The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-30

bury this in the flour barrel. The box can {
be well wrapped in clean towel, and it need
not be bit harmed.
She was holding large soup lade in her
hand ; her own gift to the BRIDE it naturally
seemed worthy her earliest solcitude.
And added she, those spoons might be
covered with newspaper and thrust up the
chimney. There isn't enough heat in the
Goals Suddenly Tillys hand took hold
of her arm with low expressive squeeze.
Victoria, lin a muffled monotone Il really
thiuk saw that back shutter move. |
feel in my very marrow that some one is
watching us
Pooh cried Victoria, all the more sharp
ly because she was conscious of queer,
creeping sensation 'Pooh you are so fool.
isb, Tilly.'
Nevertheless, her grey eyes were nervously |
diated, and her actions spoke of spasmod ic |
effort as she walked quickly acros, the floor
and jerked down the curtain, then hastily
lowered the lamp.
1t was fully three quarters of an hour be-
fore the ladies had secreted everything and
by the time they were upstairs in their
room, preparing for bed, the hall clock
struck one.
They were wondering what they had bet
ter do with their purse-the common house,
hold purse-as it contained money received
from rents which they had not found time to
carry to the bank that day.
Put it under your pillow, Matilda sug-
gested Victoria, then nobody can possibly
get it without waking you, l shouldn't
think
What good do you imagine it would do if
| were walked, Victoria? Matilda's voice
had an unmistakable quaver in it. no, l
thank you, my dear ; but since you wouldn't
mind
well, well,' impatiently give me the
gold, Tilly. will guarantee to take care of
that Let them have the silver, if they want
it,
: As they were undressing in the dark, Tilly
was obliged to strike several matches before
she could select the two precious twenties
from among the half dollars.
, In the feeble glimmer Miss Victoria was
disclosed with her hand over her head hold
ing her thick brown hair ready for coiling.
When she knotted it up again, the pieces of
money, wrapped in bit of torn paper, were
securely bound up in the midst of it. No
, wonder she was proud of her ingenious hid
ing place.
Now, where's the robbers who would
l think
t OF ever looking there for chink ?"
4 Cried Miss Victoria, triumphantly and il
8 Matilda had heard sepulchral Here issue
y from under the bed or out of the black void
u of the coset-the door of which opening
e near the head of the bed stood slightly ajal
Il it would nave chimed in exactly with hel
terrors.
r Don't you think we had better light a
= candle and search the house, Victoria 2
}. you ridiculous creature was the elder
Miss Burney's reply how do you suppose
p with visitors coming and going all day, thai
any bad character could possibly have fount
" chance to come in ? Nonsense Let III
hop into bed. The ssoner we are asleep, ,tht
t. sooner it will be morning
d Side by side the sisters lay down, with tirec
bodies and excited brains.
No mind, however phlosopic, nor an!
s. series of investigations, would ever enabl'
o one to determine in regard to these two la
, dies at just what instant on that memorable
'e night the trouble of their waking thought
d passed into the complexed trouble ofdreams
But it seemed to Miss Victoria that her hea'
$ had hardly touched the pillow before sh
er had gone down stairs and was busily at wor
lie pulling set of silver forks out from tn
le crease of the sofa, where she had hidde
As them, and was trying to hide them owe
r again without being seen by dark shadow
le suspicious-l looking parsonage, who followe
l. her about and turned up just as she though
er herself escaped from him. As for Miss Ma
N tilda, she had vivid realization of bein
p alone in brilliantly lighted house, follow
lr ed by her waking dread intensified, namel,
a. that some one without was looking in upo
u her. There were curtains that rolled Il
n automatically as soon as they were pulle
IN down, and innumerabe gas.jets that rel
themselves when put out. She fled to an VI
v, per room. Moved by an uncomfortable in
We pulse, she went to a window and peept
through blind. Horror of horrors The
a in the broad glow of light thrown in II
e. yard from lower window, was plainly to
s. seen II human figure outlined in the act
Id stopping down to look through a keyhol
We She tried to shrek out for Victoria, stru
gled, gasped-and woke. The terror of h
to dream was strongly upon her, and she Ii
IS staring into the dark with wild beating heal
She could hear her sister breathing placid
p beside her. Did she hear nothing else? Y
Sc the hall clock ticking sobery. NothiI
to else Yes-as surely as either of the
souuds-another. Neither the futter of al
Mt garments nor fall of any foot yet distinct
he such indescribable sounds as go to make |
ne a stealthy motion. She was positive tn
n somebody was in the room. 1t seemed az
is of intolerable anguish before she couli dri
her hand from under her head and urge
be over toward her sister. Struggling again
leaden heayiness, she finally succeeded
n. touching Victoria on her shoulder. TT
ct quiet slumberer gave a puff and sputte
,g tossed uneasily, and murmured ndistinc
ly;
IN Is that you, Tilly? Wha' ye wan
~ every syllable of which pierced the listel
a. er's frightened heart like something ket
and deadly.
b. Matilda's only mode of reply was shal
pinch which brought her sister broad awak
no Tilly's monitory touches warned her not
ne speak.
be They both lay listening intently. All W
IA still for a few brief seconds, and the eide
IA. sister was about to founee over, with pc
, tish exclamation about not being so cowar
% ly as Tilly, when again the disturbing sour
came-the cautious slipping and sliding, Il