Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-12-14

SNfeiNN VIZ "tAoO"os bC ldi ~
mirror reflected me as | turned ava,
to cross the room, and stopped /;
moment with natural vanity. for
was young ard fair envnyh 10 look
upon.
let all MY hair fall loose, an,
wound it in long, shining, brow
urls over my fingers. Il certain
did look handsome, tor it was vel
hick. and fell below my waist, an.
.ured almost of itself as it fell. Thel
came great flash of lightning, az
! saw distinctly reflected in the glas
a face looking in at the window. I:
vas an instant of terror, but l neithe,
scream ed nor moved. The face
could not see my face, and I kept m,
body still, and rolled the long, shin
ing rings off my cold, white fingers,
1t was an ugly face, and | recognized
it. | had seen it that morning, and
| knew what lay before me- l pray
ed inwardly brief prayer for help.
Turning from the glass, I went
steadily toward a table that stood
near the window. and on which | had
left my candle. [ moved steadily as
usual, and took mp the water pitcher
and looked in, then took my candle
and went towards 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. | set down the
pitcher on the dresser, and with soft,
light football Mastered through the
west room mp the front stairs, into
my fathers cham Der, end softly Gloss
ed 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; I heard the doors
tried below. l knew it was not my
father. I dared not tremble nor grow
faint. I went through that room and
two others to garnet stairs. hard
ly breathed. heard window push
ed up; more than one person came in
at it. | felt about me in the dark.
There was sliding panel in the in-
side Of the stairway. pushed it,
and it rolled back. | entered into
long close under the stairs, and slid
the panel carefully into its place. /
felt cautiously to see if all was safe.
| pulled my dress close about me lest
it might be caught, aud the door not
closed tightly. Then | waited. !
heard steps coming up the stairs. !
heard a search through all the rooms
below My heart beat till thought
that each bound must be audible,
heard voices voice, the Raven.
| knew that harsh croak. 1t told me
nothing. The face had revealed ali
TO me. The man had seen the bag Of
GOLD as he leaned over the wall in the
morning, u1noticed by the gay
or mp. 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 &C
completes. Very soon the steps and
voices came my way, | could dis
tlnguish plainly the words that were
spoken.
"Drat herl she must have seen
YOU"
"No matter; we'll 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
I heard the steps and voices move
away, dull, crashing sound, and then
strihed angry tones. knew they
had opened the box, and found Moth
ing but the papers. l knew they
would now search for me. | heard
them as they looked into every room
and closet, and came up the stairs
separate. They all met at the foo;
OF the garnet stairs A thick board
was between us. thanked God that
the panel was close shut. l knew it.
for no ray of light came through.
GShe must be up here" said the
Raven, land we'll soon have her.
''Ill warrant she is here. and I'll
wiring her neck if she makes noise
about it.
But the thorough search was end
ed, aud the voices grew very angry
and full Of frightful osths and Threat
enings. They sat down on the gar
ret stairs TO hold a parley. A spider
ran across my face A spider puts
me in mortal fear. 1t WAS with 6
| great effort that l kept from scream
! ing.
'sCome," croaked the Raven, 'le
us 90 aud get the silver; that will be
somethng-that will be something
Course the silver. It's the gol'
I've come for, and I'll burn the hous'
fl don't fad the girl ! So let he
| look aut !"