Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-12-31

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carefully into their attic bedrooms, hid
ing from the presence of death. 1t was
two hours past midnight, and the begin
ming of that weary last watch of the
night when the darkness is densest, tie
cold most piercing, the vigil beside the
sick-bed most weary, the sick mans un
easy slumber most broken, and when in
so many cases the ebbing tide of life
reaches so low point that it departs
altogether.
At the dead time of night, then, the
key softly turned in the lock of the room
where Nine. Silsbie lay in state, her
precious heirlooms at her feet, the pol
ished silver feebly flashing back the rays
of the night-lamp, the only sound the
! faint ticking of n death-wGtch in the
wall. After the lock the latch turned,
and the door softly and slowly opened,
admitted the figure of a man, apparent
ly hastily reused from slumber and only
! half dressed; his face was covered with
a mask; in one hand he carried a dark
lantern, across the other arm two large
meal-sacks. Placing these upon n chair
beside the door, the robbers first act
was a curious one, for, taking a small
saw from his pocket, he proceeded, after
unbolting the shutters of one window, to
saw out the bolt, deadening the sound of
the operation by frequently Oiling the
saw and mutfling it as far as possible in
cotton. This work effected, the next pro-
ceeding was still more remarkable for
person within the house, for it was
nothing less than cutting out pane of
glass with GLACIERS diamond, at such |
a point that the window could easily be |
unbolted. Next, opening the window,
this curious burglar leaned out as far as
possible, and noiselessly dropped bag |
and an old shoe under the window, as if |
carelessly lost by some person clambering |
up. Then he closed the window and |
the shutters, but without fastening either |
and began to work with his glaciers |
diamond upon the thick plate-glass of |
the sideboard. He transferred the |
articles of plate from the shelves to the |
bag, adjusting them so carefully that
only an occasional low jangle like silver
bells broke the deathly stiffness of the
room. One sack filled, hetied the mouth
and bringing the other, went through .
the same operation with that. Then,
cautiously, he raised one Of the sacks
upon his shoulder and vainly essayed to
lift the other in one hand but appar-
emily Il second thought convinced him
that even could he do so, it would be
impossible for him 10 escape with both |
hands and arms fully occupied, and re-
placing his burden upon the ground he |
went and opened the door into the front |
hall, through which he had entered and |
after listening for moment, slole down |
the basement stairs.
He listened Yes, but finer ears than |
his could not have heard the feather
light football upon the upper stairs, the
quick-caught breath, or the sudden
grasp of the banister, as u white face
with wild eyes looked down at the half
seen figure, with the ray of light stream
ing from the dark lantern at its belt
The lower door open, the burglar stole
upstairs again into the dining-room,
loaded himself with the two sacks and
parcel folded in linen, and Strengthening
himself with difficulty under the weight,
turned toward the door as he did so,
he turned for the first time toward the
ghostly thing lying there in the middle
of the room, which hitherto he had care
fully kept behind him. As he looked,
not yet able to believe his own eyes. the
shrouded figure half rose, the clasped
hands clutched tie edge of the coffin,
and from those white stiff lips burst.
rather than was spoken, the single word,
Beware ~
At that sight and at that sound, the
contracted muscles of the robbers hands
gave way, his knees gave way, and the
whole mass of plunder loaded upon his
back came jangling to the ground, the
strange, mut1led clangor resounding with
a sullen echo through the empty house.
She had revived, she had recognized
him, they were alone, she was helpless!
Already the murderer's hand pressed
closely over her mouth, the horrid lust
of murder cleaned through the eyeholes
of the mask, the last moment of the last
act of the tragedy was come and
Nine. Silsbe's last moment was well
nigh sped, when slender, white figure
darting in at the open door, flew with
the fearlessness of an avenging angel
straight at the murderer, clutched away
the sitting hand, and thrust him back
so violently that he stumbled across his
bags of plunder and fell to the ground,
uttering an impreCation that made the
girl cry out, in fresh horror, "Oh, Rich |
ard Halstead can it be youP"
Without n word, he scrambled to his
feet and fled, rs Kate's cries for help
rang more than twice or thrice through
the house.
To Mrs. Halstead, storming her with
inquiries, cXclamations and surmises,
Miss Silsbie uttered but one brief SEN
tence, and that when none beside heard |
it -
Your son was robbing the house and |
numbering my grandmother, and when l
interrupted him he ran away. That is