The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-18

picked up Il raven.
Anthat long. bright day I was busy and
happy i'll the flower garden, or sewing
reading and when the gi,ls left, lroking
very cheerful at their half holiday. |
wished them merry time and told them
not to hasten home for Thomas should come
for them. | expected father and mother
soon after eight o'clock and told Thomas
he might go about that time, and they
would soon he home, it Looked little
like rain. Heavy clouds were gathering in
the west and the thunder rumhled stiilenly.
lie took the covered wagon and old giay,
and before he stepped in said
Miss Ann, ihink you bad better fasten
the doors, as y"u may be all alone for a
short time if | go soon. Would you not
rather that | should wait until your father
cumrs?'
"Oh. no. Thomas don't mind being
alone in the least, and you ought To go lest
it should rain hand, FOR it is more Than two
miles to ride, and they may not wish 80
leave with you in minute. | expect
father and mother every moment Don't
/ wait
So Thomas left. and the wagon ratified
merrily mp The lane. | bulled the doms,
because he had told me to, for otherwise |
would not have thought of it. 1t grew
dark rapidly, and The thunder bppan TO
peal heavily, while the wind rose and the
flashes of lightning grew mnle livid and
and looked To ihe south. but the sudden
lighting up of the sky aud the falling dark
ness did not interest me long. ] could not
very well, either, as the honey
Suckles covered the windows. The large
mirror reflected ne as | turned away tu
cross the room, aud | stopped moment
with uatuIa! vanity. for | WAS young and
fan enough to hook upon.
| let all my i.air fail loose. and wound it
in long shining cuI Is my fingers. 1t
certainly did look handsome. for it was
very thick aud fcll below my waist, and
cutied almost of ITSELF az II fell. There
cane great flash of lightning. and | saw
distinctly reflected in the lass face look
ing IN t lie window. 1t was an instant of
terror. bu, | neither screamed nor moved.
The face cuulC not see my face, and | kept
my Uudy sill and rolled the long, shining
rings off my cold white fingers. 1t was an
ugly face. and | recug gnized it. | had seen
it that morning. and knew what lay be-
fore me. | prayed inwardly a brief pidyei
for help.
Turning rrou, the glass, I went steadily
towards the table that stood near the VIII
dow, and on which | had left my candle.
| moved steadily as usual ard took up the
water pitcher aud looked in. and then took
my candle and went tnward the kitchen.
The lightning kept flashing. but the face
did not come again. | dropped my candle
the wick. sci down the pitcher on the
dresser. and with II soft light football has
tened through the west Room, UP the front
status into my fathers cha,i,Jer, and soft ly
closed and BORED Ire door at the head of
the stains. | unlocked his box, took out
The bags of gold, Iencked it and made my
way into the great chamber.
heard v"IcrS | heard the doors tried
below. | knew it was not my father. |
went through that room aud two others to
the garnet stairs heard a window pushed
up; more than one person came i'll at IL.
| felt about III the dark stairway. | push
ed it aud it rolled back. | entered tuto
louy closet u iicr the stairs, and slid the
panel carefully III its place. felt eau
tiotI>ly to see it all was safe. | pulled my
dress close about me lest IL might he caught
and the door not closed tightly. Then
waited. heard steps coming up the stairs.
| heard IA search through all the rooms he
low. My heart beat TIL thought that ev-
ely boand must be audible heard vnices
voice the Ravens. | knew that
harsh croak. 1t told me nothing. The
face bad revealed all to :ne. The mau
must have learned i'll some unaCCOuntatie
way of the bag Of gold, and learned, too,
when heIe in the morning, that | was to
be alone. 1t WAS all plain To me nov. He
had returned and bad brought accomplices
My peril was terribly mminent Very
soon the Steps anI voices came my way L
could distinguish plainly the words that
spoken:
'.D,at her she must have seen you
NO matter; We'll split the box open
with ;his AK"
knew the AK was on the little porch.
. Thouas had set it in when he had done
chuppiug The brush, as it lo"ked like rain.
| heard the steps aud voices move away,
a dull, crashing sound, auu then StIficd.
angry tones. | knew they had opened The
box aud found nothing bat the papers. |
knew they would nov search for me. L
heard them as they locked INTO every room
aud clpsel, and came up tie staiiS separate.
they all me. at tlt. foot OF The garnet
stains. "A thick bua:d was between us. [
thanked God that the panel was close shut.
| knew it for no ray oi hight came through.
''She must be mp here, said the Raven,
land we'tl soun have her"
IA warrant she's here, and I'll wiring
: her neck If size makes noise about IL.
But the thurough search was ended an0
the voices grew very angry and full of
fightfui odihs and threateningS. They
sat down The gaIret stains to hold IA
paIley. A spider Tan across my face. A
spider puis me IN mortal lear Ii was with
great effort that | kept iiom screaming.
Come croaked the Raven, 'let u> go
and get the silver, That Iil be something
that " al be something.
''CuiSe tile silver. It's the gold I've
come ior, aud I'll burn the house II | don t
tiud the gIl. So let her look eat.
A cold persyi,ation. Would they per-
form tutII threat?
.'tiuud then the rats will squeak. Down
drop the money bags. aud we II choke the
pul - 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
, bludgeun Will give him a handy htIe head
ache as he comes in
''Aud 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,
aud the steps and voices went down. 1t