Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-27

this cellar, which was excessively dark
and irregular, without crossing herself.
Now the pros pcct was especially terrible,
and, with IL muttered prayer TO Virg n.
she went down the stairs with occasi onal
haltings, and having fl led the basin with
almost miraculous speed. hurried back
again. But to-day the kitchen had al
most as many terrors Tor her as the cellar,
and halfway up the stairs she was start
led by a violent gust Of wind and an
ominous sound above.
"Bcyorra, now" muttered Bridget to
the potatoes, as she stopped in dcspera-
ton, "thc Guild craythur himsclf's in the
house,
Another blast of wind that shook wind
ows and doors. Bridget had reached the
OPP of the stairs. She had closed the
door leading into the wash-roo'" half an
hour ago. From behind this door sound
ed a rumble which seemed caused by the
sliding OF some heavy body, followed by
some violent clatter: then came some
heavy shock against it, which. seemed t.
Bridgets excited senses like the thunders
Of the Judgement-Day. The door burst
open and never doubling that robbers
and nlurderers were behind it, Bridget
dropped tine potatoes with a shrek that
ran through the house, and rushing back
to the cellar, pushed the door together,
and held 1t with strength Of dvspera
ton.
Mollie, in the chamber above. reused
from her hook by this startling inter
( rup1ion, sprang into the center of the
room, and listened a moment, with face
as white as her dress. There was final
crash below, and with the least idea what
she was doing, Mollie started for the
kitchen in such haste that she fell down
the last five Of the back stairs, and bust
ing open the door at the foot, rolled into
the lower room, where she picked herself
up, too much excited to think Of her
business. Potatoes were scattered over
the floor in every direction. The kitch-
en- door was open. the wash-room door
was open, and the beam lay on the floor.
From behind the cellar door came half
smothered moan. Nlollie had scarce
time to realize these facts before Miss
Abigail arrived ON the scene, breathless
with excitement.
ooh, amt" gasped Mollie, Mortified
at the sound Of another groan behind the
cellar door, ''some ones down cellar, and
Budgets there! do believe she's half
murdered. 'Sh! must have frightened
EN- tumbing down stairs.'
How many OF EN- / re there!' querled
Miss Abigail. in a hoarse whisper, glanc
ing around for some weapon Of defense.
II don't know. | guess there are TWO"
Miss Abigail waited for no more, but,
neryed by the thought Of Bridget in the
hands CT murder ers, seized the kettle Of
boiling water from the stove, and rushing
kitchen, threw herself against it. She
soon found that the door was held on the
other side, and that it would require her
utmost efforts to open it.
Come and take tilis! she SAID to
Mollie, holding out the kettle.
There was Il trial Of strength. Miss
Abigail muscular energy was not des-
| picabIe, but Bridget was desperate. and
would have died before the door should
have been opened. The spinster was
forced to give up the contest, and stood
back, baticd and exasperated. A bright
idea. however, presently dart2d through
her mind; and signing to Moilie to follow
! her, she ran into the woodshed. Mollie,
leaving the kettle in the tlrst handy ace
which happered to be the lowest step OF
the back stairs, obeyed; but Miss Abigail
was already on the way back with the
clothcs-line in her hand.
"lt we cant get IT, she explained, in
a neavous whisper, "they sba t get out
at any rate! don't see as We can help
Bridget any. but we can keep EN- down
there till Jonathan gets back. There S
only one window, and that's barred and
too small for a man to crawl through.
Miss Abigail proceeded hastily. to tie
a s,ip.knot around the old-fashioned
:" handle" os the latch OF the cellar door,
which she drew tight; then, crossing the
kitchen, she passed the other end OF the
line around the pump, and making it
"tau1" with considerable cXertion, wound
it around again aud again, and finally
tied it in an unski!lful bur viciously
twitched knot. Mollie. who in spite OF
her copcern for Bridget, had been in ter
ror lest the outlaws should suddenly
burst out upon them, drew a long breath
of relief when this was done; but her
satisfaction was disturbed by sharp ex-
clamatlon behind her. Grandma Rich
ton, alarmed at the noise, had crcpt
feebly down the back stairs to " find
Abig y had. OF course, fallen over the
kettle OF boiling water, amidst riyulets of
whichshs was fccbly struggling.
" There! now she's killed herself:"'
calculated Miss Abigail. diving under the
rope to the rescue, while Nlollie looked
on in horror.
Grandma Ricnton was lifted and laid
on couch in the corner, ard while Miss
Abigail, oblivious Of everything, for the
moment. was ascertainlng the extent of
her injuries, N1ollie commenced ner-
vous promenade about the room. 1t was
in the midst of this promenade that she
/ happened to glance out of the west VIM
dow, and saw. to her utter horror, the
figures of two strange men coming
"across lots toward the house. There
are no words in the English language
strong enough to express Mollie's feel
1ngs at this luncture. She Just clutched
fecbly at Miss Abigail's dress, as the lat
ter hurried past her IN search of rene
dies for scalds.
Aunt! aunt! there are two more of
them! Secr'
Miss Abigail looked out at the window,
then hack'at her mother. and stood stock
still in genuine despair; tIlen. inspired
witt, moincntary strength by the sight Of
the open Mushroom door, which they
had not thought OF shutting, she hasten
ed to close it, and hoist TIC beam again.
"Thats no good she said hurriedTy.
"Here, Mobile, come and help me move
this secretary against the door Mercy
on'us child, don't stop to be frightened
nowa" she, added, as Noble appoache !,
shaking in every limb with terror, ,"Now
close these inner blinds, so they can't
look in, and shut the sitting room door ~
f. A fresh erOan from the cellar, elected
by. Grandma Richton's ;>moans, which
caused EBridgetto suppose that the whole
household was being murdered, did not
add to M9llie,s comfort. .: Miss Abigail,
b,1,;,,o. ,,o,,roI 19r;,,oonf hoo4;lrv 'Cxyn,