The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-07-25
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~ pane, thrut j. bGNc Hadsoht Aha
! wAs seventeen years Old ihss same De.
cembsr night, Snd 20 very small that
Mrs Knight. Dolly, who wss twelve
was half bead taller thsu myself.
We were fich folks once, but father
died apd len as very poor Mother
struggled along in weary baud 20 hand
dgh, with poverty tiil wss sixteen, and
died She bad rented two rooms OF Mrs
knight, widow also, with two sialwart
sons, an sged father, aud two daughter
After mother died, was adopted by The
knigbts, aud slthough ! was earning a
suppor, a. music teacher ia The Baysyille
Academy, was like one Of the family,
when was in my good landisdy's home.
They we're sl 10 good positions, al.
though by 10 means Al srlstocratic iami'
2 w.. John, the eldest sou, was 10 a whole
sale suaar nonsc; Tom wac the night
watehmau Of The Baysyilie Bank building
aud grandpa-we al called him grandpa
-wss telegraph operator of the town,
while Mary was a milliner, aud Dolly
still 1T school.
BAysvil.e Bank building was large
granite structure, containing the pot
Office and bank on the FIRST floor, the
telegraph otRce aud a humber OF private
law tfiice, on the second lloor, aud other
private Offices on the third door In the
basement were post office rooms Tor sort
ing The mail, aud also tie large bank
vaults.
/ knew the building well, Tor was
fond OF ieegraphing, aud spent half my
leisure time perched up beside grandpa
IN bis office, sending and receiving mes
,ages, while he slept peacefully or read
the newspaper.
And that vas the beginning Of my
amnsement Al Dry yden, the next station.
The operator at Dryden was wit, aud
dashed nonsense TO our Office when busi.
ness was dun. II tell Hat when grandpa
was Ia the office, but il ! were here, !
sent back jest for jest, aud sometimes an
hour slipped by like a minute as we talk
ed oven The wires OF every topic ider
the sun lie called himself Lion, aud !,
for nonsense, signed mi self Elephant,
laughing while did so at the reflection
of my tiny figure in the Office mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
FROM IiaysyilIe, was c., a large com
mereia town, the nearest railway station,
and where an office was always open for
the accommodation OF travellers.
As have said, Tom Knight was the
night watchman OF Baysyile Bank build
ing and lonely time he had Of IL. The
last mail came by stage at four O'Clock 10
the afternoon, and the post office was va
Gated Ut six. The bank closed ut three,
and by six every office was deserted for
the night.
AT seven Tom was on duty, and grand.
pa, who was restlets at night, was in the
habit Of taking down some coffee and
luncheon, as the building was only a
stones throw from our house.
On the December night have already
mentioned, II bad stormed heavily all
day, and had taken new class at the
Academy, coming home later in the day
than usual, and excited over my increase
Of salary.
Every body else had gone to bed, and |
was lingering over the kitchen fire with
Mrs Knight, dreadIng the plunge into
my cold room, where bad allowed the
fire to 90 out
4 The clock struck twelve, and Mrs.
Knight, lifting her face from over the fire
said:
DO call grandpa, olive; he's asleep on
the sofa 10 the sitting room. IN have
Tom. basket ready by the time grandpa
has bis coat and hat on. bate TO call
him, for be was complaining of rheuma-
li.m to-day, and the ground is very wet,
4 although the storm il ever.
Let him sleep, said; III run over
with the basket II is not step.
But IL SO dark. Are you not afraid I
Not Bit In slip on my waterproof
aud rubbers, aud draw the hood VI the
cloak over my head.
Well, il you will. Though am afraid
Tom will scold at my letting you 90.
4 III put the basket on the table aud run
and he'll never know " no Jeff il.
Go into the rear basement door. lie
leaves that open for grandps.
know.
/ grasped the handle Of the basket, hur-
ried across the space between the build
ing and the house, aud stole softly in At
the rear basement door, 10 pursuance Of
my plan TO irop the basket aud run.
In my rubber shoes my steps were
noiseless, aad bad scarcely passed the
threshold when stood rooted TO the floor
10 terrified amszemeu,.
Somebody was taking
crept forward aud listened There
were men 10 The bank vault, aud ligh,
shoue uuder the door
While listened, some one said:
There. a c0niounded drsught here.
Did YOU shut The door, Smith,
Yes, bui ihe wind may have blown Il
open.
bad just time 70 dart under the stair.
case aud crouch down, when the door OF
the vault opened, aud mAu came out
He crossed the entry, drew The two heavy
noisy bolts, fastening the door BY which
bad entered, and returned without
closing The ysalt door
could look 10 By the dim light to Sc,
two men working u The safe locke by tAs
slream Of lIght lhroRn from 4 dAfk lan