The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-27
LEHIGHToN CARBON COUNTY, 1879

cry with you II you pursue the subject tuI
ther. To put an end. however, TO all you
fears you shall como with me, and we vii
bolt the outer door"
Tho alaority with which Maud rose iron
her chair was good proof that the proposed
measure was Of welcome nature, SO, pro
ceeding from tho drawing room, we walked
to the lawn, and, fastening the gate whicl
opened on the lane, we re-entered the house
We then locked, bolted and barred the bacl
premises, saw that all the windows wert
fastened, and then came back to the draw.
ing room.
| l must confess that when We had secured
all the approaches to our citadel, was my
self a good deal more at ease than had
been previously.
Slowly tho autumn sun sank beneath the
range of hills fronting our dwelling, ting
ing the sky with radiant hues that varied
momentarily.
could have sat for hours watching the
numerous hues that swept across the heav-
ems, bnt with the uprising moon and gath
ering twilight clearly saw that Maude was
once more becoming nervous.
"Won't you close tho shutter ?" inquired
Maude.
"Not unlessyou particularly wish it dear, .
I replied.
"But do" she answered.
was about to shut out the moonlight
view, and made desperate effort to change
the conversation, when Maude, who had
her eyes fixed on the lawn, suddenly clutch
ed my arm, and involuntarily retreated a
step. "sis," she cried, "what is that NOV
ing in the laurels ?"
looked and in moment observed emerg-
ing from the shelter of the laurals, but still
remaining beneath the dense shadow of the
overhanging tree, what seemed to be the fig
ure Of man. He looked, in height very
short, almost dwarf-like, but was stout of
frame, and appeared dressed in white, or
without a coat; and seemed to be in his
shirt sleeves; his arms being alone seen as
he raised them in freeing himself from the
bushes.
"Oh, Sis" exclaimed Maude, "it is a man.
Let US give him all our jewelry, or mayhap
we may be murdered ere any Of our people
may come back"
"Maude," cried, "for heavens sake en-
deavor to retain your senses. You yester-
day remarked that the double baTeled gun
hangs over the mantlepiece in the kitchen,
and asked me if it were loaded! Do you
think that you could fetch it to me while l
keep watch here?"
knew her fright prevented herspeaking
Clasping her hand tightly within my own,
and then releasing it, said
"Bring it to me then; the gun is perfect
ly safe so long as you do not touch the trig-
ger"
While Maudc was gone it seemed to me
as though the figure drew closer; it was
careful to remain within the shadow of the
tree, but it struck me as exceedingly strange,
that, although the white sleeved arms
seemed continually raised, as though their
owner had just aroused from a sound sleep,
l could not see the creatures head.
In very short time heard Maude's ap-
preaching footsteps. As she placed the gun
into my hand felt that hei fingers were
cold and trembling.
At that moment the mysterious being
came a few PAGES nearer, and seemed to have
a limping gait,whether from natural infrm-
ity or drunkenness l could not tell.
Throwing open the window, and raising
the gun, l cried at the top of my voice,
"Who's there? Answer or I'll fire."
a few seconds elapsed but no response
came to my inquiry.
"Who are your" again shouted.
My finger closed upon the trigger, then
came flash aud loud report-the intrud
or upon the lawn staggered and fell.
simultaneously poor Maudo sank fainting
on the floor.
Not daring to move from the room, rest
ed the gun against the table, and raising
Maude's head in my hands endeavored to
restore her to consciousness. What seemed
to me hours, but it could not have been more
than twenty minutes, passed and then came
the sound of vehicles driven rapidly up the
lane. l heard my father claporing for adj
mittance, and hurrying to the door, fell al
most swooning into his arms.
AS coherently as I could told him of our
adventure, and that the body of man lay
beneath the laurel bushes, so resigning me
to the care ofone of the gentlemen,h ,he hurried
to the spot indicated. In a moment after
his CHEEKY voice sounded through the still
night air, "Ive got him, but he's more
frightened than hurt. Why, girls, it's but
a representative of yourselves It's moth
ing but goose"
And SO it was. That boy Smith, who Was
so much to be depended on, had for once
proved himself unworthy of his trust, and
this poor bird, in its futile endeavors to seek
his companions, had in our nervous fancy,
become maguifed to the proportions of
house breaking desperado; it's outstretched
wings in the shadow, to which it so persis-
tently kept, helping to carry out the delus-
ion we had entertained. OF course we were
pretty considerably rallied about the matter
but we never thereafter volunteered to re-
main in the house alone.
That Awful 'sNeVer.''
II was the last starza of the 3OSfh hymn.