The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-06-24

night; 1t would be impossible for my
brothers and sisters to get home.
Travellers, or, as Sarah called them,
"trampers," often stopped OF our house
over night, MS there was no public-house
near. To my horror, | now saw one OF
them coming across the field. Should !
hide? No, that was not TO be thought Of.
Without stopping to knock, the great
rough man walked in.
''Can stay here all night?"
dared not refuse him, so as firmly as
| could, answered.
"Ycs.
He seemed surprised at seeing no one
but myself, and questioned me much,
| told him my brother was upstairs
writing; that we two were alone. This
was the first thing that entered my head
TO tell him. Such q villianous countc-
nance as that man had
His hair was cut close to his head
leaving his huge ears in bold relief
Wicked-looking eyes, and a brutal
mouth, completed his general expression
Of fcrOcity.
Bedtime came, and | directed the man
TO room upstairs in the servants de-
partment not the "up-stairs" where 7
had said my brother was. Now that
there was real danger, | was calm and
reasonable. I fastened the door that
led upstairs with my embroidery scis-
sors which happened to be in my pocket,
SO as to guard against surprise, and hur-
riedly collecting our silyerware, carried
it 10 mammals room and hid it in the bed.
No one would have supposed the bed
had been disturbed ] was elated at my
ingenuity.
then hunted up what few jewels tho
girls possessed, and placing them, with
what money [ could find, in box, ! tied
them III my pocket. After doing this, I
stole downstairs, and removed my scis-
sors from the door These scissors were
counted among my most valuable treas
,rcs. | had had them many years, and
was not disposed TO lose them now
expected the man would only wait
till he thought | and my fictitious
brother were asleep, and would then
search the house for valuablcs, and finish
by killing me. Only one plan for escape
that | originated seemed feasible. | de
tcrmincd to wait till / heard my lodger
in the room below, and then wrap my
self in papas shawl, and jump ont OF the
window. | was not kept in suspense
long; the peculiar squeak Of the sitting
room door alarmed me that it was time
to net Quietly | raised the window,
and just rs the steps approached the
stairs, jumped to the ground. Fortu'
natcIy there was bed Of lilies directly
beneath the window, and they sOitencd
my fall. That there was danger Of
breaking my neck had not thought. |
was determined to escape from this
dreadful man.
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 Il mile back Of our house lived
friend Of papas Mr., Vincent. ] re
solved to go there. | ran along, stumbI-
ing against fences and falling into
bitches, thinking | never knew such
long half mile. Finally reached the
house, and managed to tell my story.
Several young men happened to have
been delayed there by the storm, and,
headed by Henry Vincent, n young man
of some twenty-five years, they pre-
pared TO capture my visitor.
was too excited to remain at Mr.
Vmccntg. declared ! would go back
home. They all tried to persuade me
not to do this except Henry Vincent, who
said "such u little heroine should do as
she pleased With hand tightly
caspcd in Hcnry'B, we started
When we came within sight Of our
house, We saw n light fitting from room
TO room, and few words Of boistcrulls
song ilOatcd to us ON the breeze. 81
lcnily my friends surrounded the house,
guarding every avenue of escape. Henry
and q would not let him leave me for
n moment) entered the house. WefOund
the vagnbond searching papas desk. He
had found several hundred dollars that !
had not seen, when preparing for flight.
He started 10 run when ho saw MS, but
finding men and rcvoyers ON all sides, he
WINS obliged 10 surrender.
He was safely bound, and then qucs-
toned. II appears he was n notcd thief
who had long ballled the police. He
said when he learned the house was oc-
cupicd only by two individuals, he was
much elatcd. He did not intend to pro-
coed to acts Of violence unless my
brother and troubled him too much.
When hc found the house deserted, he
concluded had not told him the truth
mat was alone. Not finding me, Ia
supposed | had hid, and he would not
hunt for me
Lifting me into his lap, Henry Vim
cent called me the "bravcst little woman
he ever knew All the others praised
and ilattercd me, till began to think
men were greater takers than women.
All that night we stayed there, ard be-
fore morning / was raving like lrlnatc
Three long weeks | remained uncon
scious. When | became sensible, anx-
ious faces were bending over me. Pnpa,
mamma, and nil the folks were ut my
bedside.
"What is the mattcr?' asked In
moment that dreadful day came to my re-
membrance ooh, | know" said /,
with n shudder.
u was long, long time before re.
gained my strength. Every person
pcitcd and praised me. was the heroine
Of the neighborhood. Henry Vincent
never became tired of dcscnnlng upon
my bravery, and devoted himself to me
in manner that would have been very
asgriyating to his Young lady acUmin-
lance, had | been few years older.
My "lodgcr" was sent to prison to
for some years.
KING AIFONsOS eldest sister Tho