The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-07-12

from the east room; the dining-room
branched off from the long room, paral-
lei with the east room.
Between them was covered porch.
Each had three or four windows and
two or three doors. There was not a
shutter to the first nor q bolt to the
last. And we were houseful of women
unarmed and unprotected.
The noise continued. There was no
doubt OF its meaning. Some one was
srying the windows of the long room,
oteadily, carefully, persistently.
To reach the stairs and join the rest
OF the household we must either pass
through the long room, all unourtained
and open to inspection from three sides,
or cross the porch to the dining-room,
thus going out into the black night
where we knew not what danger lurked
unseen, but fearfully near.
We sat in terror too deep for words
and then, as with one thought rose,
slipped quietly through the door on to
the porch, sped across it, and threw
ourselves breathlessly into the dining
room.
"Oh, Fan |" gasped Margaret, "were
you ever SO glad in all your life be-
fore ?"
"Never |" answered. 81 thought 1
would never reach that door Oh,sswhat
can we do"
"Let us ask Betty"
In the same noiseless manner we
crept upstairs and reused Betty in her
attic. She was an enormous, dingy old
creature, who looked able to protect
herself and score of women younger,
fairer and less ponderous. But she
was rs great coward as either of us,
and less cautious.
The young girl awoke calmly, and
instantly got out of bed, and COM
menced dressing herself with all speed,
and no words.
"What are you going to do, Kitty p
asked her mistress.
I'm a-goin' to see Of there is man
about" she answered, quietly leaving
the room.
followed her, and together, holding
each other tight by the hand, we crept
lown the stairs again, and softly
opened the door OF the long room on
he tiny entry. The four gray spaces
in the blackness clearly defined the
window, and at first we could see
othing else. But there was the noise
nd Kitty's fingers trembled. Present.
we saw A man was bending for
ward at the end window, with regular
low movement, that explained the
;ouud perfectly. he was turning the
handle of some boring instrument Just
Inder the catch.
We fed precipitatelY.
"He's ther," announced Kitty, an
1e's a.comin' in"
Betty Rroaned. 1t was GURUS, but
he knowledge that no one could hear
cry had the effect of suppressing
chem. Under any other circumstances,
where there was the faintest shadow OF
hope that it would have brought us
help, l am sure each and all of us
would have screamed Justify. But we
,, knew our danger and its hopelessness.
We were awed from the first.
The mountains had been gaining an
evil reputation for some time as the re-
sort of the border ruffians of the war.
Margarets mode of life. in its differ
D ence from their own, had long passed
for the outcome OF enormous wealth in
, the eyes of the valley people, and her
! fame had spread across the ridge
! Kitty put it into words in her usual
, terse manner:
"Ihis comes of yer big silver teapot,
{ Mis- Hastings"
r "Oh, Kitty, hush And it is only
! plate. Oh, wish could throw it out
of the window to him."
{ "It we only had horn," 1 moaned,
E "or pistol"
"There's the dinner-horn," cried
' Kitty.
"Can you fire pistol, Fan? ?" cried
/ Margaret.
r 81 eau do anything" l answered
4 frantically. Anything but stand here
4 and wait for that wretch. Kitty where
is the hornY"
q "Out to the barn"
# "Oh, you little gooseW
4 "And the pistol is downstairs in
r Bertie's tool.chest on the porch,
d sighed Margaret.
}, "There is one, then? Oh, on the
r porchl"
think the few seconds that followed
. were the longest, the most terrible, the
= most heroic of my life. I have always
8 felt proud Of myself when l recall the
d sinking of my heart, and the wonderful
/, victory over my natural and excusablt
cowardice that brief struggle brought
Y about.
4 81 will go and get it," 1 said, very
Q quietly. "Tell me exactly where it is )
r ooh, / cannOtl You win have to take
o candlel"
+" Gould anything be worse? Go out
4 into the night with my very life il
j my hand, and light to show where
|, l was But 1 was wrought up to it
every we'll, give me the candle. Kitty
!, come down and stand ready to lock the
!; door, if any one comes"
/, Margaret began to cry and Betty tC
moan, but neither of them uttered {
4 | vuOrd