Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-02-18

weight, the hd was lifted, and then, a.
the instinct Of Misrepresentation over
came my terror, sppng to her assis-
tance. Whom or what had we caught |?
Imagine yourself holding down the lid
Of shownan's box, with . boa-constric-
tor wfithing beneath; or keeping q cage
top in its place by your weight alone.
!. with hyena struggling to bis way out
to deyour you. Rpt We were noSlong
n suspence. Horrid exccrations, half
Chairman, half -Engliih, chilled our very
3a1kfnSnu1 knew tkat thsaa, instho
midnight only the lid Of an old
chest was between ourselves and Hans
Schmidt.
At times it started up, and once or
twice his fingers were caught in the
opening. Then finding our combined
weight too much for his strength, it
would become evident that he was en-
deavoring to force out an end of the
chest. But he could not work toadvaa-
tage. Cramped within such limits, his
giant power of muscle was not wholly
available; he could neither kick nor strike
with full force; and hence his chief hope
rested upon his ability to lift US up lid
and all. Even then, in the absolute
terror that might have been supposed to
possess her, a queer feeling of exulta-
tion sprang up in Julia's heart.
4 was right, Mary,' she cried
They won't think me fool now, will
they? Ishan't be ashamed to see Har:
ry Irving!
Poor Julia under the circumstances,
the idea was really ludicrous; but ma
tUre viii everywhere assert herself, and
Julia hateda coward. Thump thump
thump! Lid, and side, and end alter-
nately felt the cramped, but powerful
blows. Then came the lift-tke steady
straining, desperate lift; and Julia cheer
cd me when the cover shook and rose
and trembled.
| He can't get out, Mary! We are
safe; only keep your full weight on the
lid; and don't he nervous either; it is
almost morning!
She knew it was not one o'clock.
But one o'clock came. How wish.
ed it was FIVE! And two o'clock cane.
and three; and we hoped that our pris-
oner had yielded to fate which must
now appear to him inevitable. A small
aperture at one end of the chest, where
there was fracture in the wood, sup
piled him with air; and hence we could
not hope that he would become weak
through syGocation. He was evidently
resting from the very necessity Of the
case, for bis exertions had been prodisi-
Gus. There was faint streak Of morn
ing in the sky, and there, upon the
chest, we sat and watched for the CLEAN
to broaden.
Suddenly, there was tremendous
struggle beneath us, as if the ruffian
had concentrated all his energies in a
final effort. At my end of the chest
there was a crash, and Immediately the
German's feet protruded through the
aperture that they had forced in the
board. So horrible now appeared our
position, that uttered \ scream, such
as do not think ever at any other
time have had power to initiate. did
not know that / was about to scream,
SO terrible was the fright of which this
was the involuntary outburst.
To get off the lid, in order to defeat
the movement through the chest.end,
would have instantly been our destruc-
tion; therefore, still bearing ourweight
on the cover. we caught at the proiec-
ting feet. In doing this, however, We
partially lost our balance; and a sud.
den bracing up of the muscular share be.
low so far forced open the lid, that the
head, arms and shoulders of Hans
Schmidt were thrust forth. and, with a
fearful clutch, he seized Julia by the
throat. Horriied by the spectacle,
lay partially upon the chest.
Just then, q heavy crash was heard
at the door below, the foot-trampss spring.
ing towards us as if some person were
tearing up tie staircase with the full
conviction that this was an hour of
need. The dim daybreak hardly re-
veaied his identity, as he rushed into our
room; but had faint perception that
young Harry Irving had come to us in
our peril.
i Sometimes during the morning l
found myself in bed, with Julia and
several of the neighboring women stan
ding about me. Julia clasped me in her
arms, and cried, she was so reioiced
that the fright had not killed me.
!. we are safe, Mary she said. .Har-
~ Irving was near the house all night.
lie returned, after seeming to 60 home.
1t was not right, he said to himself, for
us % remain here all night, especially
Is our father was known to have mon
, ey il the house. So be kept out of our
sight, but remained near The least
scream he would have heard, as he al
, last heard yours; but / am glad you
did not scream before, for now we have
, had an experience, and know what we
: can do. 1t was tedious; but 1 don't
r wish to be thought afraid of my shad.
: cw, and I'm glad We had to held the
r chest down good while.
Hans Schmidt had evidently decided
upon the chest as safer hiding place
, than that in which Julia first discover.
/ ed him. Upon the very morning or
: which Harry Irving stunned and Sc
, cured the ruffian in our room, the Off.
. GERS Of justice were searching for th,
E old Hessian scoundrel, as q supposed
{ murderer, and he was soon convictei
, and hung.
Julia became the wife OF Harry Irv
ing, and most excellent wife she was
Magnarnimcus and unrevengeful, sh,
F. was perhaps the only one who felt Nd
Qualification at the fate Of old Han.
: Schmidt, but rather a pity for the ig
: norance which had sseersd him in crime