The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-28

No. The lightning flash betrayed
me. The Ravens voice shrieked
hoarsely:
There she goes! Catch her! Quick!
This waym
Out of the front door came the pur-
suers, hardly ten steps from me.
dashed toward the thick shrubbery, to
throw them off the track. Fortunately,
knew the way, every step of it. They
were guided slowly by the sound and
flashing light.
Shoot her by the next 1ash!' cried
one
My flying feet struck loose boards. |
was passing over an old, unused well,
very deep, and it gave back hollow,
resonant sound. Almost the next mo-
ment L heard crash, the report of a
pistol, heavy fall, oaths and a deep
groan. Shuddering, sped on through
the garden, up toward the cider-press,
over the stone wall, down the hollow, up
the hillside, over the fields. No steps
followed; no voices shouted after me.
ran down to the second bars and let
them down. 1t began to rain a few
great drops, then fast, then it poured
l was wet to the skin. l ran on, for l
heard advancing wheels coming rapidly;
| stood in the road and cried: " Father!
father The chaise stopped. Another
chaise stopped also. 1t was our next
neighbours, who lived quarter of a mile
further on.
Ann, my child Good heavens!
What is the matter? What has hap.
pened?
l told the whole in few words, amid
eager EXPLANATIONS of Joy at my safety,
of surprise, even of anger, because
Thomas had left me alone
" Don't blame him, father. insisted
on his going"
A hurried consultation took place.
My father was very brave. Our neigh
Dor was very timid. He proposed going
on to his house and returning with
weapons. In the meantime | had got
INTO the chaise and crouched down at
my mothers feet, who was half CRYING,
and wholly thankful to feel me there.
We rode on and came to our gates
under the willows. There were lights in
the house, but all was still. Nothing
moved. My father put the rens in my
mothers hands, and opened the other
gate that led up the lane.
" Will you 60 home with Nathan"
said he
" And leave you here? No"
" Take your wife home, Nathan, if you
will, and come back"
" We will stay by you"
Let us reconnoiter, then, little"
They got out, leaving US sitting still. |
The rain fell less heavily. They got
that would do for weapons
from the Toulouse They went all
around the house-all was quiet They
went in. We sat still, speaking few
words, my hand clasped in my mothers,
and my frame trembling with fright.
Thomas is comingm l exclaimed,
eagerly. " hear the wheels"
We called to him as he came to the
gate, for he could not see US. He drove
through and called out:
What's the matter?"
We told him sufficiently, and he left
Betsey and Hannah, and went in at once,
with only the heavy whip. We did not
"at w ,9ng Nathan HoG came ISG cut directly
Nothing, Nobody"
" Are they all gomez"
" Yes, with some of the silver and a
few things. We don't know what yet"
The horses were put under the shed,
and we all went in. Father said calmly:
1--WE will take a lantern, Thomas, and
look around out of doors a little"
knew they would go to the old well.
| stood and looked out of the window
and saw the CLEAN of the lantern as it
moved. In very few minutes they came
back.
Zone of them is dead" said my ia
Their, and the other lies at the bottom and |
groans. The third has escaped"
They laid some boards across some
barrels in the shed, and brought the dead |
man and laid him on them. His COM
rade, who fell in the well, had shot him
in the head as he plunged through the
boards. His ugly face was uglier. 1t
was the Raven. That night my fathers
prayers were very solemn, and his EN-
brace was close as he gave me my good,
night kiss.
The robber in the we'll was bruised,
but not seriously hurt. The law took
HIM to punishment. The third escaped
| was never left at home again alone
En1LiSb N110zine