The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1878-06-05
house fastenin rs, and asked again il

| liIri'a S+'Oi'o - 81 A4o "'@N-
servants Jane and Jenkins, he left
for town. I saw everything Sc
cure and went to bed carly, lock-
ing Arthur's bedroom, and taking
the key with mo.
1t was long before | slept.
When I did, I was almost imme-
diately aroused by slight sound
at my door. I asked who was
there. James voice answered in a
cautious whisper. Seeing some
thing was wrong, rising, l ad-
mitted her. No sooner had she
entered than, quickly closing, she
fastened the door, and exclaime led,
in accents Of terror, "Oh, miss !!
what shall we do? For mercy's
sake, make no noise-don't get a
light. Burglars are breaking into
the house, and I'm sure Jenkins is
their accomplice."
"Burglars !" [ cried. Then the
thought Of the face flashed across
me. "Gracious powers p | ex-
claimed, "ihey after the Etchin
diamonds p
l saw it all. The groom's err
rand had been OWNED, my
brothers absence was known,
and, by Jenkins treacherous aid,
the place was being attacked. l
dropped stunned on the bed. Then
I started up.
At any cost-even life-tbe dia-
monds iutrusted to Arthur must
be saved. Hurriedly l dressed,
and while doing so, heard the soft
sound Of persons moving in the
house.
"Jane," I said, having explained
all to the faithful girl, II must get
Sir Etchin's diamonds"
"How, miss? If you go in the
passage they'll murder you"
"True; therefore l. must get out
by the window. They will not
hear, for they believe the box is
in the study, and it will take them
long to discover their mistake"
Opening the window, [ got out
on the veranda. How fearfully it
sloped! Could I do it ? Yes, BY
pressing my feet against the-gut-
ter. Slowly, l went, foot by foot,
until ( reached Arthur's window.
My heart leaped as I found it un-
fastened. Quickly entered, open
ed and relocked the iron safe, and
with the diamonds, more slowly
and with greater difficulty re-
turned.
Reaching my own room l did
not enter, for what could two
helpless women do against strong
evil men, bent on plunder? Instead,
+ ordered Jane to tear sheet into
threads, having attached which
to the box, bade her lower it to
me. after I had descended by the
trellis.
She did as l directed, then join
ing me, we carrying the box be-
tween US, ran from the house.
We had not gone a dozen yards
before tho dread Of pursuit and
having the diamonds wrested
from US, possessed me.
"Jane," l said, "this will never
do. Let US make for the hollow
oak. We can put the box in that
they'll never fId it before help
comes"
Fastening in the direction to-
gether, we managed to raise the
box high enough to reach the
hole, and ! toppled il in. 1t fell
with heavy thud; | knew it was
safe. I then told Jane to run to
Hawthorns, the nearest house,
arouse the people, and bring some
of the male servants back. She
wanted me to 60 with her, but l
dared not leave the neighborhood
of the tree, lest any miserable
chance should occur Of the bur-
glars finding the treasure. Crouch
ing among the bushes some yards
off, I bade the girl hasten.
Scarcely had she gone than a
noise in the house ATTRACTED my
attention. Ny flight with the
jewels was discovered. My heart
stood still, and the blood in every
vein turned cold. With Jenkins
there were three of them. Through
the darkness L could 81 ..,
o'"''Ae Ind searching the bushes
They had guessed we could not
carry tho box far, and evidently