Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-11-22

SldSS u IdCc lOOhIuS III tiC NluuOW. IL
was an instant of terror, but neither
screamed nor moved.
The face could not see my face. and
l kept my body still. and rolled the
long shining rings off my cold, white
fingers. 1t was an ugly face, and
recognized it, l had seen it that
morning. and knew what lay before
me. l prayed 'inwardly brief prayer
for help. -. ~. p
Turning from the glass, l went
steadily toward table that stood near
that window, and on which ! had left
my candle. / moved steadilvas usual,
and took up the water-pitcher and
looked in it, then took my candle and
went toward the kitchen.
The lightning kept flashing, but the
face did not come again. dropped
my candle on the kitchen hearth and
put my foot on the wick. l set down
the pitcher ON the dresser, and with
soft, light football FASTENED through
the west room up the front stairs, into
my fathers chamber, and softly closed
and bolted the door at the head of the
stairs. / unlocked his box, took out
both the bags Of gold, relocked it. and
made my way into the great chamber.
I heard voices; heard the doors
tried below. knew it was not my
father. | dared not trelnble nor grow
faint. l went through that room and
two others to the garnet stairs. |
hardly breathed. / heard window
push up more than one person came
in at it. felt about me in the dark.
There was sliding panel in the inside
of the stairway. | pushed it and it
rolled back. / entered into long
closet under the stairs. and slid the
panel carefully into its place. l felt
cautiously to see if all was safe. i
pulled my dress close about me lest it
might be caught, and the door not
closed tight. Then l waited I heard
steps coming up the stairs. L heard a
search through all the rooms below.
Ny heart beat till I thought that each
bound must be audible. | heard voices
ore voice, the Ravens. | knew that
harsh croak. 1t told me nothing. The
face had revealed all to me. The man
had seen the bag Of gold as he leaned
over the wall in the morning, UNI
noticed by the gay group. 1t was all
plain to me. He had gathered from
the girls talk that | might be alone
He had returned and watched. He
had brought accomplices.
Very soon the steps and voices came
my way. l could distinguish the
words that were spoken.
"Drat her! She must have seen
you"
mo matter; weTl split the box
open with this AK
knew the AK was in the little
porch. Thomas had set it in when he
had done chopping the brush, as it
looked like rain.
heard the steps and voices move
away, dull, crashing sound, and then
stined, angry tones. l knew they had
opened the box, and found nothing but
the papers. | knew they would now
search for me. ~
/ heard them as they looked into ev-
cry room and closet, and came up the
stairs separate. They all met at the
foot of the garret-staiFs. A thick
board was between us. / thanked
God that the panel was close shut.
l knew it, for no ray of light came
through.
"She must be up here" said the RAJ
Ven, "and we'll soon have her."
|. "I'll warrant she is here, and I'll
wiring her neck il she makes a noise
about it,"
But the thorough search was end
ed, and the voices grew very angry,
and full of frightful oaths and threat
enings.
They sat down on the garnet stairs to
hold a parley. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal tear.
1t was with a great effort that ! kept
from screaming.
Come" croaked the Raven, '.let
us go and get the silver; that will be
something-that win be something"
Curse the silver. It's the gold
Eve come for, and IN barn the house
if don't find the girl. SO let herlook
outr'
a cold perspiration came on my
forehead. Would tiay perform their
threat? rt ~
"Good! Then the rats will squeak,
Down drop the meney-bags,' and
We'll choke the girl to make her
dumb" q -rf
"Hold your noise The old man
will be coming home. Wen be caught
here. BE quick
"Who cares for him, He's only one.
A bludgeon will give him handy lit
tie headache as he comes in.
land his wife ~
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. ] was almost
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. 1t was horrible there