Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-03-22
ONE NIGHT.

log cabin, at long distance from any
other habitaiion. Our household con-
sisted Of my father and mother. my
brother Mark, two years older than my
self. ny sister Grace, who was MARKS
twin, myself and two noble dogs, large.
strong. and fierce to strangers, but very
gentle to Us. Ours was q very happy
HE. We were not troubled with much
school learning. except what was inn
parted in very charming way by our
mother. who had the happy faculty Of
making study appear ike 40 entertain
ment. From our father we learned the
asts vi hunting AND iiAhias. snd We beys
could handle . rife - dexterOusly as
our teacher. Grace was q lovely little
girl. fond Of her brothers, yet clinging
to her mothers side as timid!y as child,
and refusing to sleep anywhere but in a
small room, literally only closet, that
opened from within larger one where
my parents slept. In the day time she
would follow rs out into the woods, q
short distances but the least sound Of
anything unusual 10 her esr, would
send her, pale and quivering. TO our
arms, and We despaired Of ever making
her brave enough to enjoy our wild and
restless lives. -
So although missing us sadly, she was
quite content to stay at home, with
locked doors, whenever our father and
ourselves were absent. and keep our
mother company. Il was not often that
strangers visited our lonely dwelling;
but with Grace, il seemed fixed ex-
pectation that we should one day be an
noyed. perhaps injured in some way, by
unscrupulous men. Her terrors did not
diminish with time: and at fourteen she
was as timid as at six-so much 50 that
my father thought seriously Of remov-
ing to a settled district, two or three
miles of, where we should have the So
ciety Of Q few neighbors. But we all
loved our little home, and Grace would
not consent to the sacrifice, just to bu-
NOR her idle fears. she said.
One night, just at dusk, when we had
set down 10 plentiful supper. which
had been kept more than an hour wait
ing for my father to return from the
next town, where he had been selling
an immense quantity of hops, and for
which he had gone to receive the mon
ey, we were some hat disturbed at the
entrance of two stout men. Had they
I come in my fathers absence, ! believe
Grace would have died with alright.
As il was her terror must have been
; sufficiently manifest. She had eyed
the strangers closely, her face growing
whittier every instant. The men asked
! for food. and my father Hospitality ln-
! vited them to partake OF our supper.
They ate enormously, and drank large
quantities ofeider. They were not at all
good looking, and their eyes met fire.
quently rs if comforting silently upon
some subject which they had before
spoken of. At least, such was the inn
preston which Grace conveyed to Mark
and myself in hurried whisper, when
We had escaped from the room.
80, that father would see il as do ~
she whispered; "but he viii only call
it my foolish fears. wish he would
come out," she added, with quiyering
lap. '.that you might tcoax him into watch
ing them" A moment after. she turned
still paler, as she said, 80. Mark. Rob-
bic. think Of the money! o. that IS
what they want. They have followed
father home 10 rob him r.
Her agony was now so great that We
feared she would faint. We assured
her that we would not 60 to sleep that
night if they stayed. as We supposed
they would, as we knew that father
would not refuse them lodging by the
kitchen ere. Our rifles were already
loaded. and were in our little room which
led from the kitchen. the door being
close 10 the fireplace.
As we anticipated. they were to sleep
there. Father, mother and Grace re-
tired, and the men stretched themselves
on come bearskins before the hearth, on
which blaxed some knots Of wood. illu-
miaaiing the rough ceiling. Their own
rites were placed near our door.
Il was not long before they slept
heavily. Marx, who had LEFT the dooI
Iaiar, now reached out his hand softly
for one Of the rifles. from which be
noiselessly removed the charge. The
other soon shared the same operation
Our eyes were kept open unwinkingl,
) until twelve, when one Of the meE
awoke. Marx and Iwere snorlngPOw
erfully a. that time, which seemed I.
rcassuse the villain, fcs he touched tn
other with his foot, and said in hoars'
whisper: