The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-17


she had slept so long that morning must be
near, when she awokc with an ineXpiicablc
feeling of fright--a feeling Of something, or
some one, near her.
"What is lt?" she cried, starting up in the
bed, and instinctycly catching the sleeping
child in her arms.
No answer.
Only n distinct sound of breathing, and
then of a movement like hand feeling along
the wa,l-turard her.
She began to trembc violently; nothing
but the presence of the child on her painting
bosom saved her from ialnting.
WHO is it," she cried, her voice so shaking
and hollow that it awakened Ruth, who chung
to her, sleepy and scared.
This time she had answer.
"Wc will do you no harm" voice spoke
out of the darkness, "if you give up that mo
ncy you've got" And then, before Mrs, Fer
gusson could muster courage and breath TO
sneak, another voice, out of the room, appa,
rentlv, added in a rough under-tonc And
tell her TO look sharp about it, zoo"
"TV0 If Mcm! OGod help me-" she whiS.
pcred to herself aud Ruth began to break III
to screams and sobS.
Keep that brat quiet angrily muticrcd
the voice on the landing, land don't keep lis
here all night .,
Now surely if ever woman was in ms
cradle plight Mrs. FERGUSON was that woman
Not a house nearer than the Hollands, "A tulI
quarter ola mile off; no soul near to help,
for Jane, who worked hard by day, slept hard
by might, and slept, moreover i'll queer III,
tie room at the very top of the house; all
alonc-worsc than alone, utterly helpless ana
a woman who confessed to the usual feminine
share of COWardlcc.
sin she drew her breath, and there flashed
from her heart u cry for help and then, for a
few bricfmcmcnts, She Mought-thoughtW with
All her mind and soul--was there any way
Tor her out of this?
And her reason told her there was none.
Come" said the voice in her own room,
"Tm goodtcmpcred chap enough, but my
mates IN hurry: don't provoke him. Look
alive, and tell US where TO find the swag-mO
ney!'
She groancd and shook, and all her limbs
turned cold, us the voice drew 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 year! Heavy drops
ran down her shaking form, her hands turn
ed numo, and her lips clammy and cold,
while the beating of her heart was like the
quick tolling Of a bcll--loudCr, loudcr-!ill
it dcafcnCd her,
"Ill find way to make her speak, growl-
ed the second voice Here's another kid in
the room" Then, in one instant, a thin
streak of light shot across the landing, and
the next
mother, mother, MoTnER,' shriekcd Ro-
sizes voice; and at that sound Ruth rcdOub.
led her cries, and the unhappy mother sprang
up, clasping one child, mad to protect the
other
"Silcncc, YOU fool" said the man by her,
speaking harshly for the fret time. You'll
drive that fellow yOndCr to do the child a
mischief, if you won't do as tell you. Keep
down, won't you?" For she was struggling
wildly to pass him. 10 get across the room to
ROsic-ROsie, whose cries were sounding
strangely stihcd 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 a vice, the man held her fast,
while with the other hand he turned on the
light from "A small lantern slung at his side.
She lifted her eyes slowly, as fearing whom
she might see; but there was little enough
visible of the burglars faCe--a wide hat, n
thick reddish beard, and loose rough gray
coat were all she saw.
"Now," said the man, you're plucky
enough for woman, but | can't waste all
the night talking to YOU" and then he gave
her look that made her shiver from head
To foot anew. Bundle those two brats OF
yours into one bed, and come and get us what
we want.
She seemed power!ess now, and her very
Iyr La of. In
tall dark figure, over the landing, into Rosic's
room,
"Oh, my chidw cried the poor woman,
and cssavCd 10 run 10 the little bed where lay
he small figure, pinloncd down 10y the heavy
rrasp Of "a taller, darker man than her own
'aptor.
"Haud, Of, mi,sus,' growlcd the ialler,
while Rosie, uttered cries Of mingled fright
md 10Y, wri,hcd and twisted like an eel to
Zip into her mothers arms.
Glands OF now. just put the other one in
acre with this one, and I'll turn the key ouI
EN- both, while You take US yondcr to what
we're looking after
No choice again but to obey: two passion
,tc kisses and low God keep you;' and
between the two men she was marched from
he room, followed by the children's pititul
,rics, their wild, frightened sobs.
As she passed ont, May ~ she asked,
atching at shawl which hung over chair
They asscntcd, shortly, and she wrapped It'll
ound her shiycring figure, and prepared toI
axe them tn where their booty lay. She led
hem down The first short flight of stairs tot
he door which. rs we have already said, was
arty ovcrhung with Il curtain. THIS door
pcned into room which had been used by
lr Fergusons predecessor as an oratory. In
deep recess. at the further end, had been
laccd "A small altar, upon which had stood IA !
all, bright crucitiX. But now the room was
ARE and almost empty. The doorS-tor there
,crc two-fuStcncd with a spring on being
ushed 10, and could only be opened by al
and accustomed 20 the task, and they also
'crc furnished with heavy bolts on the out
idc; one door opened on the landing; the
ne other, smaller one, in one side of the
nccSs at the further end, led into a bedroom.
Here rs the kitchen clock below struck
ne hour of three, stood the strange trio-ihc
lufllcd, disguised men, the trembling, white
icCd woman.
But one of them carried light the other
al left his lantern outside.
Now" SAID the darker Of the men, heres
be- room YOU say. We can finish this bust
.. 80. 90. ,.,;.l. - and d. otIgI with "a rlt