Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-12

hs had accomplices outside, that they
would burst the old door from its
hinges, and my life would be the forfeit
TO my terror, I perceived that his
words were no idle boast. The old
door secured by it's many fastenings on
the one side, was weak on the other;
its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust; they needed but some vigor-
Gus kicks to burst them from their rest.
ing places in the wood. . go.
I knew that was only protected for
a few minutes, that even if the thief
was alone he had but to continue to
assail the door as vigorously as he was
now doing for little longer, to gain a
fresh entrance into my chamber.
rushed to the window, threw up
the sash, and bent half out. Into the
clear, calm air of tho night T sent my
| strong young voice.
+. Help, help !-thieves fire dan
ger help, help" 49,.
T. shouted these words over and over,
but there was no response except an
| echo. My room looked into distant
| shrubhery; the hour was late, the whole
household was in bed.
The thief outside was evidently max.
ing way with the rusty hinges, and !
was preparing, at the risk Of any conse'
quences, the moment he entered the
room to leap from the window, when !
heard a dog bark.
redoubled my cries. The bark OF
the dog WAS followed by footsteps they
came nearer, treading down fallen
| branches, which cracked under the
welcome steps. The next instant a
man came and stood under the window
and looked up at me. I perceived by
his dress that he was villager, proba-
| bly, taking short cut to his house. He
stood under the window; he seemed
terrified; perhaps he took me for the
ghost. He was !, :, however all cow
ard, for he spoke.
"Wha: is wrong?" he said.
'"Thi is wrong,"I answered; II en-
in extreme danger-extreme danger
! There is not moment to lose. Go in.
stantly--instantly, and wake up the
house, and say that I, Mrs. Craw-
ford, am in extreme danger in the
Tapestry wing. Go at once-at once 7"
I spoke distinctly, and the man
seemed to understand. He flew away,
the dog following him.
I instantly threw myself on my knees,
and in the terrible moments that fol.
lowed prayed as / had never prayed
before. Would the man be in time?
Must my young life be scrifced? ..:
All! no. God was good. I heard
joyful sounds; the thief's attacks
on the door ceased suddenly, and the
next instant the squires hearty voice
was heard.
"Let me in, Honorl What Is wrong.
child?"
I did let him in, and his wife and
several alarmed looking servants who
followed after.
We instantly began to look for the
thief, but mystery of myster1es--he had
disappeared.
That terrible man with the black haiz
and white locks over his forehead had
vanished as completely as though he
had never been.
Except for the marks he had made
with his feet on the old oak door there
was not q trace of his existence.
! , I believe the servants doubted that
he had ever been, and only thought
that the young lady who was foolish
enough to sleep in the Tapestry cham
Der had been visited Ivy q new form OF
the ghost Be that as it may, we never
| got s:lew to where or how the man had
vanished.
Zen years later I was again on visit
at Aspen's Vale. This time l did not
sleep in the tapestry room.
Inow occupied most cheerful modern
and unghost- like room, and but for one
circumstance my visit would have been
thoroughly uncomfortable.
This was the circumstance which
seems in wonderful wey to point out a
moral to my curious tale. l paid my
visit to the Cllffords during
the assizes Squire Clifford, as one Of
the most influential country magrates.
was necessarily much occupied with
his magisterial duties during this time.
Every morning he went early into
Lewes, the town where the assizes were
held. One morning he told us Of q
case which interested him.
HE is hardened villain" he said:
he has again and again been brought
before me, but has never yet been con-
victed. He is unqtiestionably thief !;
indeed, ono of the notorious characters
in the place; but he is such slippery
dog, no jury has yet found him guilty.
Well, he is to be tried again to-day, and
I do hope we shall have some luck with
him this time.
The squire went away, and it came
| into his wife's head and mine to pay a
visit to the court, and see for ourselves
| the prisoner,in whom he was SO inter-
ested,
| No sooner said than done. We drove
into Lewes, and presently found our
selves in the large and crowded build
ing. When we entered, the case under
discussion had not begun, but a moment
after fresh prisoner was ushered into
the dock.
What was the matter with me? J
found my sight growing dim, [ found
myself bending forward, and peering
hard. The memory of an old terror
came back, the sensation OF a couple OF
hours Of mortal agony returned to me
again. Who was in the prisoners dock ?
] knew the man. He was my guest of
the Tapestry chamber OF ten years ago.
There he stood, surly, indifferent,
with his vast breadth and height, his
raven black hair, and that peculiar
white lock flung back from his brow.
He did not glance at any one, but kept
his eyes on the ground.
| I could not contain myself; I forgot
everything but my sense of discovery.
1 started to my feet, and spoke
"Mr. Clifford, know that man; he
was in my room ten years ago. Dc
Iyou remember the night when I got the