The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-27

save him. / left the gold in the closet,
shutting il in close. / stole down two
steps into the chamber below. knew
there was IA 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 fash betrayed me-
The ravens voice shrieked hoarsely:
"There she goes Catch her Quick !!
This way"
Out at the front door came the pur-
suers, hardly ten steps from me. L
dashed toward the thick shrubbery 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. 1
was passing directly over an old, I'M
used well, very deep, and it gave back
hollow, resonant sound. Almost the
next moment heard crash, the report
of pistol, heavy fall, oaths, and a
deep groan. Shuddering, / 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. / ran down to the
second bars and let them down. 1t be-
gan to rain few great drops, then fast,
then it poured. / was wet to the skin.
/ ran on, for / heard advancing wheels
coming rapidly; 1 stood in the road and
cried Father father I" The chaise
stopped. Another chaise stopped also.
1t was our next neighbours, who lived a
quarter of a mile further on.
Cam, my child. Good heavens
What is the matter What has hap
pened ?"
told the whole in a few words, amid
eager ordinations of JOY at my safety,
of surprise, even of anger, because
Thomas had left me alone.
"Don't blame him, father, L insisted
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place.
My father was very brave. Our neigh
Dor was very timid. He proposed going
on to his house and returning with
weapons. In the meantime L had got
into the chaise and crouched down at
my mothers feet, who was half crying,
and wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on and came to our gates I'M
der the willows. There were lights in
the house, but all was still. Nothing
moved. My father put the reins In my
mothers hands, and opened the other
gate that led up the lane.
CIVIL you go home with Nathan ?"
said he.
"And leave you here9 No."
Take your wife home, Nathan, if you
will, and come back"
eve will stay by you"
Let us reconnoiter then a little"
They got out, leaving us sitting still.
The rain fell less heavily. They got
something that would do for weapons
from the Toulouse. They went all
around the house-all was quiet. They
went in. We sat still, speaking few
words, my hand clasped in my mothers,
and my frame trembling with fright.
"Thomas is coming !" i exclaimed,
eagerly. 81 hear the wheels"
We called to him as he came to the
gate, for he could not see us. He drove
through and called out:
whats the matter ?"
We told him sufficiently, and he left
Betsy and Hannah, and went in at once,
with only the heavy whip. We did not
wait long. Nathan came out directly.
"What have you found Who is
there ?"
Nothing. Nobody"
"Are they all gone 2"
Yes, with some of the silver and q
few things. We don't know what yet. Z"
The horses were put under the shed,
and we all went in. Father said calmly:
eve will take lantern, Thomas, and
look around out of doors little"
knew they would go to the old well. /
stood and looked out of the window and
saw the CLEAN of the lantern as it moved.
In very few minutes they came back.
One of them is Dead said my faith
er, "and the other lies at the bottom and
groans. The third has escaped"
They laid boards across some barrels
in the shed, and brought up the dead
man and laid him on them. His COM
rade, who fell in the well, had shot him
through the head as he plunged through
the boards. His ugly face was uglier.
1t was the raven. That night my faith
er's prayers were very solemn, and his
embrace was close as he gave me my
goodnight kiss.
The robber in the well was bruised,
but not seriously hurt. The law took
him to punishment. The third escaped.
/ was never left at home again alone
English Magazine.