The Portland daily press., 1877-05-12

My peril was terribly imminent. very soon
the steps and voices came my way. l 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
l knew the AK was in the little porch.
Thomas had set it in when he had done chop
ping the brush, as it looked like rain.
I heard the steps and voices move away, a
dull, crashing sound, and then stifed, angry
tones. knew they had opened the box,
and found nothing but the papers. knew
they would now search for me. l heard
them as they looked into every room and
closet and came up the stairs separate. They
thick board was between us. thanked God
that the panel was close shut. 1 knew it;
for no ray of light came through.
"She must be up here" said the Raven,
"and We'll soon have her,"
'Pll warrant she is here, and III wiring her
neck if she makes noise about it."
But the thorough search was ended, and
the voices grew very angry ard full of fright
full oaths and threatenings. They sat down
on the garnet stairs to hold parley. A spid-
er ran across my face. A spider puts me in
kept from screaming.
"Come," croaked the Raven, slet us 60
and get the silver; that will be something
that will be something.
course the silver. IT'S the gold Eve come
for and Pll burn the house if l don't lind the
girl! So let her look OUT
A cold perspiration. 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"
ssHold vour poisn Thu old man will ha
coming home. Well be caught here. Be
quick"
"Who cares for him? He's only one; a
bludgeon will give him handy little head
ache as he comes ill.,"
"And his wife,"
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 60. They got up, and
the steps and voices went down. 1t was hor-
rible there in the dark. I was sitting. I
moved the panel slightly. No light entered.
1 slid it softly back. My resolution was taken.
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 in
close. l stole down two steps into the cham
Der below. knew there was window open
there. crept across the room, listening
keenly. I lifted myself cautiously on the
window ledge, and caught branch of a
cherry-tree which grew close to the house.
Swinging myself lightly out, hastily de-
scended the trunk of the rree, and found my
self on the ground safe.
No. The lightning flash betrayed me. The
Ravens voice shrieked hoarsely:
"There she goes! Catch her! Quick! This
wayp'
Out at the front door came the pursuers,
hardly ten steps from me. dashed toward
the thick shrubbery to throw them off the
track. Fortunately 1 knew the way, every
step of it. They were guided solely by the
sound and flashing light.
s'Shoot her by the next fash!' cried one
My flying feet struck loose boards. was
passing directly over an old unused well, very
deep, and it gave back hollow, resonant
sound. Almost the next moment heard a
crash, the report of a pistol, heavy fall,
oaths, and 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 fol-
lowed; no voices shouted after me. I ran
down to the second bars and let them down.
1t began TO rain few great drops, then fast,
then it poured. l was wet to the skin.
ran on, for heard advancing wheels coming
rapidly: / stood IN the road and cried !:
'.Father! fatherv' The chaise stopped; an
other chaise stopped also; it was our next
neighbours who lived quarter of a mile
| further on.
'Ann, my child! Good heavens! What is
the matter? What has happened?"
1 told the whole in a few words, amid
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 neighbor was
very timid. He proposed going to his house
and returning with weapons. In the mean
time had got into the chaise and crouched
down at my mothers feet, who was half cry
ing, and wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on and came to our gates under
the willows. There were lights in the house,
pnt the reins in my mothers hands, and
opened the other gate that led up the lane.
"Will you go home with Nathan?" said he
"And leave you here? No.
''Take your wife home, Nathan, if you
will, and come back"
"We will stay by YOU"
"Let us reconnoitre then little"
They got out, leaving US sitting still. The
rain fell less heavily. They got something
that would do from the tool house. They
went all around the heuse-all was quiet I;
words, my hand clasped in my mothers, and
my frame trembling with fright.
"Thomas is comingP' exclaimed, eager
ly, 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 Bet
sy 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"
care they all gomez"
Eyes, with some of the silver and few
things. We don't know what yet"
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 llttle."
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.
Gone of them is dead" said my father,
'and the other lies at the bottom and groans.
The third has escaped"
They laid boards across some barrels id the
shed, and brought up the dead man and laid
him on them. His comrade, 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 fathers prayers were very solemn, and
bis embrace was close as he gave me my
good. night kiss.
The robber in the well was bruised, but
not seriously hurt. The law took him to
punishment. The third escaped. l was new
er left at home again alone.
REAL, ESTATE