The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-27

corner of the room, and startled by the
sudden light dashed across the floor, up
setting small box in its course, and
rushing under the old woman's feet into
the passage.
"H-sh h-sh !" screamed Elsie, sud
denly retreating. Then Catherine heard
her re-enter the kitchen, and say:
1t were only them darned rats a riot
ing, joe"
For several minutes Miss Farquhar did
not dare to renew her attempt to leave
the room, but at last she ventured to do it.
Using greater caution than before she
succeeded this time in effectually opening
the door.
But now what task was before her
In utter darkness, and in strange place,
she had TO find her way to room of the
locality of which she was entirely igno-
rant
She remembered somewhere to have
read that to pause under such circum-
stances is only to perplex the mind and
to render difficult task yet more difficult;
so she turned resolutely to the right down
the first passage which presented itself
She felt gradually along the wall, which
was wet and clammy with ooze, of what
description she knew not, and suddenly
descended a step with velocity that
nearly threw her on to her face. Recov-
ering herself, she became aware that she
was standing almost up to her knees in
some warm, thick substance, which she
judged to be heather.
Where, then, could she possibly have
got to she asked herself.
Another step forward served to enlieht-
Gu her, for cautiously as she made it, she
stumbled over the back of COW who was
lying digesting her nights supper. The
alarmed creature uttered sort of sur
prised groan in remonstrance, but few
soothing words spoken in low voice re-
assured her.
Catherine, then, had found her way
into the cow-house, which in many rural
| districts is under the same roof as the
dwelling house, and divided from it only
by long-stone passage. The poor gov
erness paused and reflected. 1t seemed
to her that there was nothing for it but
to turn back and try the passage to the
left. She resolved to do so, but she no
sooner formed the resolution than she be-
came aware of the sound Of footsteps ad-
vanclng down the stone passage, and per-
ceived light looming gradually nearer
and nearer. Poor Catherine felt her
blood run cold. Discovery was certain;
and discovery was dcoth
In an extremity of horror she crouch
ed down between the two nearest COWS.
covering herself as far as she could with
their litter of heather, which, as has
been said, was fortunately very deep and
abundant. Then she prayed fcrvontly,
scarcely venturing to breathe.
Nearer and nearer came the Footsteps
and brighter grew the light. The gov
erness's heart almost stopped beating, so
intense was her fear. At last, with that
singular feeling which impels the crimi-
nal on the scalfold Of the guillotine to
glance upwards at the axe which is about
to destroy him, Catherine raised her eyes,
and, oh, joy! 10 aoas tie coachman
The reaction was too great and she
tainted
The driver OF the coach, with that
restless regard for his horses in strange
place which distinguished all good dri-
vers, had resolved after he had retired to
rest to get up again and see in person af-
ter their comfort. He could not rest
without seeing that bis horses were also
at ease. His companions were sleeping
soundly but to accomplish his purpose
was very easy, since none of the men had
thrown off their clothes, but were merely
covered with rugs and plaids for tempo
rary accommodation.
The guards dark lantern was conven-
iently close at hand, and so up got hon
est John Dodson. However, when he
gained the passage, he, like Miss Farqu-
har, mistook the way.
No sooner had the horse-loving John
entered the shed where he expected to
find his steeds, than he rubbed his eyes
and stared around him with an air of ut
ter bewilderment.
"Well, Pm darned % he muttered "if
the hosses amt turned into cows"