The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-02

the desired changes in the position ol nne Ine
my watch with the key OF the safe uoder my
piilow-so near the edge that they conid Do
easily taken out, as knew they wonla pc
extinguished enc Of my candies, ssio NY
prayers; md closing my eyes, resigned mSsyn t.a
to my fate, with no verJ sapgune OF osnnIIe
hope Of extricstion from my aS SteIa
louder than when was awake and lay Wltn my
cheek on my hand, counterSeltmg sleep. AT
Last the .tiiness became more terrible than
even nv frst agony OF fear Sevetai tlmes
fancied heard soft step approach rom t1e
nlaca of concealment. As often was deceived.
Thsn agsiu that dreadful Stiffness, In which ]
counted the ticking Of the watch throu IN the
pillow. It was q positive relief when he came
ont from behiud the curtain, stopped at the
table, and stood looking at me, as was Weii
aware though my eyes were closed. torceo
myBelfto breathe regularly and aualoiy., ae
came closer; he bent over me. He passed the
liehted. candle slowly before my face TWO or
three times. I felt the 1eat, and saw the light
through my closed .ds; which must have
auIyered, though he did not seem to obserVe
their motion. Heaven gave me strength not
\ tO move or to cry oct. Satisfied, apparently,
\ he put back the candlestick on the STAND, ana
his hand crept softly and slowly under tho pl,-
". U0.
and the hey Of the safe. He stood 80 long
looking at me that I felt irnpeiled to open my
eyes suddenly upon him. :..3:i,... -
As be walked softly toward the safe. did
parsiy open them. and cautiously Wafcneo nlm
through my eyelashes. heard him iump-
ling with the lock, and once ne looked over
toward the, bed. My eyes, were wide open,
INIT. closed them in time not to be detected
Watching him steslthily, ss& him open the
door Of the safe, go back to the stand TOR the
candle. and return to the safe, whlch be en- :
tered without Withdrawing the Key from tne
lock. L,a
waited and watched, spfang ngany 10y sota mVm
the bed. with one bound reached tbe saie,
dashed the door to. turned the key and wlth
ooe loud ehriek fell prostrate and ssnseiess Oh
the floor OF the datk room. -
How long I lag upon the floor don't know
probably tor fe minutes only-but as was
t1nconecious, it Aeemed, when came 10 my
self. as il the interval had beena long one. was
aroused by his blows upon the iron door, an
Sonnd myself weak after the long nervous ten
sion. but still calm. remember the satlsiac-
linn with which thought, while lay there
hsio,s risine. tbct he could dn0t escape, mingled
With n vague end foolish dread that he mlGnt
in his rage burn the valuable contents OF Inc
SAFE, as pounded desperately on the door,
ana swore fearfuny at dndlns himself en-
! PRESENTLY I rose, and lighting q elndle,
dressed myself with 7su possible haste ano
WITH trembling fingers. turning often to
look at the safe, from under the closed
door of which I more than bali expected to
see blood trickhDgS why. cannot ten, except
that nv mind was full Of images OF horror.
was sOoliIl readiness. I had no means OF as
eertsmtux thetime, az he had my watch in hls
booklet and shere was no clock in the room
Taxing the candle FASTENED to arouse Dinah,
Who. as shook her, slowly opened her eyes
and with scarcely any more than ber usual
slowness pronounced her formula: "We!l, MISS
Lille. what shan Ay-Lord massy ! waats ,e
de- matter Wild de chile You ann seen gnoSs
-hnye You honey?"
sNo, Dinah; but I've seeD something worse
than q ghost. I've caught o robber, and he's
10 the safe. What time is it ?" and looking at
the clock, that ticked slowly and dslibetately-
ss how could DInah's clock help doing?-l saw
to my great relief that it wds nearly mid
night.
and my husband was in my arms, listening
with anasement to o rapid narrative OF my
sinoular adventure So2ld not suffer him TO
open the safe until silas bad summoned assist.
ance from the ;neigbboring houses. i reared
that my desperate prisoner would still escape.
When the sale was opened, there sat my pur.
glar on the trunk, hal? stupehed for want OF
Ar. knife in one hand, the package OF money
10 the other, and the burned-out candle at his
feet. He was recognized as on old offender.
Who had not been long ont OF State prison; TO
WHICH, in due course OF law, he was soon sent
back for q term Of yeaIB. WHICH deyoutly
hone NAV last as long as he lives; for confess
I should not feel easy to hear that he was again
atlaIge. The look Of rage he gave me on coming
ont cf The eafe viii not soon be obiserased
from my memory.
/ NV husband, ineed hardly say, was greatly
pleaSed with my safe Investment. and oompll-
nlented me highly on the courage and GOODNESS
which had doubtless saved my life as well as
our -Ieepey.-The love and pride with which De
regarded me, and with which, ne; always. 70
tbis day. rsneatses m7 exploit, were of them
selves. sufficient compensation for the horror
and the agony Of that long sumner-nieht e't