Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-08

the Judgment-day. The door burst OPEN and
were behind it, Bridget dropped the potatoes
with shrek that rang through the house,
and, rushing back to the cellar, pushed the
door together, and held it with the Strength of
desperation.
Mollie, in the chamber above, reused from
her book by this startling interruption, Sprang
INTO the center of tie room, and listened M
ment, with lace as white as her dress. There
was final crash below. and without the least
idea what she was doing MOllie started for the
Kitchen in such haste hat She fell down the
last five of the back stairs, and bursting open
the door AT the foot, rolled into the lower room.
where she picked herself W, too much excited
to think of her bruises. Potatoes were seat
kitchen door was open, the wash room door
was CPen, aud the beam lay on the floor. From
behind TIE cellar door came half-smOthered
these facts before Miss Abigail arrived on the
scene, br' afhless with excitement.
oh aunt. gasped MoIlie, Mortified at the
some ones down cellar, and Bridge there
] do bt lirye she's half murdered. 'Sh! must
have iTightsned EN-, tumbing down stairs
"1io~ many OF EN- are there?' Uueried Miss
Abigail, in a hOaFse whisper, glancing around
for sCme weapon OF defense.
don know. guess there are two
Miss Abigail waited for no more but neryed
by the thought of Bridget in the hand, OF mur
deTerS, seized the kettle of boiling water from
the stove, and rushed to the cellar door which
opened lromthe Kitchen threw herself against
H. Sh soon found that the door was held on
the 9th side, and that it would require her
utmost efforts TO open it.
Gone and take thiS!' she said to MOllie,
hOldiT & out the kettle.
TIL re was a trial of strength Miss Abigairs
muscular energy was not deSpica ble but
Bridge was desperate, and would have died
before the door should have been opened. The
spins CT was forced to give up the contest and
Stood lack, baffied and exasperated. A bright
idea, owever, presently darted through her
ran il to the wood shed. Molie, leaving the
kettle in the first handy place, which happen
ed to lie the lowest step. OF the back stairs,
way tack with the clOtheS-line in her hand.
III we can't get tn," She explained, in
nervous nerve whisper, they shant get out at any
but We can keep 'em down there till Jonathan
gets lack. There's only one window, and
barred and too small for a man to crawl
Miss Abigail proceeded hastily to tie a slip
knot around the old faShiOned handle of the
latch on the cellar door. which she drewtight
then, crossing the kitchen, she passed tn
other end of the line around the pump, and
making ii ''taut" with considerable extrtiDn
wound it around again and again, and finally
tied 1t in an unSkiilIul but viciouSly twitched
knot Moilie, who in spite of her concern for
Erids ct, had been in terror lest the outlaws
should suddenly burst out upon them, drew a
long breath of relief when this was done; but
her satisfaction was dis .urbed by sharp ex-
clamatl0n behind her. Grandma RichtOn,
alarmed at the noise, had crept feebly down
the TACK Stairs 10 '0DQ AUlgalI, and had, OF
course, fallen over the Kettle of boiling
water, amidst rivuletS of which she was feeby
struggling.
I'll ere! now she's killed herself" eiaculat-
ed Miss Abigail, diving under the rope TO the
rescue. " hill MO'lie looked on in horror.
Grandma RichtOn was lifted and laid on
couch In the corner, and while Miss Abigail,
ObIViOuS of everything OlSe, for the m ,mAnt
was aScertainng the eX' ent of her Injuries
MOliie commenced a nervous promenade about
the room: 1t was in the midst of this prone
made that she happened to glance out of the
west window, and saw, to her utter horror, the
hguIeS of two strange men coming across
lots toward the house. There are no words
in the English language strong enough to ex-
press Mollle feelings at this juncture She
just cutched teebly at Miss Abigairs dress,a.
the latter hurried past her in search of rene
dies for ScaldS.
'tAunt! aunt. there are two more of them.
See." - " an
Miss Abigail looked out of the window, then
pack at her mother, and stood stock still in
tary strength by the sight of the open wash
room door. which they had not thought OF
shutting, she fastened to close it, and hJisted
the beam again.
" That's no good" she said, hurrisdly.
Here, MOllie, come and help me move this
secretary against the door. Mercy on US,
enid, don, stop to be frightened now" she
added, as Mo.fe approached, shakingin every
limb with terror. Now close those inner
blinds. so they can't look in, AMI shut the sit
ting-rOOm door
A fresh groan from the cellar, elected by
Grandma RichtOn's means. which caused
Brldget to suppose that the whole household
was being murdered, did not add to Molies
comfort. Miss Abigail, having poured lini,
meEt hastily over Grandma RichtOns ScaldS
hurried up stairs to watch the movements of
the approaching enemies. She and Mollie
Prices chamber window, peered forth The
men had reached the back garden wall over
which they were leisurely climbing; Tney
we've rough-lOOking. and evidently bent on
fIeV To
help themselves to .'windfalls," and once
shook pear tree and lied their pockets with
gail silently to take down the gun and hold it at
afms-length as she brought it to the window
oh, Aunt Abigail, take care! It'll go off,
" 1 mean it shall, if they do much more" re-
Joined the spinster, turning the gun around
with gingerly care; You'd better get out of
the way, Moie.. / might hit you just as like,
or the thing might explode. IL hasn't been
used for years.
You ought to keep hold of something when
you fire it, suggested MOlle, from the OF Ter
down. Guns always do"
They're trying the back door," announced
Miss Abigail, i'll an excited whisper. They
only knocked once. wonder if those robbers
in the cellar belong to the same set. They're
shaking the door, the villains"
Two or three loud knocks sounded through
window; finding that fast, another and YET
another, While Miss Abigail watched them
from above with fast growing anger; they
then took a leisurely survey OF the hou ,e, eyi
IDENTITY undecided what to do next
wish could hear what they're SAYING"
SAID the Spinster, vexedly. Il heard ali gone
10 church That one in the red shirt said it.
expect they'll get battering ram next. III
keep still as long as can"
Instead OF proceeding to any extreme meas
ureS. however the men calmly lighted couple
OF pipes during which operation they more
than orce laughed uprOaTlouS,y. They after
ward made circuit of the house, tried every
window, including those in the sheds, and
shook the doors vigorously; meanwhile Miss
Abigail and Molie followed their course
through the chambers, the former still carry
ing the gun. Having come back to their orig
mai starting point, they held another consul
tatiOn, after which, to the amaZement of the
watchers, they Went of to the barn
I'D like to know what that's fOr!r eiacu-
lated Miss Abigail, at her wits end. THEY'LL
steal that other horse, or else they'll get some
thing and break a window up here; and there's
N" knowing what these men down the cellar
ale about"
All was quiet for time, the stiffness being
only broken by the grOans of Grandma Rich,
ton. The intruders were nowhere to be seen
Finally MOllie, recommending from an attic
window, discovered that they had entered the
corn barn by means of rear window had
opened the door, and were sitting upon two
barrels smoking.
Mercy on u.s." exclaimed Miss Abigail,
glanciDg at the clock and then sinking into a
Il.ara