Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-26

WAS tnat woman. NOt mouse nearer
than the Hollands, full quarter of a
mile Off; no soul near to help her, for
Jane, who worked hard by day, slept
hard by night, and slept moreover in
aqueer 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 u cry for help !;
and then, for few brief moments,
she MOtlght-thought with all her mind
and soul-Was there any way for her
out of this?
And her reason told her there was
none.
"Come," said the voice in her own
room, "Pm good tempered chap
enough, but my mates in q hurry
don't provoke him. Look alive, and
tell us where to find the swag-mon-
ey!
She groaned and shook, and all her
limbs turned cold as the voice drew
nearer and nearer; and at the last
words heavy hand was laid upon the
bed. Then, further to torment her,
came the thought that once this money
were 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 wear! 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, loudcr-till it deafened her.
"Ill find way to make her speak,"
growled the second voice; "here's an
other kid in this room." Then in one
instant thin streak of light shot
across the landing, and the next
Mother, mother, MOTHER - Shrek
ed Rosie's voice; and at that sound
Ruth redoubled her cries, and the un-
happy mother sprang up, clasping one
child, mad TO protect the other.
"Slence, YOU foolr' said the man
by her, speaking harshly for the first
time. you'll drive that fellow yon-
der to do the child mischief, if you
won't do as tell you. Keep down,
won't you2' For she was struggling
wildly to pass him. to get across the
room to Rose-Rosic, whose cries
were sounding strangely stihed. "Look
here, if YOU don't give up this game,
by the Lord, he'll knock YOU on the
| head, if don't" And clasping one
wrist like vice, the man held her fast,
while with the other hand lie turned
on the light from small lantern slung
! at his side. She lifted her eyes slow
! ly, rs fearing whom she might see:
but there was little enough visible of
the burglars face----a wide hat, a thick
reddish beard, and loose, rough gray
coat, were all she saw.
| Hush, hush," she murmured to
Ruth, Mother will send them away
don't look at him And she turned
the baby's face towards herself; then
raising her trembling voice, Rosie,
my darling, your mother is coming -
But Rosie did not answer her. 80 my
Cod. she painted, and looked up
wildly.
Mate" said her captor, loud
enough for the other man TO hear,
stake your hand of that childs mouth
lfyou aren't in a hurry to be strung
up" The strange mufiied sounds up
on this broke out again into the old
cry, ''Oh, mother, mother"
Now said the man, lone good
turn deserves another. You're plucky
eaough for a woman, but Ican't waste
all the night talking to YOU" and
then he gave her look that made her
shiver from head to foot anew. Bun
die those two brats of yours into one
bed. and come and get us what we
want
She seemed powerless now, and her
very soul tainted within her as she
crept after the tall dark figure over
the landing into Rosie's ROOM
''Oh, my child !" cried the poor wo-
man, and essayed to run to the little
bed where lay the small figure, pinion-
ed down by the heavy grasp OF a tall
er, darker man than her own captor.
Hands off, missus," growled the
jailer.
"Hands oil, now! Just put that
other one in here along Of this one,
and III take and turn the key on 'em
both. while you take US yonder to what
we're lookin' after"
No choice again but to obey; two
passionate kisses and low "God
keep you" and between the two men
she was marched from the room, fol-
lowed by the children's pitiful cries,
their wild frightened sobs.
She led them down the first short
flight of stairs to the door which, as
we have already said, was partly over
hung with a curtain. This door OPEN
ed into room which had been used by
, Mr.. Fergusson's predecessor as an
, oratory. The rectory had been built
in the time Of the late rector, and built
consequently very much to suit his
taste and fancies.
: One more popularity of the room to
note the dOors-for there we're two----
3 fastened with spring on being push
ed to, and could only be re-opened by
/, q hand accustomed to the task, and
they also we're furnished with heavy
. bolts on the outside; one door opened
! on the landing the other, a smaller
D one, in one side of the recess at the
further end, led into bedroom which
!, had been Mr.. Fergusson's predeces.
] sor's, and whence he could go in and
out Of his favorite oratory at any hour
/; ofthe day or night, as it pleased him.
l Here, as the kitchen clock below
a struck the hour three, stood the strange
trio-the muffied disguised men, the
0 trembling white-face woman.
l But one of them carried light, the
i other had left his lantern outside.
Now" said the darker of the men,
''here's the room, you see We can fin-
e ish this business pretty quick"
e The small safe, let into the wall, was