Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-02
A BRAVE GIRL.

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In the winter of 1912, a gentleman
and his daughter, a young lady,
while travelling through Canada, ar
rived about nightfall at an old fash
ioned tavern. The gentleman con-
cluded to stop there instead of going
on to the village Of s., which was
ten miles distant, and which thev
had thought to reach. The daugh-
ter-Carrie-had expressed a will
ingness, as the tavern presented a
comfortable appearance, and 'they
alighted, when it was plainly to be
seen that the gentleman was quite
lame, so much so that he was oblig-
ed to use cane.
The landlord came out and calling
boy to take the horse and sleigh to
the barn, he ushered Mr.. Spencer
and his daughter into a pleasant sit
ting-room, where a bright fire was
blazing on the hearth. which proved
very acceptable to our travellers
who had been in the sleigh since
morning.
"Your room will be ready by sup
per time, sir" said the landlord, as
be left the room, and went into the
bar-room.
Supper was shortly announced,
and after refreshing themselves, Mr..
Spencer and Carrie returned to the
cosy sitting-room, where they talked
and chattered until half-past eight.
They were then shown to their room,
which was on the second story, in a
wing somewhat distant from the
main portion.
The room was very long, with
high ceiling. On one side was a win
dow, and on the other a door. Just
above the door was a bust of King
George III. The room was very
plainly furnished, containing two
beds, wash-stand and few chairs.
Carrie took in the whole room at
glance, and it must be confessed,
had there not been a cheerful fire
burning, she would have felt nervous
about sleeping there. As it was, the
warm glow lit up the room into COM
parative cheerfulness.
While she and her father sat by
the fire, her eyes wandered to the
bust above the door, when she no.
ticed that the eye-balls had evident
lV been knocked out. leaving two
empty spaces.
DWELL, Carrie" said Mr.. Spencer,
presently, 81 think you had better
lock the door; l. am going to count
my money"
After Carrie had done so, he drew
out money-belt, heavy with bills,
and proceeded to count them. While
doing so, Carries eyes involuntarily
wandered again to the bust, when,
to her horror and astonishment, in
place of the empty spaces were two
glittering eyes, eagerly watching ev-
cry movement of her father.
The young girl could scarcely re-
press a scream; but, controlling her.
self, she looked toward the fire,
while her father went on counting a
large roll of bills.
81 must have been mistaken" mus
ed the fair girl. "What could make
me have such a strange fancy?" she
continued, hlancing again at the
bust.
The eyes were still there-two
burning, savage eyes, that brighten
ed as Mr.. Spencer went on counting
"Good heavens!" thought Carrie,
"what shall We do! We are evident
ly in den of thieves, and viii be
murdered for my poor fathers mon
cyl"
How to communicate their danger
to her father without those terrible
eyes noticing it, Carrie could not
think. Suddenly bright idea came
to her:
"Father," she said, aloud, "let me
take card and pencil. wish to
make a memorandum of some items
/ want to purchase in the village" "
Her father handed them to her,
after slowing away his belt. Carrie
wrote, tremblingly, in fine hand
''Father, do not be frightened; we are in
trap. Go in the opposite corner Of the
room, where your face will be in the dark,
and look at the bust above the door. In it
you will see two glittering eyes, that have
watched you count your money"
"Read it," she said aloud, hand
ing the card to her father. 81 want
you to see if l am too extravagant,"
Her father betrayed no emotion
while he read, but said:
"You are pretty extravsgant, Car
rie. ! suppose you think your faith
er is made of moneys" and he arose
and went to the wash-stand, which
was in a dark corner.
Once there, he glanced toward the
bust, and that glance confirmed his
daughters extraordinary statement.