The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-08-14

did. She was q coarSe-i0Oklng, care
worn woman. and l noticed when she
showed me to my room that her hand
was shaking, and her voice sounded
thick as she bade me a civil Good
night
"My bedroom was long low room
with queer old furniture. quaint
carved chairs and a great fodr-post
bedstead which seemed as big as a
hearse. There was no lock to the
door, and the bolts were rustys 50 l
could only put the latch down. l
thought of putting chair against it,
but that seemed childish and no pro-
lection after all. The night was wet
and windy and the sky black as ink.
Try as l would ! couldn't get to sleep,
and there l lay listening to the ghostly
tapping of the ivy leaves against the
window, and thinking of the evil look
in the landlords eyes, and all the hor-
rid stories 1 had ever read came
crowding into my mind, when sudden
ly l started up in bed, wide awake
enough, for l heard something or some
one climbing up the ivy to my win
dow. lay with palpitating heart and
straining eyes, listening to the horri-
BILE ghostly rustling which every mo-
ment sounded nearer.
Suddenly a thought struck me; and
I arose, hastily smoothing the bed
clothes, as though the bed had not
been slept in. l had just time to
creep under the bed, when the window
was shaken open, and somebody softly
slipped in. 1t was a man, and, listen
ing intently, l heard him sigh wearily
to himself, as if he were tired out.
Then he got into my bed, drew the
clothes over him, and in few min
utes heard him snoring. You can
imagine how pleasant felt, and the
scamp had my money-bag under his
pillow too! What was to be done? l
thought of my happy home and the
dear little wife now perhaps dreaming
Of me and the thought of her gave me
courage. determined to snatch at
my money and fight forit with the un-
seen visitor to the death, if need be. |
was crawling from under the bed,
when / heard another sound, nearing
the door this time. In minute the
latch was quietly lifted, the door gent
ly pushed open, and saw the landlord
glide into the room. Then hand
holding candle stole in at the door
only a hand; but l knew those CULVER
ing fingers well enough. The man
crept on tiptoe to the bed and, leaning
softly over the sleeper, stabbed him
to the heart. There was one deep
groan and all was over. The murder
er drew the money from under the
pillow and crept stealthily to the door,
glancing behind him as though he
feared the dead man would get up and
follow him.
Shaking all over and with hair On
end crawled from my hiding place,
groped about the room for my clothes,
and, after standing moment. dazed
with horror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite mine,
and could see the light under their
door, which was barely closed.
pushed it open and reeped in. The
table faced the door, and there they
stood with their backs to me. 50 intent
upon the money that 1 crept close to
them without being heard.
"Lcok, look l heard the man whis-
per-there is more than enough to
save our boy. How they shine! And
all ours, wife-oursv
"'No, mine, murderer l shouted
with voice of thunder, and, snatch
ing the bag from his nerveless grasp,
dashed the light from the woman's
hand anl fled back swiftly to the room
where the dead man lay.
"Opening the window, I CROPPED
about with one hand for an ivy bough,
clinging somehow to the sill with the
other.and at last managed to scramble
down, reaching the ground bruised.
shaken, breathless AS 1 rested mo
ment to get my breath, 1 heard from
the room above an awful cry sung out
in woman's voice
"'My boy, my boy. my only SOM
81 clambered over the gate which
led into the street. A Matchbox
stood close by in the square, and
hurriedly told my story to the watch.
man. He stared in horror, as well he
might, and wanted to fetch his mate
but told him we were more than 9
match for those we should find at the
inn, so he came with me. A frighten.
ed servant opened the door to us, and
led the way to the room 1 had Just
quilted. The watchman bent dowr
and peered into the dead mans face.
"'Ah,' he whispered. it's as feared
It's their own son---they didn't know
he was home, and so they mistooE
him for you. SIR
Il felt myself turn queer and giddy
for l knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, My only sonp
"And what of the murderers? They
had not so much as tried to escape, ant
the door wasn't even barred against
us. The woman lay moaning on tn,
floor; the man sat huddled up in 6