The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-17

| full control In her department., Win u
good many privileges. Virginia, alone,
did not seem to like her. Virginia had u
curious way Of looking at new taces-a
searching, penetrating glance, that l
always thought had q sort Of mesmerism
in it, all the stranger because her eyes
were 80 gentle and soft. Alice never
met the look fairly, as remember alter
ward.
1t was in the spring of'65. The clos
ing scenes Of the War were crowding
thick and fast upon each other. Vir-
ginia kept her room good deal. The
warm April weather seemed TO enerVate
her, and she shrank away from the joy
and enthusiasm we all exhibited. Pour
childl 1t was hard for her to hear OF
the soldiers and sailors who would
be coming home now, and to feel that
for her sore heart peace would bring no
| balm.
One night Frank had taken box at
the Italian opera in New York. We
lived in Brooklyn, and, as Kellogg was
to sing, begged Virginia to go with us.
But she steadily declined. She would
stay al home aud keep house, she said.
| Now, two Of my servants were at ire
mems bail that night, leaving only Alice
and the COOK at home; so l must say L
lelL rather more easy about the children
when l found that Virginia would not
60. Going from New York to Brooklyn
at night, however, Is a long journey, and
it was close upon l O'clock when we
drove up.to our door.
In the meantime, Virginia, after our
departure, had sat for some time writing
letters in her own room. The twins
were having a noising romp in the nur-
sery; and when she looked in to say
1 ,i,xI,t Fu al
her neck, and begged to come and stay
with AuntIe; she yielded, and then Fred.
began building card-houses on the sofa
until he got tired, when he curled him.
self IN corner, and i'll Two seconds was
last asleep. Being very much inter-
es ted in her book, Virginia left the little
liellow sleep on, thinking that by-and-by
she would take him up to her room and
put him to bed there, as she frequently
did. AT last she fell asleep herself.
She never knew how long she slept,
but had a painful nightmare sensation,
as II somebody was Trying to smother
her; and alter struggling with the feel.
ing for some time she slowly, and with
great effort, opened her eyes. Wnyl
what has happened to the room? The
gas must have gone Quit was totally
dark, save fliekering CLEAN from the
dying fire on the hearth; and what a
sickenjng, deadly smell there was?
With a lightning rapidity which is more
like instinct than thought, it suddenly
flashed upon her what the strange smell
was-chlOroforml Then, as she caught
her frightened breath aud sank back
into her chair, "a low sound of voices
from the dining-room reached her ear.
The door between the rooms was ajar,
and she saw thread OF light from it;
the vo ce she heard was mans.
Eye didn't give the young 'oman too
much o that stuff, did yep it asked,
rather anXiousiy.
81 wish l had," returned Alice's low
and steaithy voice; Il hate heri she sus-
poets me-"
"Ha! nal" gurgled the man, "she must
ly gets on the right side OF 'em. Is that
'ere pitcher silver or plateW
"Plate; the silver is up sJairs."
Virginia shook as she heard the YEN
ON OF that low voice.
"Sne was Mr.Langley's lady-love until
her old grandma stopped it,"
And what was Mr.. Langley to you,
my GIRL" said the man.
"Aushl you'll wake the child and
do not want TO do him any harm. Mr.
Langley"-the wOman's voice softened-
"neYer said a dozen words to me in his
lie; but look you, Vincent, fairly wor-
shipped hm.
"rnat's right; tell me all, as Pm yer
husband that 10 to be-" said the other
with coarse laugh.
sMrs. Kent has splendid Jewels. too.
just picked the lock to look at them.
You can take as many OF those as you
like. ComeW ="
AS soon as the sound Of their foot
steps died away, Virginia snatched the
deadly handkerchief OF her head, and
staggered TO her feet, though dizzily.
She was very spirited girl, and ueter-
mined that the pair should not escape.
But what could she do? 1t was vain to
think OF getting the cook 10 alarm their
neighbor at the corner, for the next lot
was vacant, and she must cross the hail
and 70 past the stairs to lind her. There
would be no use i'll throwing up the win
dow and screaming; the house was on
Clinton avenue, quite far out, and the
policeman on tnat beat did not come
past very often.
Virginia wrung her hands, when a
sleepy murmur Of 'Auntie!' startled
her. In second her resolve wa taken,
and she was on her knees by Fred, kiss
ing him and Whispering in mis- ear.
ltNsS LII Alhb3 duuJlo 10 gong 10
do something funny. You remeIiib er
how pa jumped you down from the ba.-
cony ON Christmas day to run after the |
l am going to jump you down |
now. Don't speak word now. Act |
like man. There, nowp
Fred. was just four years old, but a |
great boy lor his age, and he ALWAYS |
Obeyed Virginia implicitly; so he rubbed
mis- eyes wide open, and was carried to |
the window. The balcony, outside, was |
not ar from the ground. AS Virginia
looked out carefully, sue saw, under the |
gasight ut the corner, II TAIL Igure Win |
Lne gleam Of brass buttons.
"Fred.," she whispered rapidly, erun |
to that policeman, and tell MIN 10 come
right here tu Auntle; then 90 to MIR,
MoLley's, at the corner, and ring the bell |
with all your might-lt is low, and you
can reach it-and tell George and Harry
Motley thai Aunt Virginia says there is
a thief in the house. DON'T be afraid,
Fred; be man, like Papa"
Over, gently, over the low railing; and
then, with u good shake OF his small per.
son, Fred.'s lat little leg strotted swiftly
off toward Lhe policeman,
Directly, under the balcony, voice
said, softly: /
What is wanted, ma'am? Can You