The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-01-01

After 4 few minutes more of con
vcrsation, Abbie asked
Ii the money should be stolen
how would you ever manage TO re.
place it?
!, | don't think | would have to re
place it at all, he replied l rcmem.
Der Capt. Birney had ten thousand
dollars stolen from him some time
ago, and in consideration Of hts faith
fnl services, he was released from all
Obligations. Of course, however.
that would make no difference in the
degree OF care with which I guard
that in my trust.
Oi course not, sans his wife.
| Le'o'u ,sa.nf-,, Jo-. 5ts,@ 4,s.-e.-
that he was engaged in a speculation
which he was confident had succeed
ed, aud which would give him qnite
fortune; and then. my dear, we
can 20 cas-, aud live among civilized
people again
But We are very happy rs We are,
she replied; and oh Joel I don't
hike your spcculatins Suppose You
should lose?
But | can't lose anything OF i'm
n,r,o,no bo c,;l o,J 9, ,lyn,, ,,,>
Epromsc this Shall he ,nc last time,
whether | win or not.
All, we'll had the poor wife cause
to remember every incident Of that
parting.
After Joel had kissed his child, a
biigh, lvtlc hoy, good by, no turned
TO Ahhie, saying
Now, darling, don't be afraid; rc
member you have II revolver in your
drawer, aircaiy loaded, in case OF an
attack.
\ few moments more, and he was
gone.
The day passed. slowly enough;
and with the approaching darkness
dread accumulated in Abbic's mind.
In consequence OF Joel's absence,
Susan, who usually slept il small
house in the yard, was to pass the
nigh, in A room adjoining Abbie's. -
The mistress supelinleu,lpa the clos
ing o! the house herself; and, after
carefully noting that all the doors
ami windows were locked or boltel.
the two returned up stairs and sep.
aratrd
Abhic opened the drawer, anl
took cut the pistol which her bus
band had !elt. Clrelessly examining
it, she noted with surprise that i, was
!nalel only with powder.
Why, this is strange she mur.
marcd. Joel forgot 10 put IN any
balls. It's fortunate that | looked,
for now can rcc,iIy his mistake.
The weapon was soon properly
charged an! returned to the drawer,
when the little woman slowly relir.
cd
AS was quite natural under the
circumstances, Abbic had an attack
OF the nightmare, which awokc her
after an uneasy s!umber ol a few
hours. She sat on the edge oil the
bed, near the window, to compose
herself, and gazel out into the moon
light. She remained thus tor per.
haps an hour, and was about to re.
tire again, when she eau sht a glimpse
OF a dark figure darling from ciump
OF shfubbery, uader the shed of the
porch. Abb.e nearly tainted with
fright, but soon recovered herself
Her first impulse was to awaken
Susan, but an insiant's reflection
changed her mind. Susan, she hastily
reasoned, would probably make suf-
ficient noise to alarm the robbar, and
then render very little assistance
She was confident that the Iobber,
whoever he was, would stop at no
ends to carry our his purpose; and, it
alarmed, he might kill them both -
SO. hastily throwing shawl about
her shoulders, aud congratulating
herself upon the discovery Of the TN
loalad state Of the pistol, she seizci
that weapon, and breathing prayer
TO Heaven for help softly opened the
door, passed through, and coMmenc
ed to descend the stairs. In order
to proceed noiselcssly, she was com
pcllea to go very slowly; and she
had net taken three steps before n
slight creak informed her that the
intruder had. by some means, man
asel to open the front door 1t was
| eppressively dark; hut sudden ray
| which shot through tho key olo Of
the unlocked door between the par.
lor and the little passage, ihtlicatel
the possession Of bright light by
tho robler, who ha] entered the
room through an opposite door
which opened on tho porch.