Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-07


fell. There came a great flash of light
ming and saw distinctly reflected in the
glass face looking in at the window. 1t
was an instant of terror, but 1 never
screamed nor moved. The face could not
see nv face, and kept my body still and
rolled the long, shining rings of my cold.
white, fingers. 1t wasl an ugly face, and
recognized il. | had seen 1t that morn
ing. and | knew what lay before me. /
PRAYED inwardly brief prayer for help.
Turning from the glass | went steadiy
toward q table that stood near the win
dow and on which / had left my candle.
moved steadily as usual, and took up the
water pitcher and looked in. 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. sat 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
il and made my way into the great cham
Der.
heard voices; | heard the doors tried
below. | knew it was not my father. |
dare not tremble nor grow faint. | went
through the room and two oilers to the
garnet stairs. hardly breathed. heard
a window pushed up; more than one per-
son came in ut it. i felt above me IN The
dark. There was a sliding panel in the
inside of the stairway. / pushed 1t and
il rolled back. | entered into long
cioses under the stairs and slid the panel
carefully into its place. felt cautiously
to see il all was safe. | pulled my dress
close about rue lest IT might be caught.
and the door not close tightly. Then
waited. | heard steps coming up the
stairs. ] heard search through all the
rooms below. My heart beat I'LL thought
that each bound must be audible, heard
wholesome voice. the Ravens. knew
that harsh croak 1t told me nothing.
The face had revealed all To me. The
man mast have learned in some unaccount-
able way OF the bag OF gold, and learned,
TOO, when here IN the morning, that was
10 be alone. 1t was all plain to me now.
He had returned and had brought accom-
plices. My peril was terribly imminent.
Very soon the steps and voices came NY
way. / could distinguish plainly the
words that were spoken.
"Drat her She must have seen you"
mo matter; We'll split the box open
with this ak"
knew the ak was in the little porch.
Thomas had set 1t in when he had done
chopping the brush, as il looked like rain.
heard the steps and voices move away.
a dull, crashing sound. and then siifled,
angry sounds. | 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 every
room and closet, and came up the stairs
separate. They all met at the foot 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.
"She must be up here, said the Raven;
land we'll soon have her."
I'm warrant she is here, and I'll wiring
her neck II she makes noise about it,
But the thorough search was ended, and
the voices grew very angry and full of
frightful oalhs and threatenings They
sat down on the garnet stairs to hold "A
parley. spider ran across my face. 1t
was with a great effort that kept from
screaming.
Come" croaked the Raven. ''let us
go and get the silver; that will be some
lhing-that will be something"
Course the silver. It's the gold I've
come for, and I'll burn the house it 1 dom
find the girl So let her look out"
A cold perspiration. Would they per-
form their threat?
"Good then the rats will squeak.
Down drop the money bags, and Wen
choke the girl TO make her dumb
Hold your noise. The old man will
he coming home. Wen be caught here.
Be quick"
WHO cares for him? He's only one. A |
bludgeon will give him handy little
headache as he comes"
Sand his wifeP"
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 voices and steps went down.
1t was horrible there 10 the dark / was
sitting. moved the panel slightly. No
light entered. slid it softly back. NV
resolution was taken. 1 would get out OF
the house, run down the road and meet
my father. | would save him. left the
gold in the closet, shutting it close.
'eoiS No"h WV StSPc ihto tHO
below. knew there was a window open
there. | crept across the room, listening
keenly. lifted myself cautiously on the
window ledge and caught branch
of the cherry tree which grew close TO
the house Swinging myself lightly out
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:
There she goes! Catch her! Qack
This way!'
Out at the front door came the pursu.
ers. hardly ten steps from me. dashed
toward the thick shubbery to throw them
off the track. Fortunately | knew the
way, every step of it. They were guided
slowly 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 l heard crash, the report of a
pistol, heavy fall, oalhs aud deep
prOan. ShuudpriDp | Snph IN ,brouuh