The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-02-19


and the sky that had been so bright and
blue in the morning soon became clouded
and overcast. The wind too got up with
an ominous sound every thing, in short,
betokened coming storm. went into the
house, ard had hardly taken off my bonnet
and shawl before the first drops of rain be-
gan TO patter down against the windows
With the falling of the rain sort of indies
cribable depression seemed to come upon
me, and do what l would could not shake
it off In vain l tried the piano, a favorite
book, my work-it was of no use; it seemed
to settle more and more upon me as the
evening advanced.
''At last, by ten o'clock, I could stand it
NJ longer. and, telling my maid | should
not want her again, | went up stairs to
my bed room. On entering, | locked the
door behind me, and mechanically laid the
key on tue mantle piece. ] sat down be-
fore the looking,gltss and began to brush
my hair, and thinking the while of how
my husband got on, and what was the
earliest hour | might reasonably expect
him back the next day. Happening to
raise my eyes, saw a hand creep from be-
hind the curtains of the bed, silently take
the key from the mantle piece, and disap-
pear again. How RETAINED from shrek
ing out on seeing this | scarcely know.
For a moment ! felt completely sick with
fear, and nay face, reflected III The glass,
appeared to me gbastly. But it WAS not
for long, however once more my heart
began to beat, and the awful reality OF my
position suddenly flashed upon me. With
n presence of mind that was quite unnatural
to me, I continued brushing my hair as
though [ had seen nothing, while a hun
dred reflections rushed through my mind.
There | was alone and unprotected, locked
up in room with an unknown being who
had hidden himself-God only knew for
what purpose. To have shown the least
alarm or suspicion of his presence would
have been TO court immediate death for
| felt well assured that one who had taken
the trouble to secrete himself would have
been deferred 10y no scruples to gain his
own ends. What was to do? 1t is true
that my husbands dressing-room opened
ouC of my bedroom but there was no
other outlet from it, and the key more
over was in the bed room side of the door.
SO | discarded that idea i'll despair. Then
l thought of sitting up and reading all
night but this, too, would be of no use !,
for, even supposing ! could keep awake
the ruilian would soon lose patience, and l
would have to face him. Fa. better, then,
to go to led, simulate sleep, and trust to
Providence for the rest. Accordingly
put out the light, and with a beating hcait
as | neared the spot where | knew he was
concealed, | crept to bed. To have told
me not to go 10 sleep would have been so
Tn'1ch breath wasted, for l never felt less
/ inclination to do SO. The Pickering of the
freight enabled me todisccrn the saITound-
ing objects, while without the incessant
pattcr OF the rain, as il fell from the caves
seemed TO make the silence more oppress-
i've. BY degrees | began to breathe little
heavily, and at regular intervals, as one
just dropping OF TO sleep, and l even went
SO far as to feign to snore. After | had
lain like this for what seemed to me hours
but what could not really have been more
than twenty minutes, a slight motion be-
hind the curtain told me that at last nv
enemy was about to come out. | imtue
diately closed my eyes and only Just in
time, for the next instant l felt that he
was bending over me to ascertain whether
L was really asleep.
Having assured himself ON this point.
he went TO the window, opened it, and gave
low whistle. Another minute, and lad
der was placed against the sill and soon
second man was standing by the Grst
then perceived .hat both wore black masks,
and | heard the one who Just entered ask
the other Thetherth the old gal had twigced
anything.
No. he answered; she went t., bed
as quietly as a new born lamb
"'Ihen let's set to work at once
with these words, to my great JOY.
saw them going toward my husbands
dressing room. But l had counted NV
chickens too soon, for one OF them. turning
back, came and flashed the candle before
my eyes, as if to convince himself that my
sleep was unfeigned. To keep still during
this ordeal was most trying; for had be-
trayed the slightest consciousness of his
presence. or otherwise moved i'm the least.
1t would have been all up with me. Seem
ingiy satisfied, he rtjoined his companion,
and heard them rifle the plate chest, which
had been placed there for greater security,
with no unworkmanliie hands. All at
once an idea flashed across my mind how,
if by getting out of bed quietly, | could
reach the door, turn the key upon them,
and so catch them in complete trap?
@No sooner thought of than done /; gents
ly | turned back the clothes and glided
from the bed. As my foot touched the
floor the clock was striking the arst strokes
OF twelve, and though, heard in the far
distant the thud of a horses gallep. Trae