The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-03

as usual, under my pillow
After reading perhaps hale an hour,
grew weary Of the book, and quietly
laying it down, remained for some min
utes meditating, with my eyes fixed on
the mirror opposite the foot of the bed
in which [ could see myself reflected, to-
geth,r with the yellow silk curtains be.
hind nv head was thinking not I'M
naturally, how pretty looked, and now
happy was with such q loving husband
and such large sum of money in oul safe,
when suddenly saw IN the mirror sight
that made my heart stand still. a hand
appeared between the curtains, drawing
them slowly apart, and 'grasping cautious
ly The head board 1t was a mans hand,
large aud coarse and dark, as if belong
ing to q mulatto, or to one greatly tanned
by exposure to the weather.
NV first impulse was to start from the
bed and scream for help. [ depressed it
by strong effort of will, and lay perfect
ly m0tionless, except that / partially
closed my eyes, keeping them only suffi
GENTLY open to watch the mirror. As
quick as lightning my mind took IN the
situation. In the few minutes OF my alb
sence from ;he room, while king TO
Dinah in the entry, . thief, n rohhcr, 4
possible murderer, had STOLEN in by the
piaZZl win 10Y, and had rjtnpl hld hlm
! self under t4U buu Or behind It's urapod
head. He was doubtlessly armed and if
cried out, and attempted to escape from
the room, he could easily reach the door
before T could, and for his own security
would probably put me to death. Dlnah
was too distant, and too feeble and clum-
sy to afford me any assistance and besides
was by this time fast asleep in the third
story.
The man doubtless knew that my hus-
band had that day received large sum
of money, and gone off across the river,
and leaving me alone, or nearly alone, In
the house. IN had entered, caring only
tor the money, Md anxious, above a.!
things, to escape undetectcd and unrec
ognized If I let him know that | wa,
aware OF his presence, [ should expose
myself To murder, aed to outrage worse
Il than murder. My obvious policy was to
keep quiet and feign sleep
thought also of the money and was
not altogether willing to resign that with
} out an effort to save it, and to have at least
! some clue to the identity of the thief. |
: confess, however, that this last consider
alton was not a very strong one, and am
afraid that, could I have seen my way
, clear to an escape from the room and the
, house, should have fled incontently
without stopping to see more OF that ter
rible hand.
? A moment, which seemed an hour
: passed while these thought rushed
Inv n
with my half-closed eyes watching tho
mirror Slowly and noiseless'y the frighl
full hand pulled up its owner until coulo
see the head and face reflected IN the
glass and glaring at me with fierce yet
7 weary eyes. The man was & mulatto
: very tlaI k, with evil passion written II
0 every llneamenJ. [ could hardly reirail
n from shuddering as [ glanced ut his hate
: full yisagc, and speedily closed my ye.
!, to shut 1t uut
= was not yet quite ready for be ordca
through which knew | must socn pass
! I intended to move my light stand little
= Iout of the way, and to so arrange the
. bed clothes that could spring from Tho
y bed without impeachment. | therefore
: gave little sigh, and moved, as il about
J to awake, slightly opening my eyes at
II the same time. =. The head and the hanG
instantly disappeared. then composed
:, ly made the desired changes In the posi-
a ton Of the stand and the arrangement 0
i the clothes, put my watch With the key
n of the safe under my pillow-so near tht
|, edge that they could be easily taken out
g as | knew they would be-eXtlngulsheC
{ one of nv candles, said my prayers, and
4 closing my eyes, resigned myself to my
1 fate, with no very sanguine or definite
t hope of extrication from my perilou
! position.
' made my breathing regular, and ;
Il little louder than when | was awake, anC
0 Law with my cheek on my hand, counter
T felting sleep At last the stiffness be
: came even more terrible than even ny
c first agony of fear. Several times | fan
l. cied that I heard soft step approach
) from the place of concealment. AS OTTER
t I was deceived And then again tina
= dreadful stiffness in which counted the
! ticking of the wath through the pillow
1t was positive relief when lie came
}, out from behind the curtains, stopped a
. the table, and stood looking at me, as !
/ was we'll aware, though my eyes Were
= closed. lofCeu myself 10 DreaCne reSu
4 larly and audibly He came closer; ht
9 bent over me. He passed the Lighted
G candle slowly before my face two o.
: three times. felt the heat, ard saw the
! light through my closed lids, which
} must have quivered, though he did no
g seem 20 notice their motion. HEAVIER
e gave me strength not to move or cry out
$ Satisfied, apparently, he put back the
J candlestick upon the stand, and his hand
q crept slowly under the pillow, and one
by enc, he removed my watch and the
I kew of the safe. He stood SO long look