Daily globe., 1878-06-23

against the door in question, braciDg tn
other end against the boiler. Il dom
want any of Jonathan's little pieces o
| wood stuck over latches I mean to hav,
it safe. The latch don't hold, ANYWAY
and a wind like this would have that doc
| open in minute. don't exactly lil1
this arrangement, either" she added, eye
ing the uneven base of the beam with un
friendly eyes, while Mollic stood sym
pathizingly, in the doorway of the kitch
| en-.
| "Well," continued Miss Abigail, after
final croWding in of the beam. "Wel
| suppose that must answer. Now
Bridget we want dinner at quarter pas
twelve. Get your fire made and let tn
cabbage be boiling. It wont do any gool
! to sit there crying. I'll take care Of tn,
pudding. I'm going upstairs to pu
mother to bed. If you want anything
speak to me, and don't unlock door fo
your life. Mollie will you just see toa
the lower windows are fastened?"
After a thorough examination of the
aforesaid easements, Miss Abigail came
back and took her invalid mother II
charge, with final caution to Bridget IL
let her know if she saw anyone com
ing" Mollie, somewhat reasurel by the
existing quiet, went up to her own room
and tried to forget the present in the
latest of Mrs. Southworth's novels.
MeanN hile it would be impossible t(
describe the condition of Brldget's mind
thus left alone in the kitchen. Being
firmly impressed with the conviction thai
unknown perils beset ner, at first she
dared not move from her chair. The
cackling of the sociable fowls outside
the door and each fresh gust Of autumn
after long waiting, she gained courage to
cross the room and light tie fire, moving
about on tiptoe, with terrified CLAN. es be
hind her. If Miss Abigail had known
that it was a quarter past eleven before
the cabbage was put over the fire, she
would certainly have scolded; but for
tunately she had enough to do upstairs
Bridget at last took heart to grace, and
seizing the wash basin, started tor the
cellar, and the potatoes which were in
is farther corner. Bridget never entered
this cellar, which was excessively dark
and irregular, without crossing herself.
Now the pros pect was especially terrible,
and, with muttered prayer to Virgin,
she went down the stairs with occasi onal
haltings, and having filled 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 violent gust of wind and an
ominous sound above
"Begorra, now," muttered Bridget to
the potatoes, as she stopped in despera-
ton, "the ould craythur himself's in the
house!''
Another blast Of wind that shook wind
ows and doors. Bridget had reached the
op of the stairs. She had closed the
door leading lnte the wash-roo}" half an
hour ago. From behind this door sound
ed a rum BILE which seemed caused by the
sliding of some heavy body, followed by
some violent clatter; then came some
heavy shock against it, which seemed to
Bridget's excited senses like the thunders
of the Judgement-Day. The door burst
open and never doubling that robbers
and murderers were behind it, Bridget
dropped the potatoes with shrek that
ran through the house, and rushing back
to the cellar, pushed the door together,
and held 1t with a strength of despera-
tion.
Mollie, in the chamber above, reused
from her book by this startling inter-
ruption, sprang into the center of the
room, and listened moment, with face
as white as her dress. There was a 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. Mollie had scarce
time to realize these facts before Miss
Abigail arrived on the scene, breathless
with excitement.
"Oh, aunt!" gasped Mollie, Mortified
It the sound of another groan behind the
cellar door, "some ones down cellar, and
Bridget's there do believe she's half
murdered. 'Sh! must have frightened
EN- tumbling down stairs.''
"How many of 'em are there?" queried
Miss Abigail, in hoarse whisper, glanc-
ing around for some weapon Of defense.
II don't know. I guess there are two.'
Miss Abigail waited for no more, but,
1erved by the thought Of Bridget in the
hands CT murdel ers, seized the kettle of
polling water from the stove, and rushing
o the cellar door, which opened from the
kitchen, threw herself against it. She
soon found that the door was held on the I
'ther side, and that it would require her
almost efforts to open it.
"Come and take tnis!'' she said to
Nollie, holding out the kettle.
There was u trial of strength. Miss
Abigail's muscular energy was not des-
oicable, ,but Bridget was desperate, and
would have died before the door should
lave been opened. The spinster was
orced to give up the contest, and stood
back. baf1ed and exasperated. A bright
dea, however, presently darted through
Ter mind; and signing to Mollie to follow
Ter, she ran into the woodshed. Mollie,