The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-22

night. No one will follow you in such q |
terrible storm as this, and, no doubt |
grandpa will assist you when he returns
home. Good night"
"Good night, and God bless you, miss,
still speaking in a very husky whisper.
And so left him.
But did not go upstairs to my bed
room. intended for that night to re-
main dressed, and sit up in grandpa's
arm chair, with candles and q book for
company. Therefore locked the door,
took the most comfortable position, and,
opening volume, composed myself to
read.
Reading, fell asleep. How long
slept, can not tell. was awakened
by low sound like the prying of
chisel.
At first it mixed with my dream sot
completely that took no heed of it, but
at last understood that some one was at
work upon the lock Of the door.
sat perfectly motionless, the blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip, chip,
chip, went the terrible little instrument
until at last I knew whence the sound
came.
Back of the sitting room was grand
papa's study. There, in a great, old
fashioned chest, were stored the family
plate, grandma's jewelry, and sundry
sums of money and valuable papers.
| The safe itself stood in closet recess,
and at the closet the thief was now at
work.
The theif-ah, without doubt, the
| negro had fed and sheltered.
Perhaps the next act would be to
murder me if 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 l could
save my own life.
crept across the room and into the
hall, and to the door. There, softly as I
could, unfastened. the bars and bolts,
but, alas! one was above my reach. I
waited and listened. Then I moved a
hall chair to the spot, and climbed upon
it. In doing so, I struck my shoulder
against the door frame.
It was slight noise, but at that mo-
ment the chip Of the chisel stopped. I
heard a gliding foot. and, horror of hor-
rors: q man came in from the study,
sprung toward me, and clutched me with
both hands, holding my arms as IN vice
while he Kissed in my ear: 'You'd tell,
would you? You'd call help? You might
bitter have slept, you had; for you see
you've got to pay up for waking. I'D
rather have let a chick like you off; but
you know me now. and can't let YOU
, live.;'
l stared in his face with horror
mingled with an awful surprise; for nov
:. that it was close to me saw, not the ne
gro, but our own hired man, Anthony
r Anthony whom I supposed to be mile
awav with Hannah. He was little NOR,
than a youth, and had given him man,
= a present, and had always treated hin
we'll. ,.-
Ipleaded with him kindly. "Anthony
I never did you any harm. am young
r. I am girl. Don't kill me, Anthony
= Take the money; don't kill me, for poo
grandma's sake"
d "You'll tell on me- said Anthrny, dog
a gedly; "likely I'd be caught. No, hay
e got to kill you"
" AS he spoke he took his hands from m
o shoulders, and clutched my throat fierce
e ly. ...
had time to utter one sufocatin
N shrek, and then was struggling, dyin.
" with sparks in my eyes, and sound
T. roaring water in nv ears, and then--wh
It had sprung upon my assassin, with tt
II swift silence of a leopard? What ha
70 clutched me from behind, and stood ov
c. him with something glittering above b
he heart? The mist cleared away the blu
IS red mist that had gathered over my eye
as sight returned I saw the negro WI
is his foot upon Anthony's breast.
The flu gitive whom I had housed ar
fed had saved my life.
Mt Ten minutes atter--ten minutes
N which, but for that poor slaves presenc
b. I would have been hurried out OF life
co the rattle of wheels and the tardy feet
N. old Ajax were heard without, and n
oh grandparents were with me.
es. 1t is needless to say that we were n
on ungrateful to our preserver; needless,
JUS so, to tell Anthony's punishment.
It came out during his trial that
EN- had long contemplated the robbery; tn
,e- the absence of my grandparents apes
no ing to afford an opportunity, he had {
ID, coyed Hannah away with lie, and
in the study. He knew nothing of t
At Negroes presence in the house. and, bel
he naturally superstitcious, had actual
fancied any protector feature from
aid other world, and submitted without
led struggle. ...-.
Ice Long ago-so we heard-the slave
zen slave no longer, met his wife and Ct
get dren beyond danger; and nowthat
ifs bonds are broken for all in this free la
r a doubtless his fears are over, and he s
,rv beside his humble Canada hearth wi
ne evcntide comes.
me NE A Touching Scene in anew York Coz