Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-11-11

don't find the grill So let her look
outi"
A cold perspiration came on my fore
head. Would they perform their threat :
"Good Then the rats will squeak,
Down drop the money bags and
we'll 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 a handy little
headache as he comes in"
"And his wife9"
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. 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 was sitting. moved the
panel slightly. No light entered. I
slid it softly back. My resolution was
taken. 1 would get out of the house,
run down the road, and meet my father.
1 would save him. / 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.
1 crept across the room, listening keenly
/ lifted myself cautiously on the window
ledge, and caught a branch of the
cherry tree which grew close to the
house. 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,
| ha otnh
her Quick This wayl"
Out at the front door came the pur-
suers, hardly ten steps from me.
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.
"Shoot her by the next flash !'' cried
one.
My flying feet struck loose boards.
was passing directly over an old, unused
well, very deep, and it gave back hol-
low, resonant sound. Almost the next
moment heard crash, the report of 8
pistol, O heavy fall, oaths and q deep
groan. Shuddering, I 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.
I ran down to the second bars, and lei
them down. It began to rain few great
drops, then fast, then it poured. was
wet to the skin. I ran on, for / heard
advancing wheels coming rapidly.
stood in the road and cried: F." Father
father !" The chaise stopped Anothe,
chaise behind stopped also. 1t was oul
next neighbor's, who lived quarter O.
mile further on.
"Ann, my child. Good heavens
What is the matter? What has hap
penedi"
I told the whole in O few words, annie
eager EXPLANATIONS of Joy at my safety
of surprise, even of anger, because
Thomas had left me alone.
"Don't blame him, father ; insisted
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place
,, My father was very brave. Our neigh
Dor was very timid. He proposed goine
on to his house and returning will
weapons. In the meantime I had go
into the chaise and crouched down a
my mothers feet, who was half crying
and wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on, and came to our gat
under the willows. There were light
\ in the house, but all was still. Nothing
= moved. My father put the reins in m,
mothers hands, and opened the othe
gate that led up the lane.
: "Wiu yeu go home with Nathan 2
- said he,
"Aud leave you heres No."
"Take your wife home, Nathan,
: you will, and come back"
! "We will stay by YOU"
"Let us reconnoiter, then, little.
! They got out, leaving us sitting still
: The rain fell less heavily. They go
- something that would do for weapon
= from the Toulouse. They went a
T round the house-all was quiet. The
= wsnt in. We sat still, speaking fe'
q q words, my hand clasped in m
II mothers.
= "Thomas is coming2" I exclaimed
~ eagerly. "I hear the wheels"
T We called to him as he came to I'll
7 gate, for he could not see us. He droy
:, through and called out
= "What is the matter2"
y We told him sufficiently, and he lie
~ Betsey and Hannah, and went in
), once, with only the heavy whip. "
% did not sit long. Nathan came out
, rectly.
!, "What have you foundP Who
II there9"
70 70 "Nothing. Nobody"
10 care they all cones"
"a eyes, with some of the silver and
, ~ few things. We don't know VIII
"a yet"
70 70 The horses were put under the she
and we all went in. Father sal
- calmly
~ "We will take a lantern, Thomas, al
look round out of doors q little"
h knew they would go to the old we
no no I stood and looked out of the windc
N and saw the CLEAN of the lantern as
moved. In very few minutes tn
no came back.
amn m "One of them is dead" said n
,d father, "and the other lies at the bc
nj nj tom and groans. The third has {
wv capped"
ov They laid boards across some barre
~ in the shed, and brought up the de
au man and laid him on them. His col
A A rade, who fell in the well, had shot hi
od in the head as he plunged through {
T boards. His ugly face was still ugli'
M 1t was the Raven. That night L
N fathers prayers were very solemn, a
bo his embrace was close as he gave /
my goodnight kiss.
,u The robber in the we'll was bruise
;aa but not seriously hurt The law to
400 him to punishment. The third escape
7 ,roa ., 800. Iafk 81 ho,,oo N or,o,x, oIora