Smyrna times., 1874-03-11


ceaseless; but for all that, as lay awake
could hear mems steps without, splashlng IN
the pools it made, as the wretches walked
round the house looking for the most cOnVen- |
lent point of entry Then heard the back
door 'gO"-it burst open with sort of mufilad
violence, like the sudden outpour of a waste
pipe-and then that pit a pat" L knew so
we'll of feet coming up the stairs. Then
pause Of trightful significance.
"Charl0tteP cried |, in an agony, " they
are really here They really are, this time
Rubbish ~ cried she. lam wide awake
and hear nothing"
"They are just outside the door, whis
pered |. They are listening at the key-hOle.
Hark ~
certainly hear eavesdropping, was her
heartcsS answer, (she was woman who en-
joyed Joke, and her fat sides wObbled with
mirth at this one; " but it's only the rain
from the roof
tell you," said 1, solemnly, there are
robbers in the"
Here something fell in the drawing room be.
meath us with a hideOus crash. In an instant,
and before could recover from the sort of col
lapse into which this shock had thrown rue,
Charlotte had Topped out of bed, seized the
lamp, and was about to hurry from the room.
" No !" saiG she, pansing in the doorway p" it
is better that they should not see me- but that
| should see them.
1t was certainly much better, considering
Charlotte s very slight attire. that the robbers
should not see her; but why she should want
to see the robbers was quite uninteligible to me.
"StOp!" cried l. But the fatal deed was
done, and [ was left in darkness.
Dreadful as it was to accompany her upon
such an, pedition, it seemed athOusand times
70 in ba oil md
bling in every limb, hurried after her
To reach the drawing room it was necessary
to pass through the dining room. 1t was pitch
dark; but could hear her breathing hard for
her stOutness made her very Ahort of breath sS
she made her way around the table that occu-
pied the centre of the room. Fear let me
wings, and hurried around the other way to
meet her. and rushed into her arms Just as she
was feeling for the drawing-rOOm doorway.
| Directly did so she uttered shri scream
and fell on the floor III dead faint. | had
forgotten that the poor dear did not know
was pur ,uing her, and she very naturally took
me for one Of the robbers. | suppose tainted
tOo-for the first thing | remember was hear
ing loud purr close to my ear, which pro
ceeded from our favOrite cat, who, having
knocked down the freirnns in the next room
! (which was the noise we had heard, had come
as it were, to assure Us that there was nothing
the matter That was the last night we spent
in our country house AMI | remained in town
for three whole summers afterward Though
fresh air and "change, | was told, were in
dispensable, | resolved to do withodt them
since one might just as we'll die as be frighten
ed to death.
In the July of the fourth year, however,
received an invitation to the sea side, which
really thought it safe to accept. My host anC
hostess lived at place called Disney Point
a very lonely spot, it is true, but one in which
ne burglary had ever been committed within
the memory of woman. There are no baC
people," wrote my friends, who were aware o
my nervous peculiarities within hundre,
miles, When | reached their house | wa
really inclined to believe that this was the case
A more beautiful and retired spot than tn
little village in which they dwelt, or one inhabi
ted by a more simple and innocent set of pso
pie, it was impossible to imagine. 1t was stu
ated in a wooded ravine, through which
trout stream ran down to the sea and upon tn
! hilltop, between it and the ocean, were tn
most picturesque church and churchyard |, O
anybody's eye, ever beheld. From the hous
r we could only hear the distant whisper of tn
|, waves, like the murmuring hum of bees bu
1 they were giant waves, and the rocks wer
torn and split with their fury into weird an
E hOrrid shapes. 1t was the grandest sea-coas
e had yet visited, and all day long | sat besid
it with my sketch book, or merely watchin
Q the white wrath of the breakers, and listenin
1 to the thunder in the cavsrns at my feet
a was not at all afraid of the ssa-when wa
| upon the land. Indeed, | am not alarmed
n anything notwithstanding what some peOpl
+. say to the contrary unless there is areaSonab
1 cause for fear For instance, | am not afrai
r at least, | iods not, until the terrible cata
e trophe occurred which am about to relate
= of supernatural apparations. When | al
q nOunced my intention one evening of going u
q the hill to sketch the churchyard by moonligl
there arose quite rude litter in the drawing
d room.
!. Surely not alone, Mary Anne Let OF
| of the girls go with you. said my hostess.
!, "What is there to be afraid OF in q churc
|, yard No thank you |" replied |, proud
W The miserable superstitiOns of the country
, not affec. me, | assure you
e " But it is so lonely up there, my dear !"
Y "What Of that? Solitude and stiffness a
l. the accompaniments of such solemn seen
Is had much rather 90 there by myself y
Is / was resolved to exhibit my independsnc
/ as well as to do away with any false impre
W siOns my excellent hostess might have receive
,e from Charlotte or others with respect to n
lie courage; but at the same time she need n
ls have reminded me that it was " so lonely
ID there |" did not expect to find Dinsey churc
t. yard the centre of fashion nor the scene OF a
ID excursion picnc at ten O'Clock at night
at course Her remark was oficious and unnecO
to sary, and at the same time it made my blo
a run cold. However, when the moon rose
$. did /, and, sketch book 10 hand, toilsd up
th the old church, which was also, from its prol
'e inent position, landmark used by sailor
d, which taught them to avoid the rocks at ID
ys ney Point. Whatever might be the matte
IS, there was always a wind up there and ev
tn in that still summer night il was wanderi
II, about the grasses Of the graves and whsp'
Sc ing into the ears of the stone gorgoyles Of t
A. church, which seemed to grin ia malace at
lts news of storm and wreck to come.
at seated myself on my camp stool, just
nd front of the porch, aud began what intend
ny to be hasty skstch--just few strokes, to
to filled in at my leasurs for felt the situati
OF 10 be "uncanny." and already wished mys
to at home--My fingers shook litts--certair
lr. not with cold-and, although the orchitectr
Die was said to be a +" fine specimen of the p