The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-19

was the first thing that entered my head
to tell him. Such villainous counte-
nance as that man had!
His hair was cut close to his head,
leaving his huge ears in bold relief.
Wicked-looking eyes, and brutal mouth,
completed his general expression OF fe-
rocity.
Bed time came, and / directed the man
to room up stairs in the servants de-
partment, not the "up stairs where |
had said my brother was Now that
there was real danger, was calm and
reasonable. l fastened the door that led
up stairs with my embroidery scissors,
which happened to be in my pocket, so
as to guard against surprise, and hurri-
edly collecting our silverware, carried it
to mammals room, and hid it in the bed.
No one could have supposed the bed had
been disturbed.
] was elated at my ingenuity.
| then hunted up what few jewels the
girls possessed, and placing them, with
what money l could find, in box, tied
them in my pocket. After doing this, l
stole down stairs and removed my scis-
sors from the door. These scissors were
counted among my most valuable treas
ures. had had them many years, and
had no intention of losing them now.
I expected the man would only wait
till he thought and my fictitious broth
er were asleep, and would then search the
house for valuables and finish by killing
me.
Only one plan for escape that orig
mated seemed feasible. / determined
to wait till I heard my lodger in the
rooms below, and then wrap myself in
papa's shawl, and jump out of the win
dow. l was not kept in suspense long.
The peculiar squeak of the sitting room
door warned me that it was time to act.
Quietly | raised the window, and just as
the steps approached the stairs ! jumped
to the ground. Fortunately there was a
bed of lilies directly beneath the window
and they softened my fall.
That there was danger Of breaking my
neck l 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 live a
friend of papa's-Mr. Vincent. l re-
solved to 60 there. l ran along, stumb-
ling against fences and falling into
bitches, thinking I never knew such
long half mile.
Finally l reached the house, and man.
aged to tell my story. Several young
men happened to be delayed there by
the storm, and headed by Henry Vincent,
a young man of some twenty-five years,
they prepared to capture my visitor.
l was too excited to remain at Mr..
Vincent's. / declared I would go back
home. They all tried to persuade me to
10 this except Henry Vincent, who said
"such a little heroine should do as she
pleased" With my hand tightly clasped
in Henry's we started.
When we came within sight of our
house, we saw light fitting from room
to room, and few words of boisterous
song floated to us on the breeze. Silent
ly my friends surrounded the house,
guarding every avenue of escape. Henry
and l Il would not let him leave me for
moment), entered the house. We
found the vagabond searching papa's
desk.
He had found several hundred dollars
that had not seen, when preparing for
flight. He started to run when he saw
us, but finding men and revolvers on all
sides, he was obliged to surrender.
He was safely bound, and then ques-
toned. 1t appeared he was a noted thief
who had long baffled the police.
He said when he learned the house was
occupied only by two individuals he was
much elated. He did not intend to pro-
ceed to acts of violence unless my brother
and troubled him too much. When he
found the house deserted, he concluded
had not told him the truth-that l was
alone; not finding me, he supposed l had
hid, and he would not hunt for me.
Lifting me into his lap, Henry Vim
cent called me the "bravest little woman
he ever knew" All the others praised
and fattered me till began to think
men were greater takers than women.
All night we staid there, but before
morning was "raving like a madman." f"
Three long weeks l remained uncon-
scious.
When I became sensible, anxious faces
were bending over me. Papa, mamma
and all the folks were at the bedside.
"What is the matter" / asked.
In a moment that dreadful day came
to my remembrance.
''Oh, l KNOW" said I, with a shudder.
1t was long, long time before l re-
gained my strength.
Every person petted and praised me.
was the heroine of the neighborhood.
Henry Vincent never tired Of descant-
ing upon my bravery, and devoted him
self to me in manner that would have
been very aggravating to his young lady
friends had I been few years older.
My "lodger" was sent to prison to
mediate for some years.
A Georgia Farmers Success.
tAmericus (Ga.) Recorder.i
We know man, now large farmer,