The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-12-17


window yonder she could see the
moon struggling through thick
clouds, and she could e-her sight
quickened by the peril of the moment
she could see a faint thread of
light on one side. which told her that
the further door stood Unattached.
"Oh, Heaven help me. and give
me time" she prayed; but her hand
shook so that it could scarcely obey
her swift thought. Another moment
and size took in her exact position
the men STOPPING over the KEYS, the
lamp on the floor-and the next she
had flung her shawl over the lamp,
darted across the floor, out into the
room beyond, and flung to the door
with all her force.
Yet more to be done. She drew
The bolts with frenzied speed, above,
below-that way was safe; then, with
the passionate strength of the no.
ment, she sped through the room,
ont on the landing to the curtaincd
door and made that fast from with
out, while the furious captives beat
a. it from within; and then-ah,
then, poor thing, her fortituie for
sook her. and a thousand fears she
had not counted on most cruelty be-
set her.
The frightful oaths and curses that
I reached her as she leaned painting hv
the wall filled her with horror; the
heavy blows upon the panels filed
her with dismay. They would es-
cape yet Her children-on them
they would wreak their vengeance.
At the thought her cries and tears
broke for,A. They will die and |
shall have killed them." she cried
out; and then blindly reaching forth
to feel her way back to their room,
all sight. sense and sound. seemed sud-
denly TO desert her. She slid down
few stairs, clinging to the rail
then. losing her hold, fell heavily on
I the stone aoor of the ball below.
MT. FERGUSON had reached his
nearest station in safety, had sent
back the wraps his careful wife had
guarded him with and started by the
ten o'clock train to Fordham-
The rain beat on the windows as
the train few along in the darkness.
and presently prolonged whistle told
linn they were approaching 4 certain
junction where he would have TO wait
some ten minutes or so.
Two or three lamps on the platform
hy which they drew up showed some
few passengers and couple OF
sleepy portcrs. Another train had
iu7, come in from the opposite direc-
tion, from Fordhaln, now only fifteen
miles distant; and some Of It's pas
. .sengers had aiighted and were max
ing their way past the line Of car
riagas.
/ Looking out upon his fellow trav-
I lellers, without much curiosity or in
interest, Mr.. FERGUSON caught sight
OF face which he had little expect
/ Ell to see. Shouting to porter to
I open the door Of his compartment,
! he sprang out and grasped the arm
. OF q man very much like himself
in fact. his own elder brother.
George" he exclaimed, were YOU
going for me: Is nay father worse?"
What OH earth do you mean, and
wherever did you spring from?" was
the answer he got, accompanied by q
look Of profound amazement. "Why,
man alive, have you gone crazy, that
YOU stand staring at me so ?" And
George Ferguson checked a disposi-
ton to laugh at his brothers bewil-
dered expression only when he saw
the pallor that overspread his face
"Oh, George" he said, with gasp,
: did you not telegraph to me this
evening that father had had another
? ft?o
, Most certainly ! did not"
r "Oh. my wife, my wife, said tue
E clergyman; and then he staggered 20
heap OF luggage and sat down and
? hid his face in his hands. His broth
, er saw The matter was serious, so lie
= let his own train pass on without re-
r suming his journey and was soon in
possession ofall the explanation John
FERGUSON could give him.
, Porter" he asked, what time
r does the night mail go through to
Wheelborough?"
"One-twenty-fve, SIR answered
I the man; 'reach marlborough Two,