The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-13

Mr.. Mauleyerer had written W bis g.taer
announcing his engagement. but "a vet
neither line nor message from the old 1tie-
man had reached US. 1t was not isesttlg
Amy properly; and though .liny's en- feasies
to me ID be patient, and oftreps sto2 sssaF~
snces that Alfred said everything W0aid DO
all right, silenced me for the sine Wns fully
resolved to see matters eithe ended Or placed
on u satisfactory footing before much longer
lime elapsed.
In thu meantime Mr.. MauieyereF Tsveiys5
one morning a telegram whi'h be iuiaTaed 80
contained he news OF the illness Sc old
friend OF his in London. lls mdss tfs ia
mediately il he wished to see hin aagr. ~
did not mind he would leave his hsavY rage
behind him, and only take a SINAI M
teau. Unless someth ng very special nap
peued to detain him he would be with us
again in a couple of days. His adeux were
hurried but impressive. He seemed really
sorry to leave Amy, who was, however, en-
abled bid him a cheerful good by on the
| strength of his speedy return. On the morn
ing Of the second day after he hadtaken his
departure Amy was evidently expecting let
ter from him-not unreasonably, thought,
as it was natural she should wish to hear that
he had reache his desti alton saely.~ She
was rather restless and tidgety. Perhaps that
was the cause of my own almost nervous feel
ings as posttme approached. cold settle
down to nothing.
Amy, Q1fHuR, L sdlu pTeSeuLly, suppose
you take the garden-Seissors and sup these
seraniums for me; they want 1t badlln
So Amy stepped out on to the title lawn
with it's still brightly filled parteres, aud
watched her from the drawiDg-rOoa wind Nv
with feelings of mingled love, anXieE and ap-
| prchension, for, do what might Ould not
over the sense of some impending clamity-
something sorrowful for her. Soon Sterward
she joined me, ~"aia 4 with her letterthe first
she had everrt ls,Vs.l trlu .'.. a vet Tent
gentlemanly egiatic, l was iged a.Uw
satisfactory, too, az il contai. . the 3rgaa-
| ii n that he had he1rd from ais fat, 700
on certain ,nditions, watch le sask ~,
| to comply with, promised - sS,il.sra 70
the marriage. A letter toC me cen Old VIZ.
Mauleverer had been ouclof IFS iete TO
his son. but the latter pref q dahFGrIn r
to me personally; consequently would
receive it until Ills return to rs.
Amy had an engagement that afternoon to
visit the Dasents, who were now installed in a
small house they had at some distance from
the Court, while the latterwas being repaired.
She was to drive over, taxing our small groom
wi her, aud was not to expect her back
until after nine O'Clock az the earliest; SO
was to spend solitary evening. After she
left me wrote a few letters; then tried t.
re I'd, but my attention wandered slight
drowsiness came over me, and suppose ! fell
asleep. All at once | woke 10 with con-
seriousness OF some one standing just outside
the osed window. | was not generally
nervous, but | confess a thrill of fear shot
through me then, and for moment | was
almost too terrified to stir. The next instant
got up, and simultaneously with my doing
so the lace vanished. But the eyes had so
clearly seen might be watching me still.
controlled all outward symptoms Of alarm, or
consciousness of what had seen, and after a
few moments-'o nae each seemed an ,ur--I
moved toward the door aud summoned one OF
my aryo DfS | m hA nj nc or pa
10 her and enjoined extra care that night as
to our bolts and bars. Though we had neither
gold plate nor diamonds to attract thieves,
still there was enough silver to satisfy moder
ate cupidity, and it was wonderful h w such
fac got abroad. After the Enfield Court
robbery one could not be too careful.
Very soon Margaret, my servant, had
secured all the shutters, drawn the curtains,
and | sat down to my solitary tea, wishing
most ierVenuy that Amy was within doors
again.
L sudden storm had come on; the wind had
risen in hurricane and bade fair to continue
during the night. About eight O'Clock mes
sage arrived r me from Lady Dasent, telling
me that as the storm, was SO severe hey had
veutured o detain Amy for the night; in the
morning she would be with me early.
/ was both glad and sorry; glad that Amy
would not run the risk of encountering any
lurking individual in the darkness, that she
sake, felt SO soil airy aud, truth to tell, SO
strangely nervous.
The evening wore on slowly, and as ten
o'clock struck / went to my room. 1t was
directly over the drawing-room. Next to mine
was Amy's; and on the other side of the land
ing was the spare ,om, which had SO recently
been occupied by Alfred Mauleyerer. Above
slept the servants. I heard them go ui to
bed, and while l coul hear them movingktout
overhead l was tolerably comfortable; but
soon stiffness reigned over the Wrel's N,st.
My domestics were asleep. The best thing
could do was to follow their example, which
after time ] suppose Ibid, for was wakeied
by anoise, distantS )und from the hall below.
| scarcely breathed. | could hear nv heart
bea ing rs II lay listening with strained ears,
and rec tlled with Mortified terror the face
had seen at the window.
/ need hardly say that l was thoroughly
awake. Every nerve was strung to such a
pitch of tension that a pin had been dropped
| feel sure | should have heard it. 1t came
again-the sound from belnw-dull, this time,
but distinct; and presently heard stealthy
'otsteps coming rapidly and Quie ly up stairs
evidently shoeless feet, but none the less
audible to my ears. Never since had lived
at the Wre IS Nest had locked my bedroom
door; had dread of doing it, aid, despi
my nervousness on this occasion, had not
departed from my rule. 1t was too late to
attempt to accomplish it now. Besides, look
ing back, j think sort OF temporary paralysis
had com. over me. | heard hand laid upon
the handle; it was turned cautiously and the
next moment, from my curtained bed, |
distinguished a man bearing some sort of
small lamp-his face concealed by mask
enter.
1t was matter Of life or death for me to
remain quiet. Through nv mi I'd flashed a
resolve b. deliver up everything | was pos
sessed of-family plate, my mothers sne.
theysts, all my small valuabes, to this rutfian,
shout he demand them. But no such irten-
ton seemed to be his. He approached the
bed. raised his lamp, flashed for a second on
my closed eyes, and then withdrew it, appa-
rently satisfied that | slept, 1t must have
been ours Try glance, for could not have
sustained the deception for more than a mo-
ment. Ee gave keen look around the room.
Only he lower part of his face was covered,
SO | could see his eyes, small, black and
piercing, with something familiar to me In
them, even then. My watch--a legacy from
my mother-lay on the toilet-table, but he
overlooked It,. Evidently, mine was NOT the
room he meant to rife. Almost no selessly he
vanished out oft, and | heard him proceed
into Amy's room next-thank God, il was
empty--theh into the spare room, where he
remained.
All at once 1t flashed across me that by A
little courage | might save everything and
secure the thief In former. days my spare
were barred, so as to make all exit from them
imp Issible. II | could slip out of bed, get
across the passage, In one second / could lock
the dor, aud, secure from any attack, raise an
alarm.
The agony Of fear | was In wa. such that |
felt equal to any effort. Without losing a
IN men glded out o; be |; amomentis pause