The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-18

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ming grew more vivid and frequent.
went out of the east parlor, and
| looked to the south, but the sudden
lightine.up the sky and the falling
darkness did not interest mo long. I
could not see out very we'll, either.
as the honeysuckles covered the win.
dows. The large mirror reflected me
| as I turned away to cross the room,
and stopped moment with natural
vanity, for was young, and fair
enough to look upon.
Ilet all my hair fall loose land wound
it in long, shining curls over my fin
gers. 1t certainly did look handsome,
for it was very thick, and fell below
my waist. and curled almost of itself
as it fell. There came a great flash of
lighting, and saw distinctly reflected
in the glass face looking in at the
window. It was an instant of terror,
but l neither screamed nor moved.
The face could not see my face, and
kept my body still land rolled the long,
shining rings off my cold, white fin
gers. It was an ugly face, and I rec
ognized it l, had seen it - that morn
ing, and 1 knew what lay before me.
I prayed inwardly a brief prayer for
help. 49,. ~
Turning from the glass, I went
| steadily toward the table that stood
near the window, and on which / had
left my candle. moved steadily as
usual, and took up the water-pitcher
and looked inland then took my candle
and went toward the kitchen. The
lightning kept flashing, but the face
did not come again. I dropped my
| candle on the kitchen hearth, and put
| my foot on the wick. I set 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 top of the
stairs. l unlocked his box, took out
the bags of gold, relocked it and made
my way into the great chamber.
I heard voices; heard the door
tried below. I knew it was not my
father. I dared not tremble nor grow
faint. Invent through that room and
! two others to the garnet stairs. I
| hardly breathed. I heard window
pushed up; more than one person
came in at it. | felt about in the dark.
There was q sliding panel in the inside
of the stairway. I pushed it and it
closet under the stairs, and slid the
panel carefully into it's place. felt
cautiously to see if all was safe. I
pulled my dress close about me lest it
might be caught, and the door not
closed tightly. Then I waited. I
heard steps coming up the stairs. I
heard a search through all the rooms
below. My heart beat till l thought
that evory bound must be audible,
heard voices-One voice, the Ravens.
I knew that harsh croak: It told me
nothing. The face had revealed all to
me. The man must have learned in
some unaccountable way of the bag of
gold, and learned, too, when here in
the morning, that was to be alone.
1t was all plain to me now. He had re-
turned and had brought accomplices.
My peril was terribly imminent. Very
soon the steps and voices came my
way. I 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 it in when he had done
chopping the brush, as it looked like
| rain.
| heard the steps and voices move
away, a dull crashing sound and then
stiffled, angry tones. knew that they
had opened the box, and found nothing
but the papers. I knew they would
now search for me. / heard them as
they looked into every room and closet,
and came up the stairs separate. They
met at the foot of the garrett stairs.
A thick board was between us.
thanked God that the panel was close
shut. knew it, for no ray of light
came through.
! ssShe must be up here,'' said the Ra-
ven, 'and we'll soon have her."
| sI'll warrant she is here, and I'll
wiring her neck if she makes noise
about it,
! But the thorough search was over,
and the voices grew very angry and
t full of frightful 0aths and threateDings.
They sat down on the garrett stairs to
hold a parley. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal fear.
| ~ was Will SiodI eAOiI IldI L hopI
from screaming. aar. .i.t .,lta .
"Come,''' croaked the Raven. sslet us
go and get the silver: that will be
something - '"
I "Curse the silver. It's gold I've
come for, and I'll burn the house If
don't find the girl! So let her look
out?,.'
A cold perspiration. Would they
perform their threat? ~ rs G.t1f
"Good! then the rats will squeak.