Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-06
A BRAVE GIRL.

In the winter of 1912, gentleman and
his daughter, young lady, while travel
ing through Canada, arrived about
nightfall at an old fashioned tavern
The gentleman concluded to stop there
instead of going on to the village of s.
which was ten miles distant, and which
they had thought to reach. The daugh-
ter, Carrie, expressed her willingness,
as the tavern presented comfortable
appearance, and they alighted, when it
was plainly to be seen that the gentle
man was quite lame, so much so that he
was obliged to use cane.
The landlord came out, and calling a
boy to take the horse and sleigh to the
barn, he ushered Mr.. Spencer and his
daughter into a pleasant sitting room,
where bright fire was burning OH the
hearth, which proved very acceptable to
our travellers, who had been in the sleigh
since morning.
"Your room will be ready by supper
time, sir" said the landlord, as he left
the room and went into the bar-room.
Supper was shortly announced, and
after refreshing themselves, Mr.. Spencer
and Carrie returned to the cozy sitting
room, where they talked and chatted
until half past eight. They were then
shown to their room, which was on the
second story, in wing somewhat dis
tant from the main portion.
The room was very long, with high
ceiling. On one side was window, and
on the other door. Just above the door
was bust of. King George III. The
room was plainly furnished, containing
two beds, a wash-stand and few chairs.
Carrie took in the whole room at a
glance, and it must be confessed, had
there not been cheerful fire burning,
she would have felt nervous about sleep
ing there. AS it was, the warm glow
lit the room into comparative cheerful
ness.
While she and her father sat by the
fire, her eyes wandered to the bust above
the door, when she noticed that the eye
balls had evidently been knocked out,
leaving two empty spaces.
"Well, Carrie" said Mr.. Spencer, pre-
sently, II think you had better lock the
door. am going to count my money"
After Carrie lad done so, he drew out
a money-belt, heavy with bills, and1 pro-
ceeded to count them. While doing so,
Carry's eyes involuntarily wandered
again to the bust, when, to the horror
and establishment, in place the empty
spaces were two glittering eyes, greedily
watching every moment of her father.
The young girl could scarcely repress
a scream, but controlling herself, she
looked toward the fire, while her father
went on counting large roll of bills.
II must have been mistaken, ;" thought
the fair girl. "What could make ME
have such a strange fancy, thought" she
continued, glancing again at the bust.
The eyes were still there-two burn
ing, savage eyes, that frightened as Mr..
Spencer went on counting.
"Good Heavens J" thought Carrie,
"what shall we do! We are evidently in
den of thieves, and will be murdered
for my poor fathers money"
"HOw to communicate their danger to
ticing it, Carrie could not think. Sud-
denly bright idea came to her.
Father" she said aloud, 'let me take
a card and pencil. [ wish to make a
memorandum of some items 1 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"
"Readvit," she said, aloud, handing
the card to her father. II want you to
see if you think am too extrava CAN'T
Her father betrayed no emotion while
he read but said -
"You are pretty extravaganza, Carrie
Isuppose you think your father is made
of money" and he arose and went to
the washstand, which was in dark
corner.
Once he glanced toward the bust, and
that glance confirmed his daughters ex-
traordinary staten4&2t. When he came
back to his seat, Carrie saw that the eyes
were gone. Then leaning toward her
father, she said in low tone,- Is
"You see it is as said. Ihave thought
of plan, however, by which we can
both escape. You would be perfectly
helpless in an ARRAY of any kind on ac-
count of your lame leg, so [ must try to
save US BOTH"
Then followed whispered consulta-
ton, during which Carrie kept her eyes
fixed on the bust; but the glittering orbs
had not come back. AS she concluded,
Carrie went to the window, threw it up,
and looked out. Reckoning to her faith
er, who came, she said, or father whis-
pered-
"You see this shed, father? Well, they
Will probably come up on it and get in
through the window. | do not think
they will make the attack before twelve,
so will get out of this window. lump
from this shed, go to the barn and take
our horse, and go to s. for help.u
Flinging wrap over her slight figure,
she embraced her fathar +ondorlv o,d