Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-08-05

y
and anxious above all things to escape unde.
tcctcd and uurccognized. If let him know
that was aware of his presence, should cx.
poso myself to murder, aud perhaps to out
rage worse lmu murder. MY obvious policy
was 10 fecrAi;et and fegn sleep. | thought
! also Of Ito money, and was not altogether will
ling to resign that without an effort to save it,
aud to have at least some clue to tie identity
Of the thief. l confess, however, that this
last consideration was not very strong one,
and ain afraid that if could have seen my
way clear to an escape from t 10 room aud the
house, | should have fed incontinently, with
out stopping to see more than that terrible
hand
A moment which seemed an hour passed
while these thoughts rushed through my mind
| lay perfectly still, with my half closed eyes
watching tho mirror. Slowly nnd nosclcssly
the frishttnl hand pulled up it owner, until
| could sec the head and face revealed in the
glass, and gnring at me with fierce yet wary
eyes. The mna was mulatto very dark,
with cvi! passions written i'll every lincament.
| could scarcely refrain from shudlering at
tho sight Of his hateful vsage, and speedily
closed NY eycs to shut it out.
was not yet quite ready for the ordeal
! through which knew | mus, soon pass |
wanted to move my light stand little out of
the way, a"'l to 90 arrange the htdciothcS that
| could spring from the bed without in,pcGi
ment. therefore gave l',tlc sigh, and
moved, as,'f about to awake, slightly opening
my eyes at the same time. The head and the
hand instantly disappeared then compo-
scdly made 'h" desired changes in the position
OF the stand and the arrangement Of the clio. hes
put my wl;ch with the key of the safe under
my pillow. near the edge that they could
Lc easily ken ont, ny | kucw they would be
--cxtugm ned one Of my candles, said my
/ prayers, ',nd closing my eyes, resigned IN, sell
to my fate, with no very sanguine or definite
hope o.! extrcation from my prrIors position
| madc my bre,tling regular, aud IL little
/ louder than when ! was awake, and Law with
NY check OH my haud, countcririting sleep.
vt last the stillnrs. became more terrible than
even my first agony of fear. Several times
fancicd heard n soft step approach from the
place Of conccalu,cnt. AS often was dcccv
ell. Then again that dreadful Stiffness, in
which counted the ticking Of tho watch
through the pillow, 1t was positive relief
when he came out from behind the curtain,
stopped at Tue table, and stood looking at mo,
as | was wcll aware, though my eyes we're
closed. i"tcod myself to breathe regularly
and "u!iby lie came closer; he bent over
me. lie passed the lighted candle slowly be-
fore my Iacr two or three times | felt the
heat, and saw the light through my closed
lids, which must have qnivered, though he
did not seem to observe their motion. Heaven
gave me strength not to move not or to cry
out, Satisfied, apparently, he put back the
c"nd'cstck on TIC stand, and his hand crept
softly and slowly under the pillow, and, Que
by one, no removed my watch and the key OF
the safe. He stood 50 long lacking at me
that felt imp"Icd to open my eyes sudden.
ly upon him.
As he walked softly toward the safe, did
partly open them, and cautiously watched him
through my cycl,shca. heard him fumb
ling with the lock, and once he looked over
toward the bed. My eyes were wide open
but closed them in time not to be detected
Watching him strathiy, saw him open the
door OF the safe, go back to the stand for the
candle, aud return to the safe, which lie en-
tered without Withdrawing the koy from the
lock.
Here WAS the opportunity for which had
waited and watched. | spmng lightly from
tho bed, with one bound reached the safe
dashed tho door to, turned the key, and Will
one loud shrek fell PROSTATE and scnseess or
the Honr OF the dark room
How long lay upon the floor don't know
| probably tor y few minutes only--but as
was unconscious, il seemed, when camo tc
myself, rs IT the interval had been long one
| was aroused by his blows upon the iron door
and found myself weak after the long nervous
tension, but still calm. remember tho sat.
} istaction with which | thought, while lay
there before rising, that he oonld no. escape
mingled with vague and foolish dread thai
r no might in his rage burn the valuable con,
) tents Of the safe. lilo pounded desperately
on the door aud swore fcarfully at finding
himself cntrappcd But as took no rotics
+ of his outcrios, he soon grew quiet.
H., Il I. II