The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-12-07

about it.
But the thorough search was ended,
and the voices grew very angry and full
of frightful oaths and threatenings.
They sat down on the garnet stairs to
hold a pariey. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal fear.
1t was with great effort that I kept from
screaming.
''Come," croaked the Raven, s'let US
go and get the silver that will be some
thing"
Course the silver. It's the gold I've
come for, and I'll burn the house if I
don't find the girl So let her look
out ~
A cold perspiration came on my fore
head. Would they carry out their
threat
''Good Then the rats will squeak,
and we'n choke the girl to make her
| Dumb
"Hold your noise. The old man will
be coming home. Well be caught here.
Be quick"
"Who cares for him. He's only one.
A bludgeon will give him handy little
headache as he comes in.
"And his wife p
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. I almost was
ready to call aloud, to open the panel,
to give them the gold, and bid them go.
They got up, and the steps and voices
| went down. It was horrible there in the
dark. I was sitting. I moved the panel
slightly. No light entered. l slid it
softly back. My resolution was taken.
7 would get out of the house, run down
the road, and meet my father. I would
save him. I left the gold in the closet,
shutting it in close. I stole down two
steps into the chamber below. I knew
there was window open there. I crept
across the room, listening keenly. I lift
ed myself cautiously on the window
ledge, and caught branch of the cherry
Swinging myself lightly out, I hastily
| descended the trunk of the tree, and
found myself on the ground safe.
No. The lightning flash betrayed me.
The Ravens voice shrieked, hoarsely
s.There she goes Catch her Quick!
This way!''
Out 81 the front door came the pur-
suefs, hardly ten steps from me. I
dashed toward the thick shrubbery to
put them off the track. Fortunately [
knew the way, every step of it. They
were guided solely by the sound and
flashing light.
ssShoot her by the next flash l'' cried
one.
My flying feet struck loose boards. I
was passing directly over an old, unused
well, very deep, and it gave back hol-
low, resonant sound. Almost the next
moment I heard crash, the report of a
pistol, a heavy fall, oaths, and deep
groan. Shuddering, L sped on through
the garden, up toward the cider press,
over the stone wall, down the hollow,
up the hillside, over the fields. No steps
followed no voices shouted after me.
ran down to the second bars and let them
down. It began to rain few great
drops, then fast, then it poured. was
wet to the skin. I ran oD, for I heard
advancing wheels coming rapidly. l
stood in the road and cried +: "Father |
father p The chaise stopped. Another
chaise behind stopped also. 1t was our
next neighbor's who lived quarter of a
mile further on.
'sAnn, my child. Good heavens
What is the matter What has happen
ed 2"
L told the whole in few words, amid
eager exclamations of Joy at my safety,
of surprise, even of anger, because Tho
mas had left me alone.
s'Don't blame him, father; I insisted
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place.
My father was very brave. Our neigh
bor was very tinid. He proposed go
ing on to his house and returning with
weapons. In the mean time L had got
into the chaise and crouched down at
my mothers feet, who was half crying
and wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on, and came to our gate I'M
der tho willows. There were lights in
the house, but all was still. Nothing
moved. My father put the reins in my
mothers hands, and opened the other
gate that led up the lane.
'sWil you go home with Nathan?"
said he.
"And leave you here !? No."
''Take your wife home, Nathan, if you
will, and come back
s'We will stay by you.
'sLet us reconnoiter, then, little.'
They got out, leaving us sitting still.
The rain fell less heavily. They got
something that would do for weapons
from the Toulouse. The went all round
the house-all was quiet. They went
in. We sat still, speaking few words,
MY hand clasped in my mothers.
Thomas is coming!" / exclaimed,
eagerly. s'I hear the wheels"
We called to him as he came to the
gate, for he could not see Us. He drove
through and called out
ssWhat is the matter ?'
We told him sufficiently, and he left
Betsey and Hannah, and went in at once,
with only the heavy whip. We did
not sit long. Nathan came out directly.