The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-01-29

starving man could cat, and / left
him to find Anthony, to whom | IN
tended to give directions for bis lodg-
ing throughout the night.
To my surprise, Anthony was no.
where about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him with
her across tho lonely road to Maple.
ton.
1t was natural, but felt angry.
Yet longed for Hannah's return,
and listened very anxously until the
clock struck nine. Then, instead of
her footsteps, | heard the paiter of
rain-drops and the rumbling of ;hun-
der, and looking out, saw that Il heavy
storm was coming on.
Now, certainly, grandpa and grand.
ma would not come, ana Hannah,
wa. ing for the sterm to pass, would
not be here for hours. However, my
fear of the negro was quite gone. and
| felt certain pride in conducting
myself bravely under these trying cir
cumstances.
Accordingly | went up stairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and boil
sters, and carried them kitchenward.
"Here," | said, "make yourself Il
bed on the settee yonder, and be easy
for the night. No one will follow you
in such terrible storm as this, and,
no doubt, grandpa will assist you when
he returns home. Goodnight"
"GoOd night, and God bless you,
miss" still speaking in very husky
whisper. And so left him.
But | did not go up stairs to my
bed room. intended for that night
to remain dressed, and to sit up in
grandpa's armchair, with candles and
u book for company. Therefore |
locked the door, took the most com
Portable position, and opening vol
ume, composed myself to read.
Reading fell asleep. How long
slept cannot tell. | was awakened
by low sound like the prying of n
chisel.
At first it mixed with my last dream
SO completely that 1 took no heed of
it, but at last understood that some
one was at work upon the door.
| sat perfectly motionless, lie blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip,
chip, chip went the horrible little in
strument, until at last | knew whence
the sounds came.
Back of the sitting-room was grand
pas study. There, in a great oldfash-
ioncd chair, were stored the family
silver, grandma's jewelry, and sundry
sums of money and important papers.
The safe itself stood in Il closet in n
recess, and at the closet the thief was
at work.
The thief -ah without doubt the
negro | had fed and sheltered.
Perhaps the next act would be to
murder me if | listened. The storm
was still raging; but, though the road
was lonely, better that than this house
with such horrible company. | could
not save my grandiathers property
but | could save my own life.
| crept across the room and into the
, hall, and to the door. There, softly
, as could, | unfastened the bars and
, bolts, but, alas one was above my
reach. | waited and listened.
, Then | moved hall chair to the
spot and climed upon it. In doing Sc
, | struck my shoulder against the door
:, frame.
1t was but slight noise, but at tha
moment the chip Of the chisel stopped
| heard gliding foot, and, horror o
, horrorr, man came from the study
: sprang towards me, and clutched m,
/ with both hands. holding my arms a
in vice, while he hissed in my ear:
YOU'D tell, would you? you'd cal
J., help? You might better have slept
i you had; for you see you've got to pa.
e for waking. I'd rather hev let I
}, chick like you off; but you know IN,
| now, and ! can't let you live"
stared in his face with horror, min
n gled with an awful surprise; for nov
s that it was close TO me | saw, not til,
o negro, but our own hired man, Antho
q ny-Anthony, whom | had suppose
miles awly with Hannah. He wa
n little more than Il youth, and ! ha'
given him many present, and alway
:, treated him well.
l plead with him kindly.
=" Anthony, l never did you an.
It harm | am young; am girl. Don
e kill me, Anthony. Take the money
/. but don't kill me, for poor grandma
d sake"
t You'd tell on me-" said Anothny
Ie doggedly. Likely I'd be caught. Nc
D. l have got to kill you"
v AS he spoke he took his hands fror
70 my shoulders and clutched my throa
fiercely.
Of | had time to utter one suiiocatin
4 .h.;oL than | yvaS ranolinu 1ViuC