The daily gazette., 1879-12-13

sors from the door. These scissors were
counted among my most valuable treas
ures. 1 had had them many years, and
had No intention Of losing them now.
expected the man would only wait
till he thought / and my fictitious bro
ther were asleep, and would then search
the house for valuables, and finish by
killing me.
Only one plan for escape that origi.
mated seemed feasible. determined to
wait till heard my lodger In the rooms
below, and then wrap myself In papa's
shawl, and Jump out Of the window. l
was not kept in suspense long ; the Pc
culiar squeak Of the sitting-room door
warned me that 1t was time to act.
Quietly raised the window, and just as
the steps approached the stairs Ijum ped
to the GROUND. Fortunately there was q
bed of lilies directly beneath the window,
aud they softened my fall.
That there was danger of breaking my
neck | had not thought. was deter
mined to escape.
1t was dark as Egypt, the rain was
pouring down in torrents, but this was
nothing In comparison with the horror
within the house.
Half mile back Of our house lived a
friend Of papa's--Mr. Vincent, res olv-
ed to go there. l ran along, stumbling
against fence, and falling into bitches,
thinking never knew such long half
mile.
Finally, I reached the house, and man.
aged to tell my story. Several young
men happened TO have been delayed
there by tho storm, and headed by Hen
ry Vincent, young man Of some twen-
ty-two years, they prepared to capture
my visitor.
was too excited T., remain at Mr..
Vincent's. 1 declared would 20 back
home. They all tried 10 persuade me to
"such little heroine should do as she
pleased" With my hand tightly clasped
in Henrys, we started.
When we came within sight Of our
house, we saw hight fitting from room
to room, and few words of boisterO us
| song hOated to US on the breeze. Silent
ly my friends surrounded the house,
| guarding every avenue OF escape. Henry
and II would not let him leave ma tor
a moment,) entered the house. We found
tho vaRabond searching papa's desk.
| He had found several hundred dollars
thauI had not seen, when preparing for
flight. He started to run when he saw
us, but finding men and rsvolvers on all
sides, be was obliged to surrender.
He was safely bound, and then Ques.
toned. 1t appeared he was q noted
thief who had long baff1ed the police.
He said when he learned the house
was occupied only by two individuals
he was much elated. He did not intenc
to proceed to acts Of violence, unless my
brother and troubled him too much
When. he found the house deserted, b,
concluded had not told him the truti
that was alone; not finding me, b,
supposed had hid, and he would no
hunt for me.
Lifting me into his lap, Henry Vim
cent called me the "bravest little woman
he ever Lnew." All the Others praised
and fiattered me, till began to thiul
men were greater takers than women
All night we staid there, but befor,
morning WAS craving like a madman.
Three lopg weeks L remained uncon
scious.
When l became sensible, anxious face
were bending over me. Papa, mammi
and all the folks were at my bedside.
"What is the matter?" asked.
In moment that dreadful day cam
to my remem brance.
ooh, 1 know" said I, with a shuddel
1t was a long, long time before l re
gained my strength.
Every person petted and praised me.
was the heroine of the neighborbooC
Henry Vincent never tried of descantin
upon my bravery, and devoted himsel
to me in a manner that would have bee
few years older.
my "lodger" was sent to prison l.
mediate for some years.