The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-12
The Tax-coIlectof,s Wife.


low, and were heavy with water and
with mud that had splashed upon them.
The clouds were still dark and threaten-
ing, bespeaking a stormy night. The lit
tie town OF Ashton, in Virginia, was un-
usually quiet. The streets were too
muddy and the weather too inclement to
entice people from their homes. Only
now and then solitary traveller was to
be seen.
|, In vine-wreathed cottage on flower
sprlnkled lawn the supper had been
waiting an hour for the master of the
house, whose business had reoessitated
his being absent from home all day. Mr..
Jacobs was the tax collector OF the dis
trict, and consequently did not wait the
return of pleasant weather before pur-
suing his journey. Therefore, he had
equipped himself In his India rubber
overgarment in the morning, and had
gone about his business, leaving his wife
the promise Of an early return in the
evening; but supper time had come and
gone Without his making his appearance.
Mrs, Jacobs, however, was not anxious
as yet. Such delays were too frequent
to cause this one to give her any uneasi-
ness OF mind.
She fitted about the house, busy with
evening duties, singing q gay song as
she went, with world OF courage writ
ten in her dark, sparkling eyes.
Anon she disrobed her little ones and
Pdt them to bed; and when the night
shadows turned into an inky blackDess
she seated herself by the lamp and De-
gan to work, still leaving the supper
table spread, and the food on the stoye
| keeping warm tor the return OF her hus-
band. But the little clock on the MANTLE
shelf had told the hour Of ten before his
step was heard at the door. He came i'll
hurriedly, and strobe to a seat without
removing his dripping outer garments.
II must go to Richmond Tonight" he
said, in answer to his wife's questioning
look.
10 Richmondy" repeated his wife in
dismay. "fwenty miles in the storm"
| "Can't be helped" be returned. "Bus-
mess is business, you know"
| He removed his hand from his pocket
and took off his hat, and brushed back
his fair hair, revealing the handsome
face of light-compleXlOned middle-aged
man. lie had large gray eyes, but they
" ore an anxious expression, and their
glance wandered restlessly about the
apartment.
sJane," he said, suddenly, again div
| ing his hand into his troublesome
pocket, edo you suppose you could take
charge of large sum OF money until to-
morrow z"
"Why, yes" she answered, in surprise.
81 have collected $5, ,000," he continued /;
''it IS TOO late 10 get the sum into bank,
and | do not care to carry 81 much with
me-"
"Well, you can leave it here as well
as not. No one would think OF my hay-
ing such sum OF money"
| He drew large wallet from his pocket
| ,Nth m Nan
s'IL belongs to the government, and it
you let it pass from your hands am
ruined" he added.
| And he rose as if to depart.
"You are going to eat some supper?'
she inquired.
"No, [ have no time to lose. / must
reach Richmond by midnight. Good-by (.
Take good care OF The money, and tasten
all the DOORS"
He gave her hurried kfss, and was
gone.
scarcely died away before Mrs. Jacobs
Ebegan 10 feel a strange lear creeping
over her. Why it was she knew not.
She had lived here seven years, and
slept there many night without the
doors being even shut. Now they were
locked and bolted, she couid not think
Of going 10 bed. She was too nervous
Ter that.
She was likewise too nervous to work
| She put the money in the pocket OF her
dress, and ciasping it tightly in her
hands she sat very still, gazing anxious-
ly into hUthingn ess, and listening 50 in-
tently that silence became fearful
mingling OF discordant sounds in her
ear.
An hour passed. 1t had been an age
| ta q lA
was not The rain, for there was a perfect
lull in the storm. Ii could not be a
neighbor, Tor she lived on the outskirts
of the village. some distance from any
one, and she was not likely 10 be called
up IN ease OF sickness.
Agaisl she heard it. 1t seemed as If a
window sash had been SLOWLY raised.
Strange that she should have 1orgoGten
to iasten them DOWN.
"Why didn't John leave me his reyolv.
Ier?' she mused. 81 have nothing with
which to protect myself in case should
be molested tonight. 1t was really All
oversight in him."
Again she heard the sound. 1t seemed
to come from the bedroom. 1t was sure
ly the raising sash. Then there was the
sound OF a movement as though some
one was entering that way.
Fear nearly paraliZed her for mo-
ment, but she quickly rallied, and taking
up the lamp, proceeded to investigate
the matter. she had scarcely opened
the door when she started back with q
i half-suppressed scream. Two men in
hideous DISCUSSES were already in the
room, and third ruffian was in the act
of crawling through the window. In
voluntarily She clutched the pockei
(which contained the money, thinking
meanwhile how she would protect her
self and it. Alasl she had nothing but
her own weak hands to fight the battle
and she we'll knew how powerless they
were compared with the strength of The
enemy.
"What do you want hereS' she asked
in falteriug voice.
"We want the $4,000 which you have IL
keeping for your husband," said one O
them.
They knew that she had it in her pos.
session.
"You can get no money from me-" she
said, decisiyely; 81 have no money"
s'A pretty little tib," he responded
"We will just look into your pocket an6
see."
In her eagerness to preserve her treas
ure she clutched the pocket OF her dress
with both hands, thus unconsci0usly be
traying its Whereabouts.
She turned pale when the knowledge
of her thOIlRhtle6SueSs was revealed IL