The Osceola times., 1879-02-22

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out saw that heavy stoim was com
log on.
Now, certainly, grandpa Snd grandm'
would not come, and Hannah, waiting
for the storm to pass, would not be herr
for hours. However, my fear OF the ne
gro was quite gone, and felt certain
pride in conducting myself bravely un
der these trying circumstances.
Accordingly | went up stairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters
and carried ,hem kitchenward.
" Here" ! said, make yourself bee
on the settee yonder, and be ea.y for the
night. No one will follow you IN such 8
terrible storm IA this, and, no doubt
grandpa will assist you when he returns
home. Good night"
"Good night, and God bless you
miss" still speaking in very HUSKY
whisper And so LETT him.
But did not go up stairs to my bed
room. | intended for that night to re
main undressed ,and sit up in grsndpapa'
arm chair, with cand es and BOOK fol
company. Therefore / locked the door
took the most comfortable position, and
opening volume, composed myself tc
read. ..I. ...#.H.
- Reading, | fell asleep. How long
slept, can not tell. | was awakened by
a low sound like the pryiug OF chissl.
At fret IL mixed with my dream SC
completely that took no heed of it, but
at last understood that some one wss
at work upon the lock of the door.
sat per ectly motionles,, the blood
curdlingin my veins, and still chip, chip
chip, went the terrible little instrument,
until at last knew whence the sound
came.
Back Of the sitting room was grand
paps's study. There, in great, old.
fashioned chest, were stored the family
plate, grandma's jewelry, and sundry
sums of money and valuable pape's.
The safe itself stood in Il closet recess,
and at the closet the thief was now at
work.
The thief-ah, without doubt, the me-
gro had fed and sheltered.
Perhaps the next act would be to
murder me il listened. The storm was
still raging, but though the road was
lonely, better that than this house with
such horrible company. could not save
my grandfather's property, but | could
save my own life.
crept across the room and into the
hall, and to the door. There, softly as
could, / uniastened the bars and bolts,
but, alas one was above my reach.
waited and listened. Then | moved q
hall chair to the spot, and climbed upon
it. In doing so, ! struck my shoulder
against the door frame.
II was a slight noise, but at that mo
ment the chip OF the chisel stopped.
heard a gliding foot, and, her or of h@r
roIs! man came in from the study
sprung towards me, and clutched m,
with both hand, holding my arms as il
a vice, while he hissed in my ear
You'd tell, would you? You'd cal
help? You might better have slept, yoI
had for, You see, you've got to pay vi
for waking; I'd rather have let chic.
like you sff; but you know me now anc
can't let you live"
stared in his face with horror, ming
led with an awful surprise; for now thai
it was close to me | saw, not the negro
but our own hired man, Anthony-An
thony, whom ! supposed to be mile
away with Hannah. He was little NOR,
than a youth. and hal given him many
a present, and had always treated lin
we'll.
/ pleaded with him kindly.
Anthony, | never did you any harm
! am young; | sm girl. Don't kill me
Anthony. fake the money; don I kill
me, for poor grandma's sake
you'll tell on me-" said Anthony.
doggedly; likely I'd be caught. No,
have got to kill yon."
A he spoke he took his hands from
my shoulders. and clutchel my throat
fercely.
had time to utter one suffocating
shrek, and then / was struggling, dying
with sparks in my eyes, AMI sound OF
roaring water in my ears, and then
whst had sprung upon my assassin, with
the swift silence of leops dY What
had clutched me from behind, and stood
over him with something glittering above
his heart? The mist cleared away--the
blurred mist that had gathered over my
eyes as sight returned | saw the negro
with his foot upon ADihony's breast.
The fugitive whom | had housed and
fed ha saved my life. 4
Ten minutes after--ten minutes in
which, but tor thst poor slaves pres ance,
J would have been hurried out of life =
the rattle OF wheels and the tardy feet
of old A sx were heard without, and my
grandparents were with me.
1t is needless to say that we were not
ungrateiul TO our preserver; needless,
ais, ), to tell Anthony's punishment.
1t canes out during his trial that be
had long contemplated the robbery that
the absence OF my grsndpsrents appear
ing to afford an opportunity, he had de,
coycd Hannah away with lie, and hid
in the study, He knew nothing of the
negro's presence 10 the house, and, being
naturally superstitious, had actually
iancied any protector feature from the
other world, and submitted without
struggle.