Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-02
II must Kate. l dare not stay" !

ss
said.
"Come, then; but come quietly"
she said.
We walked silently down the cor
ridor. What would l not have given
to have known it was a dream, from
which | should wake up safe at home,
under my fathers roof! As we near
ed the door of Mrs. Denbigh's room
we heard very plainly the weak, trem-
bling voice of the old lady and the
gruff tones of man.
"Thank Heaven p said Kate 'there
only seems to be one of them"
"Now, look here, old lady," the man
was saying, "I don't want to murder
you, or anything of that sort; but l
want whatever money or valuables
you have got; and more than that
you must tell me where your son keeps
his"
"No, l will not-not if you kill
me-" said the poor old lady.
We then heard him take a quick
step across the room, and Mrs. Den
bigh moaned as though in deadly pain.
In moment Kate confronted him,
her finger on the trigger.
"Stir one STEP" she exclaimed, "and
you are dead man! l will shoot
you as l would dog"
verify believe the poor wretch
thought it was visitant from another
world; be relaxed his hold of the
lady. and looked at the resolute girl.
She met his gaze with undaunted face.
and clear, unhinching eyes.
II wants no nonsense, MISS" he
said sullenly. Il only wants the
plate and money. You may put down
the pistol: it does not frighten me.
l dare say it is not loaded. You had
better take the thing quietly, and let
me have what | want; know you
are here alone
"Yeu will have neither plate nor
money" said Kate, her eyes flashing
with anger. "Aisten to me; ] am
| good shot. | have no doubt that if |
liked I could take a good aim now:
if you stir | shall do it"
The man stood still, rage and muir
der in his horrible face.
"If you like to go quietly" she con-
tinued, you may do SO, and l will fol-
low you to the door, ready to fire if
you do not 60 straight ont of the
house. If you will not do so | will
shoot you-not to take your life but
to prevent you from doing HARM"
When l think of Kate's dauntless
face, l wonder the man did not stink
out there and then; but he evidently
doubted her ability, for he cried, in
ferocious voice. "Ill have what l
want. Look to yourself! l should
not have hurt you if you had been
quiet"
He advanced one step: heard
the report of the pistol, l saw the
smoke-there was a dreadful cry land
he fell to the floor. .s.
"Do not be frightened Madelaine,"
said Kate, in pity to my white face;
he is not much injured; he cannot
hurt US now, for he has bullet in his
leg" Then she went to Mrs. Denbigh
who was almost senseless with fear.
Madelaine," she said, '1dare you go
, and call the two servants, or will you
remain here ?"
"I would not stay for the world" I
cried, "but will 60 for them"
| flew rather than walked along the
corridors and down the dark passage.
/ found the two girls awake and in
great alarm, for they had heard the
noise of the pistol. l hastily told
my tale.
miss Fulton shot him, did she ?"
| said Martha, in tone of great admi-
| ration. What brave young lady she
, is, to be surer'
We returned to the room and found
Kate still supporting the old lady.
The unfortunate man lay moaning
upon the floor.
Now, girls" said Kate, "we cannot
remove the robber, but we can remove
Mrs. Denbigh. Let US place her COM
, fortably in my room, where Miss Stu
art can sit and watch her, then we
, will attend to this poor wretch" She
looked at him pityingly. II wish he
/, had not forced me to do il" she said.
"Madelaine," she continued, suddenly,
: "where should we have been now, if |
had not known how to use firearms
t Fast girls may be useful at times, !"
t she added bitterly.
We removed the lady to Kate's
r room, where we made her as comfort
0 able as possible. Sarah, who had
been in the family for some years,
h begged permission to remain with
e her. l returned with Kate to the
a wounded man. She placed a pillow
under his head and moistened his
}, parched lips. fancied once or twice
e that tears stood in her eyes as she
q gazed upon him,
d "Now, Martha" she said, "you are
0 no coward; besides morning is dawn
ing; 60 at once to rockingham and
e fetch the first surgeon you can find.
Say nothing to any one of what has
e happened. Miss Stuart will stay here
r with me.
e Martha set out at once; then, for
e the first time, I ventured to look at
/; the mans face. To my surprise, it
u was the beggar who had alarmed me
so dreadfully on the previous morn
" ing.
They were dreary hours that we
!, passed in the room, with the means
!. of the wounded robber in our ears.
Never did time seem so long. At last
e | heard the sound of Martha's rap at
9, the hall door. She had returned, and
e had brought surgeon and his assist
ant with her.
To our great delight the doctor
,, was gentleman we both knew; Mr..
Claremont, a surgeon of great ability.
J "My dear young ladies'" he said as
:, he entered the room, "this is sad
! story. / fear you have been dread
9 fully alarmed. Miss Fulton, allow me
to say you are heroine"
aAh, doctor, should not like such
!, heroic adventures often;I it has made
! me very unhappy, although / quite be-
: lieve that we should have been mur-