The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-20

nome. Good night"
''GOod night, and God bless you
miss" still spesking in very husky
whisper. And so LETT him.
But did not 90 up stairs to my bed
room. ] intended for that night to re
main undressed and ait up in grandpsps'
arm chair, with candles and book fol-
company. Therefore locked the door
took the most comfortable position, aud
opening volume, composed myself tC
read.
Reading, / fell ssleep. How long
slept, can not tell. / was awakened by
low sound like the pryiDg of q chisel.
At first it mixed with my dream &c
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 / knew whence the sound
came.
Back of the sitting room was grand
pspa's study. There, in great, old
fashioned chest, were stored the family
plate, grandma's jewelry, and sundry
sums of money and vslushle papers.
The safe iteelt stood in a ell set recess,
and st the closet the THIEF aas now st
work
The thief-sh, without doubt, the me-
gro 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 grSndfather's property, but ] could
save my own life.
| crept across the room and into the
hail, and to the door. There, softly as
| could, ! uniastened the bars aud bolts,
but, alas one was above my resch. |
waited and listened. Then / moved
hall chair to the spot, and climbed upon
it. In doing 80, ! struck my shoulder
against the door frame.
1t was slight noise, but at that mo-
ment the chip of the ehisel stopped. i
heard a gliding foot, and, her or of h~r-
rors man came in from the study,
sprung towards me, and cIutched me
vito both hands, holding my arms as in
vice, while be Missed in my ear
90 You'd tell, would you? You'd call
help? You might better have slept, you
had for, you see, you've got TO pay up
for waking; I'd rather have let chick
like you eff; but you know me now, and
l can't let yoH live"
| stared in his face with horror, ming
led with an awful surprise; for now that
it was close 70 me | Jaw, not the negro,
but our own hired man, AnthOny-An>
thony, whom l supposed to be Ailes
away with Hannah. He was little more
than youth, and had given him many
q present, and had always treated him
well.
pleaded with him kindly.
Anthony, never did you aRy bsrm.
am young; ana girl. Don't kill me,
Take the money; don't kill
nae, for poor grandma's sake"
You'll tell on me-" said Anthony.
" likely I'd be caught. No,
have got to kill yOu."
IA he spoke he took his hands from
my shoulders and clutched nv throat
fercely.
| had time to utter one SufOcsting
shrek, and then | was struggling. dying
with sparks in my eyes, and a sound Ut
roaring water in my ears, and then
what had sprung upon my assassin, With
the swift silence Of a leopard Z What
had clutched me from behind, aud stood
over him with something glittering shove
MA heart? The mist cleared swsv--the
blurred mist that had gathered over my
eys.; as eight returned ! saw the negro
With his foot upoa Asthony's broasJ.
The fugitive WaOn ! mai housed and
fsd ka1 saved say life.
Tea minutes afJer-tsp niastss in
which. but for that DOOr slaves presence,
] would kave been hurried out Of life
the rattle of whssls and the t2rdy feet
of old Ajax were hssrs without, and my
grandparents were with nae.
1t is needless to say that We were not
ungrateiul 10 our preserver; needless,
Sls1, to tell Anthony's puAishmsnt.
1t Games out during his trial thIt ne
had long contemplated the robbery that,
the absence Of NV grandparents appear
ing to afford an opportunity, ne had de-
coyed Hannah away with i lie, and hid
in the study He knew nothing or the
negro's presence in the house, and, being
naturally supersJitious, had actually
fancied any protector feature from the
other world, and submitted without Il
struggle.