Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-03-18

that my cries, if made any, could moi
be heard, and handkerchief was bound
over my mouth.
The door Of the wash-room was closed
and locked. Alice stood undiscovered,
then the light was blown out and tho ruff
fans left me, locking the door after them
There was a long silence. Outside
could hear the step of one of the men.
walking up and down, Watching. rub
bed my head against the wall behind mo,
and succeeded in getting the handkcr-
chief of my mouth, to fall around my
neck.
had scarcely accomplished this when
there was a tap on the inner door.
" Robert - Alice said.
"Yes, love Speak low, there is t
man under my window"
Are you alone in the room ?"
" Yes, dear"
" am going to Postvillc. There is no
man undor my window and | can got out
there. have six long rollor towels here,
knotted together, and have cut my skirt
into wide strips to join them. The rope
made so reaches nearly to the ground.
shall tasten it to the door knob and let
myself down. 1t viii not take long tc
reach homo, saddle Sclim and reach Post
Vile in time. Don't fear for mo. When
you hear hen cacklng under my win.
dow you will know | am safely ON tho
ground"
Little Alice My heart sobbcd hoav-
lily as heard her heroic proposal, but
dared not stop her.
Heaven bless aud protect YOU"
said, and listened for her signal. Soon
the cackling noise told me the FIRST step Of
her perilous undertaking was taken.
1t was dark, cloudy and threatening n
storm, and as nearly as ! could guess,
close upon nino o'clock. She had to go
six miles, and could only wait aad pray,
| was too much stunned even yet to real
izo the hcroism Of this timid woman,
starting alone upon the dark ride through
u wild country with n storm threatening.
Nine o'clock d! AS the bell of the old
church clock ceased to strike, II rumble,
ing rapidly. Oh, the long, long minutes
Of the next hour
Ten o'clock. The rain falling in tor
rents, the thunder poaling, the lightning
flashing Alice was so afraid of light
ming Often | had held her white ms
death, trembling, almost fainting, in such
storm rs this. Had she feared to start
with the storm in prospect, or was she
lying somewhere on the wild road, over
come by terror, or perhaps stricken by
lightning?
Eleven o'clock. Tho storm was over
though still tho night was inky black
no sound to cheer me, none to make the
hideous suspense moro endurable. a
host Of possibilities, like frightful night
mares, chased one another through my
tortured brain.
Would the next hour never pass ?
Once the clock tolled midnight all was
safe.
was drenchel with perspiraton wrung
from me by mental agony one hour, and
chilled with horror the next. No words
can describe the misery Of waiting as the
minutes dragged slowly along. In the
dead silence fitr-oh sound struck n thrill
of horror to my heart, for exceeding the
previous agony. Far, far away, "A faint
whistle came through tho night air
Nearer and nearer, then the distant rum
bic Of the train growing more and more
distinct.
The midnight up-train was coming
swiftly, surely, to certain destruction !
Where was my wife Had the rufiars
intercepted her at the cottage ? Was she
lying dead somewhere upon the wild road?
Her hcrosm was'Of no avail, but was her
life saved ? In the agony Of that ques-
ton the approaching rumble of the train
was partially lost far more did feel
the bitterness Of Alice dead than the
horror of tho doomed lives the train car
ried. Why had | let her start upon her
mad errand ?
| tried TO move, ard wrthed in impo-
tent fury upon my chair, forcing the cruel
cords to tear my 1esh rs | vainly tried to
loosen one hand.
The heavy train rumbled past the tele-
graph Office. 1t was an express train and
did not stop at my station but as lis
tened, every sense sharpened by mental
torture, it seemed to me that the speed
slackened. Listening intently, | knew
that it stopped at the embankment, as
nearly rs | could judge. Not with the
sickening crash | expected, not preceding
walls and groans from the injured pas
sengers, but gradually and carefully. A
moment more and / heard shouts, the
crack Of fire arms, sounds Of some con-
nict.
What could itall mean The minutes
were all hours, till heard key turn in
the door Of my prison, and n moment
later two tender arms were round my
neck, and Alice was whispering in my
ear:
"They will como in few minutes,
love, to set you free The villains left
the key in the door | thought Of that
before | started, bat there was a man at
tho front watching. l crept round the
house and | saw him, SO did not dare to
be seem"
&" But have you been to Postville ?"
Yes, dear"
In all that storm ?"
"Selim seemed to understand. He
carried me swiftly and surely. was
well wrapped in my waterproof cloak and
hood. When | reached Postyile the
t-,f 10. haI .