Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-23

wards, but it passed with no thought a
the time.
When went to bed, lay for Ions
Time restless. then sunk away 10 Sleep.
or partly. think it was near twelve
O'Clock when hand on my mouth. and
a whisper at my ear aroused me.
"lIush, Miss, dearl net wori-not
I noise!"
"Oh Calhleen! is it you? What's the
-
ale. md int the bed wild We. Miss,
dear, for the.love OF lIiven, an III tell
ye. Quick now"
She pushed mo along and slipped
under the clothes on the edge of tho bed.
Then, with her hands still On my mouth
to stiile any uu,imely ejaculation, she
pat her lips TO my ear. Miss Agnes,
woh ye behave it?-but Mike Rusher's
cOwardly. wicked thafc an its myself
as hur him bit ago. whis,lin' under
his breath out of the wiady; an whn
the cloc's on twelve ht'l open tho door
TO lot Nv thayes au' clithroats, an
what not, an we'l be robbed an like
enough murdered. An it's near the
time, sure barrin' quarter Nv q hour. y
| can truly say | never before came
broad awake in so quick q timo. |
turned slowly cold from head to ioot
When danger comes in the daytime, we
have The comfort of light and the use of
our eyes; but in the night, when every
nook and corner is black, and familiar
objects take strange shapes and shadows
and there isa grim silence over tho
house, that may be broken at any time
by steallhY steps. or pistol shots. aud
yoH lie in your bed and feel danger
dcAwing steadily nearer-nearer-ugb!
| VOLT think of il. feel that same
chill now IS wiite.
'Whathl we do. Miss2 For it's q
tearin' shame, an that wretch of thafe.
Nike Rlshet! We'l have to be spry!"
Thought Of making q defence OF her
masters property, tho brave girl! How
she pat me 10 shame, lying shivering
there, only considering how | might get
safely out Ct the house 10 The nearest
neiSh5o;s. WIKI desperate resolution
Islt up.
"OI with some cloihos," said l to
Kathleen
'Jisi yer dark wrapper over ser night
gown, miss. deat where is i ?' said she,
saltohiag it from the chair. that | in IL
cI,ed and thrusting in my arms. "Now
give me yer long waterproof, to hide me
white clothes; an now some slippers in
your hand, miss; no, not Gn yer Iset yit.
lark, now II We listened-the door
WAS 4 IT. Kathleen, not moment idle,
thrust pillow into my place. and ar
ranged the bed-clOlhes to simulate \
human form in the dim light. All this
took place in sbaGl three inmates. No
sound from The hlll. Kathleen seized my
arm.
Miss, dear. I'm g1in' 70 lhry to get
out the library windy, iuto the lilacs, au'
run for the station. There's mostly Il
10, OF police there; its quite ways. but
III g1 like deer. Ic)uld 60 q1icier'n
you, bl, q lick. Yol must stay by the
library wiady to see that wo git 10 all
right"
"l'll stay" said promptly. But oh,
what sinking OF the heart To be left
alone ct milnigh. in a house tonanted
by burglars. where my lilO would pay
the forfeit of discovery
Come down quick. thia," said Kath-
leen; "If w1'll only git d1Sn before
Mike comes along. an he'll not be far off
now. sure"
We started. The padded stairs and
Ayminslcr oIrps:s gave No sound OF our
bare feet. Du. oh. the dread of meeting
Nike Rlsher in the dirk! for he was
probably patrolling the house. We got
as far as the big closet under the stairs
in the lower hall, when we heard the
click of the night.lock, aud tuning, saw
dimly outlined against the upper glass
OF the door, Nike Rlsher's low crowned
hat and burly shoulders. We had barely
missed Of him 10 the dark. Inslinc!ively
we knew what he was opening the door
for. Kalhleen's fngers clutched nay
wrist.-there was black and blue spot
there for week alteri We stole softly
along the hall 10 the open si,ting.room
door. hurried across into the library,
carefully closing the dor of communi
cation after us. The window sash slid
easily, and Kaih' cen p'rolsi an instant
on the sill while she whiipared. Keep
dark, now. miss dear. an il they like
to tind.ye aGore con}, cat an run for
yer life"
Then she dropped to The ground in
spite of herself, making rustling in the
lilacs; slipped across the walk on to the
soft grass iu the shrubbery, and was
gone. Not a momelt too soon.
AsI orouohed close to the sill, behind
q bio lounging chair, l heard second
rustle of the lilacs, and q low remark,
seemingly not more than two feet from
mo