, 1875-01-03

hazards. II my patient has anything to asitate
her, it will he her DEATH"
| took David. who still remained about the
premises, into consultation. He frightened up
| when told him what intended to do, and en-
| tered heart and sonl into the enterprise. We
| we're to stand siege; twas necessary tolay our
plans carefully, and there was short time Tor pre-
| paratlon. At any time after daybraak the enemy
! might be upon US. In the first place, as to The
i outworks,-the stable and coachhouse,-thes
must be locked up, and the pony in some way
got nd OF. for it would be imposaible to feed
him during the blockade. David volunteered to
friend up in the bills. among whose pastures he
would be safe from possible capture. Then We
must get nd Of useless mouths Cook and
housemaid must 40 home for holiday, and
David undertook to get them out of the house.
It would be my business to look to tho inner
| defeoses Of the citadel.
| The house IVES long and low. with gable
| at each end, and q covered porch be-
tween: TIVE 3:;4., In one one ~. Of the gables vas
we're above that. The other wing contained
dining and drawing rooms. oyer which we're
our bedroom and the guest-chamber, with an
other small closet-bedrQom lighted from the
roof: NY own little snuggery was at the back
| On the ground-hoor. To this room and the
| kitchen determined to confne myself whilst
| the siege lasted. I went round tho. house,
therefore, with gim1et, ec1ews, and sorew-driver,
| fastening all tho windows, securely closing
| aud barring all the shutters. I mufned all the
bells in the house. There vas no knockar to tho
hall-door. the uppor part of which WAS glazed to
| give light TO the hall. The windows Of the upper
! rooma secured In the aame way, except that Of
| my wife's chamber and OF the bedroom I occu-
| pied myself, the catches Of which we're perfect
and closed BY strong springs. The back-door I
bolted and barred, but the hall-door simply
locked,-this to provide for sudden ingress or
egress on the part Of the garrison. These pre-
cautions taken, felt rather easier iu my mind,
and sat down to reflect upon tho conditions OF
! the contest and my relations Hith the outside
| wor1d.
| First, as to the supples-bread would be in
| di.pensable, and milk. For tile rest shere was
quarter Of mutton hanging in the larder, and the
cellar WAS pretty we'll stocked with WINE and ale.
| I had almost forgotten the necessity Of firing,
| and that our Goals we're kept III shed outside.
| Bringing this to min with start, took coal
| scuttle and pail, and brought into tho house as
much coal as would suffice for few days.
| consumption.
| David presently returned in high glee 1t
| having saved the pony from the enemy s hands,
aud to him conided the difficulty as to ths
bread and milk The latter lie undertook to
bring night aud morning in q can, and at q con-
celted aignal was to lower cord and hook from
| the upper window and hoist it up. Bread
| enough for three days supply he undertook to
| obtain.
Night dragged YEARLY OH long night Of
trouble and anguish for my poor wife. OF anxiety
| almost amounting to despair on my Own part.
Sns Was passing through the shadow OF death
| for my saA,, and could not put hand to help
her. The doctors face grew 9raver and graver:
tbs nurse cheerful and chatty at first, looked
| tagged and displrited. Strength Was becoming
exhausted, life hung in the balance, and every
| moment the balance was more uufayoraoiy H.
| clined.
a.f.z4 ;.~t -. 1-.v d.prr rea hraob;1y .
| piping, bsbbliug cry resoundel through the
house, announcing the advent Of q now life upon
| the earth.
SWELL" said the doctor, grasp,ng me heartily
| bv the hand, :" it's j fine boy, and We shall do
excellently now only perfect quiet. and still
| must not stop minute"
As t.stoed stood By ,hd hsr bedside ;oan with heF
couldn't speak word, or should have
tng gate slam to, and ssv, through crevice in
| the blind, two men coming down the gravel
drive. They separated at the ahrubbery, and
| one OF them concealed himself among the trees,
| whilst tho other made his way towards the hall
| door.
"Don't TO-" whispered Jane.
but the doctor orders it," And tore myself
away, aud hurried down. to the door. Just in
| time, The doctor had gone out for mouthE3i
OF freah air, and unwittiugiy left the door ajar
threw myself upon it, and it slammed to against
| the readv loot of Mr.. Norris, whose buriy form
was shsdoved agaiost The ground-glas names.
| Rap-a-ts;-tap went bis stick against the door.
| stton't trouble yourself to knock again.
whispered through the keyhole, a. for you shan't
como IN Then, warning the doctor OF what had
| examine tho fastenings. The aiege had COM
! menced.
! From the first moment that covered porch was
| q danger and trouble to the defense. Within it
cur aasailants could 1urk unobse1Ted. and 1t gave
| them a-shelter from the weather that ! was by
no means inclined to afford them. At the very
outset all my pains we're nearly frustrated. L
heard ringing sound upon tue pavement OF the
hail. and, running hastily thither, found that
the key had just fallen from the lock, and
aS anohss KY ora being ssvdaatT Isp da
plcare koys Of the doors, and the bailif
had made use of ono Of those little inatru-
ments known to housebreakers, by which the
end Of key within its lock can be seized and
turned round from the other side l Was Just N
time to place my foot against the door. whilst l
succeeded in putting the bar across. My heart
beat violently with excitement, and was tor
tured by the thought that somo forgotten pre-
caution might ruin everything But after tnia
silence reigned Everywhere through the house.
let the doctor out through the drawlng-room
window, which I Immediately secured. He had
undertaken to see Mr. Tranter, and trT to induce
him to Withdraw his men. He presently returned,
and spoke to me at the window OF my bedroom.
aNo use," he said softly; he'll have his
pound Of fesh."
The day passed heavily enough. It every
sound quivered and trembled, thinking that the
men had broken in. paced softly up and down
the house, Watching At every opening. After
aone hours Mr Morris went aWay a; !eavlas ait hae
forter twisted around his neck, and 4 battered.
greasy hat He forthwith began to pace about