Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-22
ssThat box contains the massive silve

1
swell, It's not likely that these mer
can have heard of that" Marcelline re-.
piled, betraying = slight surprise at the
knowledge she had just received 'and
if they had they would not surely dare
to rob the house" =
II do not know about that, " returned
the hunter. even in large cities these
robberies take place. You had better
let either Justin or Roland remain in
the house tonight"
ooh, no, l had rather not-folk.
would talk" uttered the maiden, as she
looked with deep blush upon two fair
youths among the hunters who had
+! thus been designated to her.
Marcelline remained firm in her
determination to accept of no assistance
or rather guard, from the hunters, and
ere long they departed to their several
homes The maiden was left alone in
the ballroom, and as she found herself
thus solitary she could not repress the
fear that came over her
Half an hour passed away, and Lubin
came in from the stable. Marcellin,
however, said nothing 10 him of what
had transpired, but only requested him
to be in readiness to respond to her
summons in case she should have &C.
casion TO call him during the night
The boy went up to his bed, and once
mere the maiden was left alone.
Nothing broke the stiffness of the
night save the blasts that howled among
the Alps, and for half an hour longer
she sat by the fast eecsying smbsrs of
the fireplace The maiden thought
surely that if the strangers meditated
harm they would have been ere this on
The move and with the throbping
heart of her fear-laden bosom some " nat
Quoted she raked up the embers upon
the hearth, extinguished the lamp that
hung above the bar, and then taking
her candle she started for her room
Mareellins had passed through the
narrow entry, assembled the stairs, and
had her hand upon the latch Of her
own door when she was confronted by
one of her stranger guests.
''Do you want anything, sir?" she
asked, hardly conscious of what she
uttered, but using the phrase purely
from the force of habit.
eyes, pretty one, do" the man re-
turned. 81 want Alzorf7s strong box
''Mercy, sir! you would not rob us.
'sOh, no-not you. It's only those
baubles which belong to the convent
We want; so bestir yourself and show
us where they arc.
81 shall shrek, sir I shall cry out
for help" exclaimed .tarcelline, as she
essayed to start for the stairs.
"Oh, no, sweet one, tie villain re-
turned. Significantly pointing his pistol
at the girls head, and at that moment
he was joined by his companion, who
had just come from Lubin's room.
''Marcelline first thought of resist
ance, but she found that she conld gain
nothing by that; and, besides, the rob
bers not only threatened her life, but
they vowed that they would break in
every door and partition in the house
till they found the box. Under these
circumstances the girl thought it best
to reveal the hiding place of the box,
trusting, however, that something might
yet turn up to assist her, and accord
ingly led the way to the bar-leom, at
the back Of which WAS small apart
ment. Taking key from the money!
drawer she unlocked the door Of the
back room, and-poiuting to a small
closet in the further corner said:
"rhere, sirs, i'll that closet is the
monk box, but my master has the key
in his possession, and 50 if you would
open 1t you needs must force the lock
"You are ready with your wit, pretty
one" said one of the robbers as he cast
a scrutinizing glance at Marcelline'a
face. 81 fear to trust you too far, SC
you must excuse me if we just secure
you till after our job is completed.
As the man spoke he led the girl
back to the bar room, and, taking from
his pocket piece of stout cord, he
proceeded to lash her to chair. She
stoutly resisted, and even attempted to
utter cry, bat cloth soon stopped
her power of utterance, after which hel
! hands were lashed to the chair. After
| this the robbers took few tools frou
one Of their sacks and proceeded al
once to force open the stout close
door.
For 4 moment after Marcellme hac
been left alene she almost gave up i,
despair; but her womap's wit ,seol
came to her aid and CLEAN of hope
| lighted up her countenance. From
where the villains were at work they
could not see into the bar room, an,
after listening for moment or two. t,
assure herself that they were fairl,
busy, she moved her chair. noiselessl,
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