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

ruined everything; and, with undisturbed
front, would slowly cpunciate. "Well, miss,
what shall fly onto ncxt?'
1t was nearly dark when my husband do.
parted, and, after giving my orders to Dinah,
or rather my suggestions. left her, aud made
the tour of the house, to see that all was safe
ana properly locked up. This duty attended
TO-, went to my bedroom, ntcn Ing to pass
tho time in reading until my husband should
return.
1t was a largo room, on the ground floor,
with two French windows opening on broad
ycranda. Tho windows were drapod with
long yellow silk curtains, between which the
moonlight fantly entered, dimmed by tho
shadow of the roof of the piazza, and partly
intercepted by the fringe of woodhinc which
hung from it. My bed stood with its foot
toward the windows and witt. it's head about
half yard from the wall. 1t was nm old
fashioned structure, hung with yellow silk
like the windows, but | slept with the hang
ings drawn back and fastened to the head
board. The he'd was so large hat no Que
ever thought of moving it, except in those
seasons of household panic called house clean
ings, when the combined strength OF three or
four men was called into rcqui>i,on to draw i,
into tho middle of the room. So cluhora,cly
carved was it tnat it went by the name Of West
minister Abbey in the family. At one end
OF the room, Mt no great distance from the bed,
was large safe, built into the huge chimney
of the mansion, with door high enough for
person to enter standing upright Here
was accustomed to place, every evening, our
silver plate on shelves which extended around
the sides on which were also placed boxes
containing papers and other va!uablcs. Or
postc the foot Of the bradstcad, between the
windows, was mirror, running from the flour
almost to the ceiling. Like nll other furn-
iur" in the room, it WAS old and hndsno,c.
How many happy scenes it had rejected in
the hundred years it bad stood there!
The night was exceedingly hot and there.
fore lett the windows open, though drew
the curtains before | seated myself 1T the ta.
bic in the centre OF the room, liyhtrl the can
dies, and began to read. in order to pass the
L.
After Il while heard the clock strike niue,
ut which hour Dinnh always went TO bed -
Ter chamber was in tc attic the third story
ni the house. Remembering some household
m,ttcr about which wished to speak to her,
| started hnrricdly up, and vent in;o the en-
try to intercept her before she got up stairs
had to wait about minute before she me.
and our colo1uy continued three or four ain
utcs more.
, When returned to my bedroom, feeling
somewhat tired ! resolved to 90 to bed, as, at
that late hour in the country, it was quite
certain that no visitors would call, and my
husband could let himself in with the latch
key, which he always carried [ thought
however, that | would try TO keep awake b,
t reading, and accordingly placed light sand
: and the candle at the head of my bed. | the,
closed and fastened the windows, undresscG
and got into bed. The key of the sale
1 placed, as usual, under my pillow
, After reading perhaps lalf an hour, grew
! weary Of the book, and, quietly laying it down
o remained for some minutes mcditating Will
z my eyes fixed on the mirror opposite the foo
n of the bed, in which could sec myself re
c flcctcd, together with the yellow silk curtain:
behind my head. | was thinking, not unnat
urally, how pretty looked, and how happy
I was with such loving husband and such
. largo sum of money secure in our safe, whc,
suddenly saw in the mirror sight that mad
b my heart stand still A hand appeared DC
, tween tho curtains, drawing them sIowl,
d apart, and graspng cautiously the head board
J. 1t was mans hand, large and coarse ant
+ dark, as if belonging to mulatto, or to on,
d greatly tanned by exposure to the weather.
o My first impulse was to start from the bed
! and scream for help. | reprcssad it by
t strong effort Of will, and lay perfectly motion
less, except that partially closed my eyes
8 keeping them only sufficiently open to watcl
d the mirror. AS quick as lightning my mint
.. took in tho situation. In tho few minutes o
8 my absence from tho room, while talking t,
Q Dinah in tho entry, a thief a robbcr, po. 81
0 Bile murdor, had stolen in by the piazza. win
: dows, and had hidden himself either undc
+ the bed or behind its drapod hoad. lie wa
Q doubtless armed and if cried out and at
n tempted to escape from the room, he coul,
" easily reach tho door before [ could, and 70
..sA.. - 4