"
"You had better not" said the bur-
glar grimly, cor it'll be the worse for
yOu." -,
He Immediately produced key like
that my husband used, and approached
the safe; but as he did so his guilty ear
caught a sound of footsteps on the
stairs.
"Who is thatf'
"My husband" said l, "bat pray don't
hurt him." j.
sis be not gone to town then 7" cried
the ruffian with an oath of disappoint-
ment.
"He's going at twelve" replied I, "he
is indeed"
"If you tell him, woman," said the
burglar hoarsely, "if you breathe but
one word Of my presence here, it will
be the death doom of you both;" he
had slipped into the alcove and
drawn the bed back to its place IN an
instant.
My husband. entered himself immedia-
tely afterwards, and even while he was
in the room / heard the awful threat re-
peated again through the thick curtain
behind me.
'If you but whisper it, woman, l will
kill you where you lie. Promise not to
tell him."
81 will said /, sclemnly, 81 promise
not to open my lips at all about the
matter"
Frank leaned ever the pillow to kiss
me, and observing how terrified Hooked
said:
"You have been frightening yourself
about robbers again, l suppose, you sill
ly child"
"Not /, Frank" returned l as cheer
fully as l could. 81 have little head
ache;" but said with my fingers, so that
he could plainly read in the freight.
"For Gods sake be quieti But there
is certainly man behind the head
board"
Frank was. as bold as a lion, and bad
nerves like iron, although he was so
tender hearted and kind. He only an
swered:
"Where is your sal volatile, dearest 7"
and went to the mantle piece to get
it. / thought he never could have un-
derstood me, he spoke with such cool
ness and unconcern, until | saw his I'm
gers reply as he took up the bottle.
"All right, don't be afraid"
And then / was not afraid, or at least
not much; for knew l should not be
left alone for one instant, and | thought
that my Frank was match for any two
such men in such case; only he had no
weapon.
"He has a life preserver," said |, with
my fingers.
"Your fire is getting rather low now,
Georgy," observed he as he took up the
poker (ah, he had q weapon then). 81
must leave you good blaze before /
60"
He fixed the fire and left the poker in,
but without taking eyes oft me or the
headboard.
"Fll just ring the bell and sec wheth-
or Thomas has got the portmanteau
ready"
"Mary," continued he to the maid
that came to the door, "send Thomas
up" Then when she had gone on the
errand-"By Jovei / never gave him
that key. Where is it, Georgy have
not q moment to lose. If it is in your
dressing case with the rest, shall be
an age in looking for it. Might l ask
you to get out of bed for an instant and
show me whore it is.
He said with his fingers "jump~ and
/ jumped you may he sure quick
enough and was inside the dressing
room with the door locked in halfa Sec
ond.
"Come in, Thomas" said Frank.
Come in" for Thomas was modestly
hesitating at the chamber door. "There
is some blackguard got into the house,
and behind the bed there. If he makes
the least resistance, I'll kill him with
his poker. ....
At these words the bed was pushed
slowly outward, and the burglar, with
cut sis Grape mask, and his face as pale
as ashes, came out from his hiding place.
Frank knew him as bank messenger,
who had been out of his employment
since the fire on suspicion of his hon.
esty.
"Oh, sir, have pity on me-" cried he,
"Fm an unlucky dog! Ifit hadn't been
for sneeze should have ten thousand
pounds in my pocket by this time"
"Oh you came after that, did you
Well give up that life preseryer you
have in your pocket before We have any
more conversation" said my husband
coolly.
"Did your lady tell you that too and
yet / stood by her aud never heard her
utter syllable" cried the villain in ac-
cents of astonishment, as he delivered
up the weapon to the male servant,
81 never spoke a word" cried l
through the dressing-room key-hole, for
l did not care to have the man think
that / had broken my oath, nor, to say
the truth, was l anxious to make
deadly enemy sfbim in case he should
be at large again.
"Then it is judgment upon me, and
it is no good to tigkt against it," said
the miserable wretch.
"Not in the least, and we will 60 to
the police Office at once"
p So off went the burglar in their Gus
tody, leaving me safe and sound after
all. And now, do you not think there is
some use in learning everything, even so
small n thinU nc the deaf and dnmh a.