Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-31

dust. 1t had been partially cut through, and
touch severed 1t. But one single stroke new
| ertheless was given by my frenZied strength on
the great bell-one awful boom sounded On the
! night air.
=, Then T rushed 1r sa my hiding place and
| went t. Aunt Helen, who was sitting no In
bed y.ie ard trembling. She had he ard the
one stroke on the alarum and thought had
been ed ere l cou'd sound it again
| She c,asped me III her arms weeping, and nur-
Injured tnanksgtvings When she heard wnat 1
They cannot get out, my love-" she said; SIT
1 left her after while and returned to the
dIaMlng,rooom H. IN or1eT TO see II any one would
| ish hope it seemed; yet, wrapped In a large
shawl sat sat at IL the open window ana looked
| struck On my ear-the eallop of horses. aud
soon after saw two riders, distinctly defined
against the ne snow approaching the hall door.
and uttered a glad cry, when Mr.. Dennam's
| voice answered.
! ran down and with eager trembling fingers
He grasped both my extended hands and ex-
"Thank Heaven that you are safe, Oh. Lot
alarum Stop?' ~
"The rope was cut and fell upon nv heaa,1
said st iapghng hysdtegey and then him
| man holding his horse at the door,
Ifelt quite abashed, he praised my courage
and and presence Of mind min SO much; and learned
Denham loved me. He explained that the
snow had delayed his return, the road having
to be cleared, but he had arrived In the course
| got to give him my note till just as he was
going to bed; As soon as he had read it. he
| bis man to accompany him. They had ridden
| Off at once and had reused the Villagers and
hidden some OF the men and policemen to fol-
had been greatly alarmed at hearing that
! one solemn boom OF the alarum. He feared
that farther ringing had been stopped by VIC
| lence
When we had thus mutually explained mat
tiers, Mr.. Denham thought he had better see ii
the robbers had any accomplices in the house,
Aunt Helen. Meantime he and his servant
| searched the house.
No one was found in it except the maid-of
all.work and the butler, both OF whom were
| locked In their several rooms, and were there
| fore apparently innocent of the intended rob-
berry. Indeed old Wheeler was extremely i'll.
He had had q 1T, the maid said, caused by
| sudden shock, Mrs. Wheeler had told her and
was quite unable to move. In the stable yard
they found horse and cart tethered, prob
ably awaiting the return Of the thieves with
| their booty.
BY the time this search was concluded, the
rural police and some men from the village ar
| rived; but 1t was thought best, as the convicts
| were known to be desperate characters, to keep
them In the safe custody OF the spring till day
| light.
Ben Hill, the bell-hanger was amongst our
| lrlends who came to help, and was very in
dignant at finding he had been personated The
policemen informed us that viii wheeler was
hanger was probably s'pal' of his, and had
come down from London for the job.
When day had fully dawned, the police, assist
| ed by Mrs. Keith, opened the closet door, and a
terrible spectacle presented itself. Mrs. Wheeler
and the two men lay on the floor in a heap, I'M
conscious. Then first we understood why their
| ceased
| ventilation in the closet, and they had con-
| sumed the air. They were removed at once
out the Old woman was past mortal aid-she
| The men were restored by the wise means
USED under MT Denham's directions, and by the
ness. They were taken away to Jail. VIII
| Wheeler afterwards confessed that he had In
duced bis mother to consent to the robbery of
should be done to the old lady-though, If any
have been kept The bell hangers fourth wire
had admitted them silently into the bedroom
| how decline to explain-and their approach
was noiseless because their shoes was covered
was dreadfully shocked at having. by shut
ting the door, caused Mrs. Wheeler's death;
but Mr.. Denham consOled me by reminding me
that it was through the policemen and himself
Keeping them in the closet till daylight, and
! CURED.
have little more to add; The burglars had
1OAS vi LII VI pCudl ScIFlUuUc lmpOSSU On G1en.
| Old Wheeler survived his wife only few days,
| and they were buried together
MI. Denham took occasion, from the crime
and misery Which the knowledge of her boards
| had caused, to lecture aunt Helen on the sin OF
| aVarice and the love Of money; and she took his
| rebuke meekly. It has borne good fruit. She
mas now an establishment BETTING her wealth
| and station, and has learned that riches are OF
no value, except as means OF doing good and
heneftting others.
am now the Rector's wife, and my aunt's
f1,of
live With her at Boarhunt. My husband has
consented, as his poor people are within walk
The Old house has been renovated and refur-
mother and her children-now the welcome
guests OF aunt Helen-make it as genial and
comfortable home as it was once dreary
one.
Aunt Helen has had the alarum-rope mended,
but she keeps up the fourth wire-rendered
useless hoWever-as memorial Of what she
calls her dear Lettie's heroism.