The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-19
lay before me. / prayed inwardly a


Turning from the glass, went stead
lily toward the table that stood near the
window, and on which l had left my
candle. moved steadily as usual, and
took up the water-pitcher and looked In, 4,
and then took my candle and went to-
ward the kitchen. The lightning kept
flashing, but the face did not come again.
l dropped my candle on the kitchen
hearth, and put my foot on the wick. l
set down the pitcher on the dresser, and
with soft, light football fastened through
the west room up the front stairs. into
my iathel's chamber, and softly closed
and bolted the door at the top of the
stairs. unlocked his box, took out th
bags of gold, relocked it, and made my
way into the great chamber.
heard voices; l heard the doors tried
below. knew 1t was not my father. l
dared not tremble nor grow faist. l
went through that room and two others
TO the garret stairs. l hardly breathed.
heard a window pushed up; mora than
the dark. There was sliding panel in
the inside of the stairway. pushed IT..
and it rolled back. Ientered into long
closet under the stairs, and slid the
panel carefully into its place. felt
cautiously to see IL all was safe. |
pulled my dress close about me lest IL
might be caught, and the door not closed
tightly. Then waited. heard steps
coming up the stairs. heard a search
through all the rooms below. My heart
beat till | thought that every bound
must be audible, heard voices--One
voice, the Ravens. l knew that harsh
croak. 1t told me nothing. The face
had revealed all to me. Tue 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 returned and had brought accom-
plices. My peril was terribly imminent.
Very soon the steps and voices came my
way. l could distinguish plainly the
words that were spoken:
"Drat her! she must have seen yOu."
"No 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.
l heard the steps and voices move
away, a dull, crashing sound, and then
stified, angry tones. L knew they had
opened the box, and found nothing but
the papers. l knew they would now
search for me. L heard them as they
looked into every room and closet, and
came up the stairs separate. They all
met at the foot of thegarret stairs. A
thick board was between us. l thanked
God that the panel was close shut. l
knew it; for no ray OF light came
through.
"Sne must be up here" said the Ra-
ven, Sand Well soon have her"
"Pll warrant she is here, and Pll
wiring her neck il she makes noise
about it,"
But the thorough search was ended,
and the voices grew very angry and full
OF frightlul oaths aud threatenings.
They sat down on the garret stairs to
hold u parley. A spider ran across my
face. A spider puts me in mortal fear.
1t was win great effort that kept from
screaming.
"Come," croaked the Raven, "let us
go and get the silver; that will be some-
thing-tnat will be something"
course the silver. It's the gold Pve
come Tor, and Pll burn the house if l
A cold perspIration. Would they per-
fol m their threat?
"Goodl then the rats will squeak.
Down drop the money bags, and Well
choke the girl TO make her dumb"
"Hold your noise. The old man will
be coming nome. Wen be caught here.
Be quick"
.Who cares for him? He's only one;
a bludgeon will give MIN a handy little
headache as be comes in"
"And his witeW
They spoke low, hideous words that
made my flesh creep. L almost was
ready to call aloud TO open the panel, to
give them the gold, and bid them 90.
Iney got up, ana the steps and voices
went down. 1t was horrible there in the
dark. Twas stitllng. lmoved the panel
slightly. No llgnt entered. slid it
softly back. My resolution was taken.
would get out of the house, run down
the road and meet my iather. 1 would
save him. left the gold in the closet,
shutting it in close. l stole down two
steps into the chamber below. l knew
there was window open there. |
crept across the room, listening keenly,
| Lifted myself cautiously on the window
ledge, and caught a branch of the cher
nv Tree which grew close to the house.
Swinging myself lightly out, L hastily
descended the trunk of the Tree, and
found myself on the ground, safe.
No. The lightning fash betrayed me.
The Ravens voice shrieked hoarsely:
"rhere she goes! Catch herl Quick
This wayW
out at the front door came the pursu.
ers, hardly ten Steps from me. ldashed
toward the thick shrubberv to throw
them off the track. Fortunately l knew
the way, every step of it. They were
guided slowly by the SOUND anu flashing
light
"Shoot her by the next fashy" cried
one.
My flying feet struck loose boards.
was passing directly over an old, unused
we'll, very deep, and it gave back a 1ol'
low. resonant sound. Almost the next
nom ent heard "a crash, the report OF i
pistol, heavy fall, oaths, and a deel
groan. Shuddering, l sped on througl
the garden, up toward the cder-press
over the stone wall, down the hollow, III
che hillside, over the fields. No steps
| followed; no voices shouted after me
Tran down to the second bars and lie
them down. 1t began to rain a few grea
drops, then fast, then 1T poured. was
wet to the skin. l ran Oh, for 1 heart
advancing wheels coming rapidly;
stood in the road and cried: "Fat1er
taGnerW The ehalse stopped. AnOtheI
cbalse stopped also. IL was our mex
neighbors, who lived quarter Of 1
mile further on.
-"Ann, my child. Good heavens
What is the matter? What has hap