Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-22

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locked il up ia his desk with firm hand
" l supposed you had more judgment than to /
come to me on such FOOLS orrand. Go, !
say, boy not dollar Of my money shall pass
into your hands, until you have submitted 10
my authority which you have 20 lately de-
spised."
Morgau's eyes flashed ire The domos-
tic, who watched him from the door, declared
she thought, from the grinding of his teeth,
and the cinching Of his fists, that he was CO.
ing to strike his father.
" Without giving way to his passion, how
ever, the young man turned upon his heel,
passed out Of the door, and never stopping TO
speak to his distressed mother, mounted his
horse, and rode off to the hotol
Mrs. II. flew to her husband, and clasp
ing her hands in agony, prayed that he would
call the young man back, speak to him no
longer in a stern aud chilling tone, but kind
| y and iathorly and effect a reconciliation.
"My God ~ murmured the Colonel passion
ately am | to be trampled upon by my own
son2 Am | 10 stoop and he to triumph
When he comes to me with an air Of indie
pendence, which is insupportabe am TO
bend to him, and hcg2n
mo no :" sobbed the wretched woman
50 not that. But speak to him kindly. Use
persuasion, gontleness--"
With son! persuasion You wrong
my patience, exclaimed the Colonel, in a
husky voice. " Leave me-"
| No more words passed between the pa
rents Of the unhappy youth but during the
remainder Of the day the mother was keenly
distressed and the stern father was i'll at ease
The latter passed seopless night He
paced the floor until late, with his brow con-
tracted and his lips compressed; then retir-
ed- aud lay for two hours meditatug on some
subject which excited his brain. Mrs H..
who was likewise awake, know too well what
the subject was.
Considerably past midnight the Colonel
arose.
Is anything the matter ?" asked his wife.
don't know, replied the Colonel
thought | heard a sound in the lower part Of
the house, in the direction of the study 1t
may be only cat that has got in there but
[ will 60 aud see.
| heard something myself" said Mrs. IL.
" But | thought it was outside
The Colonel had heard more, or under
stood better than his wife. At all events he
had no suspicion of cats--his allusion to them
having been made merely to avoid alarming
her. He remembered that there was a sum
Of money in his desk, and probably suspected
q robbery.
Going noisolessly down stairs and OPEN
lug the door Of the study with a steady hand,
he heard the same noise, much louder than
before. He stepped cautiously into the room.
1t was a starlight night; and turning his eyes
to the window, from which the noise appeared
to proceed, he discovered dim shadow NOV
ing in the curtain.
At that moment the noise ceased The
Colonel stood motonless in the corner Of the
room, until it recommended, when reaching
heavy sword which hung against the wall, he
slowly drew it from its scabbard.
The Colonel then stationed himself near
the window, but no sooner had he done 50,
than the grating noise ceased again. After
a short silence he heard another sound like
the breaking Of glass; and Immediately after
the curtain was moved aside by an invisible
hand
The darkness, the loneliness of the cham
Der, and the mystery of the dim shadow on
the curtain, would have shaken the nerves of
any man of less GOODNESS and courage than the
Colonel. Determined TO take the robber,
dead or alive, he calmly waited for him to
enter the room. But presently, to his dis
may, he heard footsteps coming down stairs.
Some domestic, or out laborer, had evidently
heard the sounds, and was coming to learn
their origin Preceiving that this must
irighten the robber, the Colonel was reyolv-
ing in his mind what he should do to effect
his object, when the hand that had moved the
curtain had become visible. 1t was cropping
along the window frame for the spring Rapid
as the lightning yet noselessly and unseen,
the old broadsword swept over the Colonel's
head and struck deep into the woodwork of
the window There was a stifed cry-a
heavy fall-and the curtain swept back to its
place.
Rushing to the window the Colonel threw
it open and looked out He could see moth
ing, however, owing to the darkness and
shutting it again he hastened to procure Il
light.
As he burst into the hall, laborer, by
the name Of Jones, who slept in the house,
appeared at the foot Of the stairs
GOOD God Colonel Is that you ?" cried
Jones, who appeared agitated with terror
" What is tue matter
Give me the light" said Col. H.
lie extended his hand. As the light
shone upon it, Jones who must have been ter
ribly frightened saw that it was covered with
blood. Starting back, he dropped the lamp,
which was broken to pieces on the floor
The Colonel cursed his weak nerves, and
FASTENED up stairs for the lamp in his cham
ber Mrs. H., hearing strange sounds, and
alarmed by the protracted absence of her hus-
band, had already arisen and struck light.
As the Colonel took it from her hand, she
saw the blood on his arm, and uttered a or,
of horror.
1t is nothing" said the Colonel "A
robber was climbing in at the window, and
have scratched him.
F." lie entered the study, followed by Jones
who shuddered at the scene which met his
eyes. There was blood on the curtain, on tho
window, on the Colonel's chair, which stood
near it, and on the ceiling. Across the desk
where the Colonel had placed it, lay the
broadsword, stained with blood.
Something on the carpet, under the win
dow, attracted the eye Of Jones He stopped
to pick it up, and started back with a sup
pressed cry. 1t was human hand
The Colonel picked it up, and held it by
the lileless fingers. 1t was still warm, and
dripping blood. 1t had been cut off just at
the wrist
{ Suddenly the Colonel turned pale. Wrap
ping the member in his handkerchief he
seized the light, aud rushed up stairs.
"' For heavens sake, he cried, with strange
agitation, tell me if you know this 1t is
no time to stand upon ceremony, Look !"
"And totally regardless Of the effect the
horrid sight might have on his wife, the Colo
nel, in his agitation, threw aside the folds of
his handkerchief, and revealed the hand
" Mrs. II. started back with horror. But
in an instant, turning deadly pale, she bent
eagerly forward, gazed moment at the hand,
and with shrek fell ileless to the floor.
"The Colonel rushed out, and met Jones
on the stairs