Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-11-28
dark wet street. Al turned the
key in the lock, and sent up an un.

: dark wet street. Al J. turned th
} key in the lock, and sent up an un
uttered prayer for the little uncon
sciOus innocent l was abandoning
q fierce swell OF wind swept roun,
the corner and pierced my wrap
with an icy chill. ! waited no long
; er, but with fleet footsteps I dartes
J along the dark, asserted streets. %
: Winged by fear, the way was
passed swiftly, and l soon STOOD
} in the principal street. No lights
were visible save one, which as ad
vanced swiftly saw burned dimly
in my husbands office. Ino longer
needed assurance that -aomethiu0
was wrong. 1 hurried on, burst
recklessly into the dark passage,
used by other tenants as we'll as my
husband, and then, without . mo-
ment's pause, turned the lock and
stepped into my husbands odace.
Naturally timid, only the deadly
fear that possessed me could have
made me forget that l was perhaps
rushing into undreamed .of-dsnger.
As I opened the door the wind
rushed in, and the faint light flick.
cred and died out. I had thrust
matches in my pocket, upknoving
why, and a moment suficed to re-
kindle the light. As I did 80, faint
moan-a strange sound like An ami
mai in pain, struck my ear. A cold
shudder of fear crept over mo, but
I finished lighting the kerosene
lamp, and replacing the chimney
unbroken. 1t burned clear, aud |
gazed round tremblingly for the
cause of the strange sound had
heard, and, as I did so, noticed the
evident disorder Of the room, the
safe-door swinging open, and papers
scattered on the floor. I seemed to
notice without seeing them-t0 see
only my husband stretched pallid
and ghastly on the floor in the cor
her of the room.
"Oh, Bella! Bella ~ was all 1 said,
l think, but I knelt by his side and
strove with the cords that bound
him, with the gag thrust into his
bleeding mouth.
1 removed that first, and bathed
the death cold brow. In a moment
l heard him murmur word or two
with great difficulty, but they di.
rected my attention to his pockets,
in which I presently found knife.
with which l severed the cords. I
could not lift him. He was large
and tall, and the loss of his arm
made him very helpless. Besides
he had lain on tho severed limb,
and had endured agonies, and his
strength was much exhausted.
In my haste to call assistance l
ran out to the dark hall, from which
stairs rose to the second story, and,
in my reckless fight, encountered a
man who seemed to. have crouched
at their foot. screamed, and the
sound was heard, and followed by
the sudden opening of doors above.
The man rushed past me, and was
lost in the darkness of tho night
and the deserted streets. !
l went back and found Bella in
great agitation, struggling to rise.
"Has he gone9 Why don't they
try to catch him I" were his agitat.
ed questions, and, God forgive me,
1 deemed him losing his senses from
the fear and suffering he had un-
dergone. ." ..- .'- - |
Five minutes later the Office was
filed with men, he was raised to q |
seat, restoratives administered, and
he was able to speak. .''.t .' |
"Go after that man." he said wild
y-''ths robber, l mean. Did any
one see which way he wenti l just
saw him rush past the door," no
by way Of explanation,
when he saw that he was not un-
lerstood. In a moment half-a-doz'
IN men started in pursuit.
Then we gathered and secured
he papers and locked the safe and
office. Thousands Of dollars were
missing, and Bella looked ruin in1
;he face. He said little, but knew.
he agitation would be too much for
lin. A carriage was procured and
took us home, and friendly neigh.
,ors volunteered to take care Of tho
'lace, and conduct the pursuit.
"Tbere was bat one man." Bella
,aid che came in about nine o'clock
md began to talk Of . land claim,
md when l told him to come in the