The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-07-21

| bed stood with Its foot toward the
windows, and with its head about half
yard from tho wall. Itwas an old
fashioned structure, hung with yellow
silk like the windows, hut | slept with
the bangiogs drawn back and fasten-
ed to the head board. The bed was
so large that no one ever thought of
moving it, except in those seasons of
household panic called housc-clean-
ings, when the combined strength of
three or four men was called into re-
QUESTION to draw it into the middle Of
the room. So claborately carved was
it that it went by the name Of West.
minister Abbey iu the family. Al. t.onc
end of the room, at no great distance
from the bed, wos u large safe, buil;
into the high chimney ofthc mansion,
with a door high enough for q person
to enter standing upright. Here |
was accustomed to place, every even
ing, our silver plate on shelves which
extended around tho sides, on which
are also placed boxes containing pa.
pers and other valuables. Opposite
the foot of the bcdstcad, bctwcca the
windows, was Il mirror, running from
the floor almost 10 the ceiling. Like
all the other old furniture in the room
it was old and handsome. How many
happy scenes it had reflected in the
hundred years it had stood there
Tho night was exceedingly hot, and
therefore left the windows open,
though | drew the curtains before |
seated myself at the table in the centre
of the room. lighted the candles, aud
began to read, in order to pass the
heavy time before the return Of my
husband.
After n while, | heard the clock
strike nine, at which hour Dnah al
ways went TO bed. Her chamber was
in the attic. the third story Of the
house. Remembering some house,
hold matter about which | wished to
speak to her, started hurrieily up
and went into the entry to intercept
her before she got up staiis. | had to
wait atout minute before she came,
and our colloquy contsumed three or
four minutes more.
When | returned TO my bedroom,
feeling somewhat tired, | resolved to
90 to bed, as, at that late hour in the
country, it was quito certain that no
visitors would call, and my husband
could let himself 10 with the latch key
which he always carried | thought,
however, | would try to keep awake by
reading, and accordingly placed light
stand aud the candles at the head OF
my bed. 1 then closed aud fastened
the windows, undrcssed and got into
bed. The key of the safe ! placed, rs
usual, under my pillow
After reading perhaps half an hour,
grew weary of the book, aud, quietly
laying it down, remained for some
minutes me1i,ating with my eyes fixed
on the mirror opposite the foot of the
bed, in which | could SEQ myself re.
accted, together with the yellow silk
curtains behind nv head, l was
thinking, not unnaturally, how pretty
looked, and how happy / was with
such a loving husband and such a
large sum Of money secure in our safe,
when suddenly saw in the mirror II
sight that made my heart stand still.
A hand appeared between the curtains
drawing them slowly apart, and grasp
ing cautiously the head-board 1t was
a mans hand, large, coarse and dark,
as if belonging to molatto, or to one
greatly: tanned by exposure to the
weather.
My first impulse was to start from
the bed, aud scream for help. re-
pressed it by a strong effort of will,
and lay perfectly motionless, except
that partially closed my eyes, keep.
ing them only sufficiently open to
watch the mirror. AS quick as light
ming my mind took in the situation.
10 the few minutes of my absence
from tho room, while talking to Dinah
in the entry thief, robber, posi-
BILE murderer, had stolen in by the
piazza. windows, and had hidden him
self either under the bed or behind
its draped head. He was doubtless
armed aud, If cried out, and at
tempted to escape from the room, he
could easily reach..the door before !
could, and for his own security would
probably put me to death. Dinah
was too distant, and too feeble aud
too elumsey to afford me any assist
ancc, aud besides was by this time
fast asleep in the third story. The
man doubtless knew that my husband
had that day received large sum Of
money, and had gone of across the
river, leaving me alone, or nearly alone
10 the house. lie had entered, caring
only for the money, and anxious,
above oil things, TO escape undetected
aud uurecognizod. III lot him know
that l was aware Of his presence,
should expose myself to murder, and
perhaps to outrage worse than murder.
My obvious policy was to keep quiet
aud to ieigu sleep. l thought also Of
the money, and was not altogether
. willing to resign that without an effort
} to save il, aud to have at least some
clew 10 the ipdentity Of the thief. ]
confess, however, that this last consid-
Grafton Was not very strong one
aud am afraid that, II l could have
seen my way clear 20 an escape FROM
tko room, and tho houso I al.ould havs