Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-05-12

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Now, certainly, grandpa and grandma
would not come, and Hannah waiting
for the storm to pass, would not be here
for hours. However, my fear of the ne
gro was quite gone, and l felt certain
pride in conducting myself bravely un-
der these trying circumstances.
Accordingly went up stairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters,
and carried them kitchenward.
"Here,' l said, ''make yourself q bed
on the settee yonder, and be easy for the
night. No ore will follow you in such
a terrible storm as this, and no doubt
grandpa will assist you when he returns
home Good night"
Good night, and God bless you, Miss, .
still speaking in very husky whisper.
And so | left him.
But did not 60 up stairs to my bed
room. | intended for that night to re-
main dressed, and sit up in grandpa S
arm chair, with candles and book for
company. Therefore l locked the door,
took the most comfortable position, and,
opening volume, composed myself to
read.
Reading, | fell asleep. How long I
slept | cannot tell. was awakened by
a low sound like the prying of a chisel.
At first it was mixed with my dream
so completely that l took no heed Of it
but at last I understood that some one
was at work upon the lock of the door.
I sat perfectly motionless, the blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip,
chip, chip, went the terrible little in
strument, until at last | knew whence
the sound came.
Back of the sitting-room was grand
pas study. There in great old-fash
ioned chair, were stored the family sill
yer, grandma's jewelry, and sundry sum
of money and valuable papers. Tn
safe itself stood in a closet recess, an,
at the closet the thief was now at work
The thief-ah, without doubt the ne
gro | had fed and sheltered
Perhaps the next act would be to mur
der me if | listened. The storm wa
still raging but though the road wa
lonely, better that than this house wit
such horrible company. | couldn't say
my grandfather's property, but l coul
save my own life.
crept across the room and into tn
hall and to the door. There, softly 6
l could, unfastened the bars and bolt
But, alas ! one was above my reach.
waited and listened. Then | moved
hall chair to the spot and climbed upo
it. In doing so | struck my shouldt
against the door frame.
1t was slight noise, but at that m,
ment the chip of the chisel stopped.
heard a gliding foot, and horror of no
rors! man came from the study, spran
towards me, and clutched me with bot
hands, holding my arms as in a Wis
while he hissed in my ear.
you'd tell, would you? You'd ca
help? You might better have sleI
you had for you see you've got to p;
for waking I'd rather hev let chiC
like you off but you know me now, al
1 can't let you live"
l stared in his face with horror, mi
gled with an awful surprise for now
was close to me | saw, not the negl
but our own hired man, Anthony
thony, whom | had supposed to be mil
away with Hannah. He was lit
more than youth, and | had given h
many a present and had always treat
him WELL
[ plead with him kindly.
Anthony | never did you any harl
| am young | am girl. Don't k
me for poor grandmother's sake
YOU'D tell on me- said Anthor
doggedly. 'Likely I'd be caught. \
I have got to kill YOU
AS he spoke he took his hands fir
: my shoulders and clutched my thr'
fiercely.
had time to utter one suffocati
shrek then | was strangled, dyil
with sparks in my eyes, and sound
roaring waters in my ears, and then
what had sprung upon my assassin. W
the silent swlftness of leopard ? WI
< had clutched me from him, and stc
!. over him with something glittering abs
his heart I? The mist cleared away
:, blurred mist that had gathered over
= eyes, and as sight returned [ saw the
gro with his foot upon Anthony's brea
e The fugitive whom I had housed 8
d fed had saved my life.
Then ten minutes after-ten minu
in which but for that poor slaves pl
e ence | would have been hurried out
e life-the rattle of wheels and the tai
l feet Of old Alex was heard without.
|. my grandparents were with me.
= 1t is needless to say that we were
ungrateful to our preserver needI
% also to tell Of Anthony's punishment
: 1t came out during his trial that
d had long contemplated the robbery t
! the absence of my grandparents appt
ing to afford an opportunity, he had
. coyed Hannah away with a lie, and
D in the study. He knew nothing of
IS negro's presence in the house, and be
naturally superstitious. had actu;