The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-02-13
CAGED BY A WOMAN.


Louisiana quiet spot some distance
from any plantation but soon as our
marriage took place We young folks were
to remove To a ueighbOTing parish, and
thitheI Frank went, shortly before the
wedding, to prepare our new home. BE
had been absent about 4 fortnight, and
/ was expecting him back daily. One
evening father came into the room where
I was sitting. and said 'Iettie, I've
got to 20 over to Squire Bent's TO see
about some titles Can You DO without
me
Il nodded. yes, and then suddenly
an uneasy feeling took possession Of me.
I remembered the mOney-quite large
sum-with which Frank and l were 10.
'begin the world. - and which lay Sc
curelv hidden away in the house the
nest-egg of our future fortune.
I knew I was destined to a lonely
night Of il. for father could not possibly
return within twenty-fOur hours the
servants had all gone 10 a breakdown -
on neighbOriug plantation, except an
aged crone, Aunt Dinah, ana my moth
er was an invalid. weak and nervous.
Ii was nearly sunset. had persuaded
my mother TO lie upon q couch, and
seating myself beside her, l began To
read aloud some wild old tale Of super
natural horrors upon which had STUN
bled. Before l had half finished. I had
worked myself into a state Of nervous
ness, and as l noticed the paling face Of
my mother. I tossed the book upon the
table with a contemptuOUs expression
and arose to make tea.
At that moment the gate-latch click
ed, and as 1 turned in its direction, I
could not TepTess q cry of alarm.
Ny eyes fell upon the figure of a wo-
mau-a very dwarf in size and stature
clad in a faded black dress. with a bat
tered bonnet upon her head. and a torn
shawl about her TINY STOPPING shoulders
Slowly and hesitatingly the creature
moved up the walk, until she reached
the gallery.
Then she spoke. I have lost my way.
ladies may ] crave night shelter -
/ glanced at my mother She was
pale. and trembled violently.
I had conceived an unaccoUntable
aversion to the small stranger but who
could have the heart to turn "a woman
away into the pathless forest, with night
coming on
So told her she might remain but
3 1 resolved To know no siUuhgr that
night. bU, 10 watch the long hours
through.
Ny mother must not be alarmed so
sending the stranger 10 the kitchen with
= Z
c0aNed mother to take her tea and car
ried her of 10 bed.
Il was ten O'Clock before ! left her
sound asleep. and stole off 10 the kitCh-
en- to take observation. ON The thresh-
Old ! paused. and pushed the door aiaT.
What a sight met my astonished ewes.
The dwarf was standing erect. Young
ana 1.-the ; the WOman's garments had
been discarded. and I saw before me a
man. small buJ muscular and with 90
djaboiical face He was STOPPING over
the form of Aunt Dmah I'm one hand a
vial which he held TO her most strilS.-
Aunt Dinah was drugged. Even the
frail protection OF her presence was gone.
and the next step would Ee ToUrery
perhaps murder.
The villain replaced The vial in his
pocket, with "a grin on his ugly face.
There =" he calculated. that VIII
work With the old nigger out OF the
way. the rest is easy
! was 50 frightened. IL seemed as II
should die. Then c2lmer thoughts sue
ceeded and [ resolved 10 fight for the
money 10 the death. Softly 7 stole
away, and re-entCred fny mothers apart
meut. Taking the pgcket-bOaG from
the drawer, hid 1t in my bosom and
then pausiuE. TO assure myself that she
still slept, / turned to the hall where our
small provision of firearms aus stored
oh. heavens They were gone A
low. horrible chuckle fell UD0n my ears.
The rOb5eT stood al my side.
well. - he sneered. ''whcre is il =
'What do Won mean p I Easped.
The money, OF course I've iust
been To the old womau's room. but ]
find you've been too many for Ine. Now
giri--'' he stepped closer 10 lie. .sand
raised one hand threateninglv Il know
YOU have the rocks. hand 'Jm on. -
With low cry OF fear, J turned and
fed; back 30 the large cid kitchen
D few like the wind. Old Dinah still II,
upon the floor. in bleSt Inconsistencies
o I shook her, and shrieked for help. bu
no other sound broke the stiffness. saw
+ the low laugh OF the robber. who ha,
followed me.
D stop that noise, he Geuoely erowled
~ re only wasting breath, you know
4 The nigger'S drugged. and won't wax
up till I'm safe out o. this. See here,
T want that money. Give il to me. and
promise 10 leave you in peace refuse
and
= thought oG Frank. and oar future
+ 4 never viii = cried. as bravelv a
= / could. lie sprang forward, and pas,
= ing one hand around my waist held IN
T. close about my throat Just at tina
% moment my eyes fell upon the hug
brick oven an immense structure. ol
= cupying one side Of the kitchen. ] nJ
r ticed that the wide door had been lc
A. open, and "a sudden thOUght-an inSp
> ration-darted through my mind
NOW, or never. [ thought 1 thru,
II one laud quickly into The bosom OF IN
dress, and snatchinE the pocket-bo0
K therefroln. with = quick. sudden uoy5
H. nent I threw il into the oyen-awav il
~ I could hear j. fali upon the bottom wit
Il a heavy ihud. for the most of the moug
was in gold With horrible iwprac
m tion. the wretch released mis- hold m
lv dartiug forward. sprang into the owe
~ I instantly seized tie huge door wit
both hands pushed il shut and slid Il
-o heavy bolt into its place
1 ] was saved Then 1 sank upon q
aCCr in biisSfui inseusibility.
7 was aroused 10y the pressure of l
ar upon my own. and felt mv head pillo'
ed in somebody's arms ! opened o.
eyes. Frank was holding me close
his heart, his face pale and anxious.
IN had returned unexpectedly ana ~eeil
he light burning in the horse-au UuuSu
ne occurrence at SD late an i3ug, toJ &C. IS
ve miduiEht-anl fearing That 2 WAS Ell
IN ventUred 10 stop. i told him the whu
n story and it dill not take TONG tor hi
m 90 ride 70 tie nearest town and sv1uu
nd the sheriff with 81 posse of u.-H-
: / The oven was ap-ued aud ha UTrti