The Republican journal., 1877-11-22

Weather SEEMED 10 ell6lNdlc nef- ana 81
shranll away from the 10y and enthusiast
we all exhibited. Poor child 1t wa
hard for her to hear Of the soldiers am
sailors who would be coming home now
and to feel that for her sore heart peac
would bring no balm.
One night Frank had taken box a
the Italian opera in New York. We live,
in Brooklyn, and, as Kellogg was to sing
| begged Virginia to go with u.s. But sh
steadily declined. She would STAY a
home and keep house, she said Now
two OF my servants We're to a fireman
ball that night, leaving only Alice ant
the cook at home 50 | must say | tel
rather more easy about the children Whel
| found that Virginia would not 60 Go
ing from New York to Brooklyn at night
however, is a long journey, and it wa
close upon one o'clock when we drove III
to our door.
In the meantime, Virginia, after on.
departure, mad sat for some time writing
letters in her own room. The twins Wer
having a noisy romp i'll the nursery; anC
when she looked in to say good might
Fred fastened himself upon her neck ant
begged to come and stay with auntie
she yielded, and then Fred began build
ing card houses on the sofa until he 90
tired, when he curled himself III a corner
and in TWO seconds was fast asleep. Be
ing ve'y much interested in her book
Virginia let the little fellow sleep on
thinking thar by and 10y she would take
HIM np to her room and put him t. bed
there, us she frequently did. At last she
fell asleep herself
She never knew how long she slept
but she had a painful nightmare sensa-
ton, as if somebody was trying to snoth-
er her and, after struggling with the
feeling t0l some time, She slowly, and
with great effort, opened her eyes.
Why what has happened to the room
The gas must have gone Quit was to
tally dark, save a llickering gleam from
the dying fire on the HEARTH and what a
sickening, deadly smell there was. With
a lightning rapdity which is more like
instinct than thought, it suddenly flashed
upon her what the strange smell was
chlorotorm, Then, as she caught her
frightened breath, and sank back into
her chair, a low sound Of voices from the
dining room reached her ear The door
between the rooms was aiar, and she saw
a thread Of light from III the voice She
heard was a mans.
! "Ne didn't give the young oman too
much, did ye 2 it asked, ratheranXiously
II wish | had returned Aice's low
and stealthy voice II hate her, She
suspects me"
cha, ha.7 gurgled the man, "Sht
must ha been mighty onciyil to We; We
usually gets on the right side Of EN-. Is
that 'er pitcher silver on plate ~
"plate. The Silver is upstairs
Virginia shook as she heard the venom
of that low voice "She was Mr.. Lang
ley's ladyloye till her old grandma stop
ped it"
"And what was Mr. Langley 10 you,
my girl ?" said the man.
"lIush you'll wake the child, and |
don't want to do him any harm. Mr.,
Langley woman's voice sottened-
''neVcr said a dozen words to NE in his
life; but look, You, Vincent, worshiped
him"
"'rhats right Tell me ALL as I'm yer
husband that is ter be" said the other,
with Il coarse laugh.
Mrs. Kent has splendid jewels, too J
picked the lock to look at them. You
can take as many Of those as YOU like.
Come"
As soon as the sound of their footsteps
died away, Virginia snatched the deadly
handkerchief off her head, and staggered
to her feet, though dizzily. She was a
very spirited girl, and determined that
the pair should not escape. But what
could she do! 1t was vain to think of
getting the cook to alarm their neighbors
at the corner, for the next lot was vacant,
and she must cross the hall and 90 past
the stairs to find her. There would be
no use in throwing Up the window and
screaming; the house was on Clinton
avenue, far out, and the policeman did
not come past very often
| Virginia Wrung her hands, when Il
| sleepy murmur OF "Auntie" startled her
In Il second her resolve was taken, and
| she was on her knees by Fred, kissing
him and whispering in his ear
Erred, my darling, aunti9 is going tc
do something funny. You remember how
papa jumped YOU down from the balcony
on Christmas day to run after the mon
key! | am gong to Jump you down now
Don't speak a word NOW. Act like man
| There, now !"
Fred was Just four Years old, but I
great boy for his age, and he always
obeyed Virginia implicitly; so he lubbeC
his eyes wide open. and was carried tt
the window The balcony, outside, was
not far from the ground. AS Virginia
looked out carefully, she saw, under the
corner gaslight, a tall figure, with CLEAN
Of brass buttons
Fred she whispered rapidly, ''rul
fast to that policeman, and tell him tt
come right here to auntie then 20 to Mr.
| Motley's at the corner, and ring the bel
with all your might it is low, and yor
can reach it-and tell George and Harry
Motley that Aunt Virginia says there is I
thief in the house. Don't be afraid, Fred
be a man like papa"
Over; gently over the railing; an,
then, with a good shake Of his small per
son. Fred's fat little legs trotted swift,
off toward the policeman.
Directly, under the balcony, a voice
said softly: "What is wanted, ma'am
Can YOU open the front door for me ?"
II cannot" she painted; "there an,
burglars i'll the house, and should b,
heard. Can you get up, here, somehow
Has the little boy gone to the neighhOrs 2
There was no answer to her question
but the policeman easily followed he
suggestion, and climbed up over the bal
cony.
"W ait " whispered Virginia, laying he
cold hand on the poiceman's arm, Us h
made a motion to 90 forward. The,
are upstairs III my room, looking for IN,
Jewels. If You will stand lust behind tina
door, | will creep up the back stairs an'
reconnoiter; if the woman comes to an
swer the bell, seize her. There is onl,
one man; if | want help | will call, ant
then You will rush up the front stairs"
Are You not afraid y asked the police
man with some surprise; but Nirgini
was gone before he had finished his re
mark.
When she reached the stains, she foun,
by the sounds that the man had evident
ly gone into the silver closet, which stoo'
on the other side Of the back stairs, anC
that now she was between the tWo-io
she could hear Alice walking about in tn