Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-27

had Sickly look, for the petals hung low,
and were heavy with water and with mud
that had splashed upon them. The clouds
we've still dark and threatening, bespeak-
ing stormy night. The little town of
Ashton, in Virginia, was unusually quiet.
The streets were too muddy, and the
weather too Indictment, to entice people
from their homes. Only now and then
a solitary traveller was TO be seen.
III a -Wreathed cottage on flower
sprinkled lawn the supper had been wait
ing over an hour for the master Of the
house, whose business had neceSsitated his
being absent from home all day. Mr.. ia
cObs was the tax collector of the district,
and consequently could not wait the return
of the pleasant weather before pursuing
his journey. Therefore he had equipped
himself in his india rubber over garment
in the morning, and had gone about his
business, leaving his wife the promise of
an early return in the evening; but supper
time had come and gone without his
making his appearance. Mrs. Jacobs,
however, was not anxious as yet. Such
delays were too frequent to cause this one
70 give her any uneasiness Of mind.
She fitted about the house, busy with
her evening duties, singing gay song as she
went. She was a brig bit little woman, with
| a world of courage written in her dark
sparkling eyes.
Anon she disrobed her little ones and
put them to bed; and when the night shad-
oWs turned into an inky blackness she
seated herself by the lamp, and began tC
| work, still leaving the supper table spread
aud the food on the stove keeping warm
| for the return Of her husband. But the
| clock on the mantle shelf had told the
| hour of ten before his step was heard al
| the door. He came i'll hurriedly, and
! strobe to seat without removing his drip
ping outer garments.
81 must go to Richmond to-night,o he
! said, in answer to his wife's questioning
| look.
so Richmond" repeated his wife, il
dismay. Twenty miles in the Storm
Cant be helped" he returned. "Busi
ness is business, you know"
He removed his hand from his pocket
and took off his hat, and brushed back hi
fair hair, revealing the handsome face Of
| light compleXioned, middle-aged man. IL
had large, gray eyes, but they wore al
anxious expression, and their glance wan
dered restlessly about the apartment.
''Jane," he said suddenly, again divin!
his hand into his Troublesome pocket, sd,
you suppose you could take care Of larg
sum of money till to .morrow?"
''Why, yes" she answered, in surprise
nave COllCCtcu i've thousand collars,
he continued; lit is too late to get the sun
into the bank, and l do not care TO carr
80 much with me. .
"Well, you can leave it here as we'll a
not. No one would think of my havin
such sum of money!"
lie drew large wallet from lis pOcke
and placed it in her hands.
sit belongs to the government, and
you let it pass from your hands l am u
ined,' he added.
And he rose as if to depart.
'1 on are going to eat some supper?
she inquired.
''NO, have no time to lose | mus
reach Richmond by midnight. Good by,
Take good care of the mo4scy and. taste
all the doors.'
He gave her hurried kiss and was son,
But the sound Of his footsteps had scarce
II died away before Mrs. Jacobs began
feel strange fear creeping over her. VIII
it was, she know not. She had lived thel
seven years, and slept there many a nigl
7 without the doors even being shut. No
:, they were locked and bUitcd. she could NJ
think of going to bed. She was too ner
[ GUS to work. She put the money in IL
= pocket Of her dress, and clasping it tight
= III her hands, she sat very still, gazing an,
, ! lOusly into nOtLingnesS, and listening
intensely that silence became q fealf
: minGling Of dlsco:dant sounds iii her ear
An hour passed. 1t has been au age
her.
Presently she heard a sound 1t W
not the rain, for there was perfect lull
= the storm. 1t could not be a neighbor. f
q she lived i'll the outskirts of the yillaa
: some distance fIOm any one, and she W
: not likely to be called UP in case of sic
| ness.
p Again she heard it. 1t seemed as if
window sash has been Slowly raise
!, Strange that she could have forgotten
taStCn them down!
. "Why didn't Jonti leave his revolver.
, She missed. ~ nave nothing with While
Y to protect myself III case | should be III
q Tested tG-nigi,t. ii was really All Oversi.
! in him
y Again Sic heard the sound. 1t SCENE
to come from the bedroom. 1t was sur
o ly the raising Of a sash. Then there "
o the sound OF d movement as though son
j one was entering that way.
. Fear nearly ParalyZed her for molner
Il but She quickly rallied, and tax ng up IL
q lamp, procectied to investigate the matte
She had scarcely opeleI the door when 81
: staggered back with d hall SuSIresst
p scream. Two men i'll hideo;is diaguis
were already III the room, and a third III
q L1lil W ttS III VIC dCL VI CIGW mig through Ii
4 window. !nvoluntarly she clutched Il
n ! pocket which contained lie money, thin
4 ing meantime how she should protect be
: self and it. Alas she had nothing but b
own weak hands with which TO fight Il
: battle, and She well knew how p0Werle
: they were compared with the strength
+ tie enemy.
= '!!What do you want here ?" she asked
I, a fdltering voice
K eve want the five thousand dolla
/. | which you have in keeping for your blu
! band," said enc of them.
i They knew that She hal it in her posse
= sion.
@ ''1ou can get no money from me-" ST
y said deciSively Il have no money"
:. "a pretty little fib, he responded. S'N
: will look into Your pocket and sec,'
# In her eagerness to preserve her tIea
S ure, she clu.ched the pocket of her DIRE
s With both hands, thus uuconSciOusly b
n traying its whereabouts.
e She turned pale when the knowledge
4 her thOughtlessness was revealed to her.
0 ''You can't have it . you shan't have it
+ she cried, knowing ali the while that the
: would have it in spite Of her.
Il owe will see,' exclaimed the man, sci
y ing her in his arms.
n She struggled desperately, but was SOC
e OFeIpo" citu anu the money TAKEN 1rO
q h>r.
$ 'Let us go now" said one of the TO
q bers.
b ''You take the money, and 1 will sett
e her tongue in a way that it Will rema
A quiet for an hour at least"
$ ''Don't be in hurry" said another;
t am hungry, and We can just as well take
T mOrsel here as not"
!. The other demurred, but he continued
: 'Set to work and get some supper. You,