Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-03-21


inexplicable feeling of fright-a feeling
of something, or some one, near her.
sWhat is it?' she cried starting up in
the bed, and instinctively catching the
sleeping child in her arms. No answer
came.
Only distinct sound of breathing,
and then movement like a hand feel
ing along the wall-towards her.
She began to tremble violently; moth
ing but the presence of the child ON her
painting bosom saved her from fainting
away.
sWho is il? she cried, her voice so
Rnth, who clung to her, sleepy and
scared.
This time she had answer.
sWe will do you no harm,' voice
spoke out of the darkness, 'if you give
up that money you've got:' and then
before Mrs. Ferguson could muster
courage and breath to speak. another
voice, out of the room apparently, add
ed IN low undertone, And tell her>to
look sharp about it too.'
Two of them! o God, help me = she
whispered to herself, and Ruth began to
break into screams and sobs.
Keep that brat quiet angrily mutter-
ed the voice on the landing, 'and don't
Keep us mere all nlgQC.
Now surely if ever woman was in a
miserable plight, Mrs. Ferguson was
that woman. Not a house nearer than
the Hollands, full quarter of mile
off, no soul near to help her, for Jane,
who worked hard by day, slept hard by
night, and slept moreover in queer
little room at the very top of the house;
all alone-wOrse than alone, utterly
helpless, and woman who confessed to
the usual feminine share of cowardice.
Still, she drew her breath, and there
flashed from her heart cry for help /;
and then for a few brief moments, she
thought-thought with all her mind and
soul-Was there any way out of this for
her?
And her reason told her there was
none.
Come said the voice in her own
room, sI'm a good-tempered chap
enough, but my mates in a hurry: don It
provoke him. Look alive and tell us
where to find the money!
She groaned and shook, and all her
limbs turned cold as the voice drew
nearer and nearer; and at the last
words a heavy hand was laid upon the
| bed. Then further to torment her came
the thought that once this money wei e
gone, there would be none to meet the
people with-the people who had saved
| it week by week, day by day, all the
past year! Heavy drops ran down her
shaking form; her hands turned numb
| and her lips clammy and cold, while the
| beating of her heart was like the quick
| tolling of bell-louder. louder-till il
| deafened her.
Il IL find way to make her speak,
growled the second voice; ehere's an
other kid in this room.' Then a thir
streak of light shot across the landing
and the next
| Mother, motherr shrieked Rosie's
voice; and at that sound Ruth redouble6
her cries, and the unhappy mother
sprang up, clasping one child, mad tc
protect the other.
Silence, you fool,' said the man by
her side, speaking for the first time
you'll drive that fellow yonderi to dt
the child an injury, if you won't do as
tell you. Keep down, WON'T you?' fol
she was struggling wildly to pass him
to get across the room to Rose-Rosi'
whose cries were sounding strangel!
stified. Look here, if yon don't Civ
you on the head, if DON'T Andelasp
ing one wrist like vice, the man helt
her fast. while with the other he turned
on the light from small lantern sluns
at his side. She lifted her eyes sfowl,
as fearing whom she might see; bu
here was little enough visible of tn
burglars face-a wide hat, a thick red
dish beard, and a loose, rough gray
coat was all she saw. /
Hush, hush,' she murmured to Ruth
Mother will send them away; don
look at him. And she turned the baby
face toward herself; then raising he
trembling voice, Rosie, my darling
your mother is coming But Rosie dil
not answer her. 'Oh, my God!' sh
painted and looked up wildly.
Mate said her captor, loud enough
be heard by the other man, take you
hand off that child's mouth, if you aren'
in hurry to be strung up The strang
muffied sounds upon this broke ou
again into the old cry of sOh! mother
mother'
:, sNow,' said the man, :one good tur
| deserves another. You're pluck
enough for woman, but can't vast
all the night talking to you;' and the
he gave her look that made her shiye
from head to foot anew. Bundle thos
two brats of yours into one bed, an
, come and get us what we want
She seemed powerless now, and he
very soul tainted within her as she creE
|
ing into ROsie's room.
sOh. my child p cried the poor woman
and essayed to run to the little be
where lay the small figure, plnione
down by the heavy grasp OF taller
darker man than her own captor.
Hands of, missus,' growled the jai
or.
Hands off, now! just put that othe
one in here along of this one, and II
take and turn the key on 'em botf
while you take us yonder to what W
} are lookin' AFTER
No choice again but to obey tw
: passionate kisses and a low God kee
you;' and between the two men she wa
children's pitiful cries. their will
frightened sobs.
She led them then down the first shol
flight of stairs to the door which, as W
have already said, was partly overhun
: with curtain. This door opened int
!, a room which had been used by MI
Fergusson's predecessor as an oratory
The rectory had been built in the tim
of the late rector, and built consequent
ly very much to suit his taste ana far
: cies.
One more popularity of the room
note: the doors-for there were two
= fastened WIFI spring Oh being puSne
: to, and could only be re-opened by
hand accustomed to the task, and the
! also were furnished with heavy bolts Q
|, the outside; one door opened on tt
! landing; the other, smaller one,
: one side of the recess at the further en-
= led into a bedroom which had been M
| Fergusson's predecessors and when'
he could go in and out of his favori
oratcry at any hour of the day or nigh
= as it pleased him.
:. Here, as the kitchen clock belO
struck the hour three, stood the stran,
: trio-the muffied, disguised men, an
! ! the trembling, white-faced woman.
Il But one of them carried a light, Il
!. other had left his lantern outside.
: Now said the darker of the me
= there's the room, you say; we can fini'
r this business pretty quick
= The small safe, let into the wall, w
Il directly before them; below it TO
u drawers reached down to the floor;
. the lowest OF these, at the back of
Mr.. Ferguson had laid the key.
She pointed silently to the drawt
;. which they at once dragged out, wi
=, too much strength, for they jerke j
~ ~ quite out on the floor. One of the
u suddenly turned particular about ma
~ ing noise, and bade their unwillil
helper shut that door, AS she felt t