Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-01-05
IN A CELLAR.

1t was very dark without, and the
wind blew in fltful gusts. The old oak,
in front of the house, groaned dismal
ly. The gates were burst open, and
slammed to and fro necessarily.
Flora and covered together in the
parlOr, more and more frightened as
the hours went by. Our house was a
lone, country mansion several miles
from the country town, and we were
quite alone, all the family, including
even the servants, having gone to the
annual fair, and intending to stay till
morning.
81 never heard such strange sounds"
l said. "Surely that was somebody on
the stoop just now."
Nonsense" cried Flora, looking
around nervously, however.
at was only two nights ago." re-
piled, "that Mr.. Browns house was
robbed. They do say" and here my
voice fell to whisper, "chat an organ
lied gang of thieves is going round the
country"
"Mercyp cried Flora, turning dead.
ly pale, suppose they come here? ?
What's to be done? Hadn't we better
go over to cousin Bell's?"
"Whatl at this time of night Moth.
ing would tempt me"
"This is punishment for refusing
cousin Sam," said Flora. "If you had
only behaved nationally, we could have
had one of the servants from Elm
wood to stay with us. But | suppose
cousin Bell is so angry at the way in
which you have treated her son, that
she will never speak to us again"
| had no reply to make. l already,
in my heart, regretted the coquetry
which had made me refuse cousin
Sam; but was too proud to admit it tC
anybody but myself.
To turn the conversation, and en-,
deavor to inspire Flora as well as my
self with courage, | went to the piano
But before | could strike note, my
attention was arrested by a grating
sound that seemed to come from under
the hoor. l glanced at Flora. She
was trembling from head to foot.
"Oh, Rosep she whispered, "some
one is getting into the cellar. We shall
all be murdered" and she wrung hel
hands helplessly.
We both listened. But heard moth
ing but the beating of my heart. l was
not naturally Il coward and my resolu
tion was taken at once.
"Flora," l whispered, "you bang
away on the piano, so that if there is
any one below stairs he will not suspect
that we have heard him. will go and
listen at the cellar door,
went through the long dark entry
to all outward appearance bravely
enough, but expecting at every step to bt
knocked on the head. At last reached
the kitchen. Putting one ear to the
trap-door that led into the cellar,
listened. But l heard only Flora play
ing on the piano, the gate banging ant
slamming, and the old oak creaking il
the gate, and knocking with its branch
es against the house.
"What towards we are, after ALL"
said TO myself, boldly raising the tap
door, and peering down into the cellar
l could see nothing, but the air smell
of rain.
"One of the windows must be open,
l said. 81 hear the rain dashing in
That explains the queer noise"
l descended the stairs intending t,
shut the window. Gradually my eye
became more and more accustomed t
the darkness. When l reached tn
bottom of the steps l turned to look 70
the window. Great heavens it wa,
not there.
My heart stopped beating. / clunl
to the cellar steps. AS l looked, tn
window reappeared, now plainly wild
open. stood staring at the patch o
faint, gray light, for full minute, then
laughing silently at my fears, and per
suading myself that the shutters ha,
blown to, and now had blown opel
again, advanced, intending to faster
the shutters securely.
i had gone more than half wa
across the cellar, following the wal
when the window was obscured again
and gruff voice cried: "Here, lend
fellow hand" At the same time
saw burly form creep through tn
window. My knees now absolutel
gave way under me, as another voic
behind me, answered: eve had bette
walt till the family go to bed" In
moment, however, l recovered myself
and turned to fly upstairs, even at th
risk of being caught by the ruflian bt
hind me. But, before l could move
step, the trap-door fell with a banl
and 1 was shut in hopelessly with tw
if not more, burglars.
There was horrible silence. Blu
for the support the wall gave me
would have sunk to the ground. d
rectly one of the ruiilans tried to ligh
a match. l heard the scrape on hi
boot, and saw the flame for moment
but fortunately the wind blew it ou
The emminent peril gave me sudde
strength. To attempt to raise the tral
door from below, was impossible fC
me, knew. My only hope of escaI
was through the window, and towar
it fled as swiftly and noiselessly 3
possible. / remembered that an empt
vinegar barrel stood almost direct
under it On this sprang and clutcl
ing the sill above, was about to dra'
myself up, when the nearest burgli
discovering me, darted at me with a
oath. He was, luckily, just one Il