The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-13

Therefore I made known In the village that on
such a night ] would sleep at GOWNS cottage
i should be armed with loaded revolver, and
let iokers beware for I should certainly fire up.
on any one who disturbed me-
1 The wind howled In a melancholy fashion,
with great sWaying, rushing sound from the
forest, us stumbled along the steep winding
path that led to GOWNS. I had to grOpe Tor
the garden gate in the darkness, and as
touched the handle, the door OF the loft went
to with loud bang. had not thought Of
locking that, and now the wind had got it
open and was blowing aboutit, or perhaps it
was Gown on the lookout for me. climbed
up the outside stair that led to the loft shell
tered by the OverEanging caves OF the thatch-
ed gable, closed the door and locked 1t, first
lighting my lantern in the shelter atd looking
carefully around. Then made my way to
the front door along the garden path oil
The branches and tendris Of the unpruned
vine caught at me and drew me back, like de-
tanning fingers, but I went on and opened the
door boldly.
The first thing came in contact with was
an object hanging from the rufters, something
in the shape Of q man swinging slowly around.
twas Gown no doubt. Yes, there he was in
his habits as he lived, coat, trowsers and fish
erman's boots-but nothing inside them. Sim
ply GOWNS clothes hanging there. It was q
relief for the moment, and vet the fact itself
was startling The clothes were GOWNS; they
conveyed distinct impression of their owner.
They had not been there in the morning.
Gown must, therefore, have visited the place
very recently; perhaps even now he was hid
was a secret meaning and significance in this
hanging suit Of clothes. Was challenge
conveyed in it? Why was not the Professor
here to tell me what it signifed in his wretch
ed code Of primitive morals? 3sE@
Isoon SATISFIED myself that Gown was not
concealed on the premises, and I discovered
too how he might have effected both exit and
entrance. There was window unfastened
in the inner room quite big enough for the
purpose, and the marks of muddy feet fresh
upon it. But why should he have taken all,
the trouble? %sif5*s
Oh! there was paper pinned to the suit Of
clothes. 1t was the summons Gown had re-
ceived to appear in "conciliation." There
was significance about this, as if it had heeu
put there in mockery. Anyhow, whatever
might be meant, Gown should see how esti-
mated his thrests. cut down GOWNS clothes,
and, squeezing them into q bundle, threw
them out of the window. Then closed all
the mattress Ihad sent up for the purpose,
with my raugs carefully wrapped about me
and the loaded revolver ready to my hand.
I had lit fire in the hearth With faggots,
and that at first threw bright glow, but by
degrees the light dwindled and went ont.
The wind roared and beloved as if the for
est had been full of wild beasts. But was
conscious of it when l finally found myself
awake. was awake, but with some decisions
of sleep. Ihad an idea that was being tried
for making away with Gown, and that the
verdict was Guilty, to be beaten with a rod
of fire." And there was the fiery rod, sure
enoughIaoatl3g in the air as it seemed to me;
Aroused the full consciousness, | gazed at it
in panic Of nervous horror. The fiery rod
resolved itselfinto a glare of light, shining
through a longitudinal crack in the wooden
shutter. That window looked over toward
my house. That was the cause of the light?
There was no moon. Could it be fire? I
threw open the shutter. There was bright
smoke rising through the trees. At the mo-
ment the terrible thought shot through my
brain: "My house has been fired. Perhaps
here is GOWNS revenge!"
In my mad rush toward home remember
ed that a ladder was the most indispensable
thing, and that there was one under the caves
of the stable. I'd save precious moments If
no doubt of the fire; the sky all of glow, and
a vivid tongue offiame darling heavenWard.
The ladder had been removed; the fend who
had planned this had carried out his wicked
work completely. hurried on. The village
was already alive, and | heard the great
church bell changing out the alarm vigorous
ly. Ny home was in q blaze; what had be-
come Of wife and child?
Happily my wife was safe; she stood ny the
garden-gate wrapped in cloak-half dis
t.acted, wringing her HANDS and crying. &.
Where was Oracle? No one answered my
frantic demand, and the next moment was
trying to Chamber up to the upper windows y Y
way Beneath me. But Hetty seized me. "She
is not there; she is safe from the fire, but she
is cope, snatched away from me-" q-
"By whom?' -. 49,. .rs
"By Coyin."
switch way% III. --5@ @@
Over the hedge there"
I ran in the direction pointed out, wher e
was weak place in the hedge, through
which the high road might be reached Some
thing had caught in the brambles-a morsel
of Gracie's little night-dress. There were
footsteps dowu to the road, and there they
ceased to be traceable in the sluk. I could
not tell which way he had turned. I must 20
back to the house and ask my nelghbors to
help me in the pursuit, to run in various di-
rections, For my own part, would make fnr
the river, for in that direction I judged he had
gone. T. ..7 ..-s -eT,-s. E. .4.=..
When reached the house again the fire
was out. The neighbors had smothered it
with blankets and carpets. It had been q pc.
troleum fire, ''soon kindled and soon burned, =
The MARIE was on the scene at this time, and
the cure. I told them what had happened
besought them to aid me at once the search
for the man who had fired nv house and
stolen my child. They couldn't hardly be.
lieve such an outrage to be possible in this
| law abiding country, but there was the patent
fact (Hrapia W. OOnn and Gown had tokAu