The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-19

! WAASAAJ v oDSA " LIZ uoouAVA LIZ eAos
he had accomplices outside, that they
would burst the old door from its
hinges, and my life would be the forfeit.
To my terror, 1 perceived that his
words were no idle boast. The old
door secured by its many fastenings on
the n 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.
l knew that l 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 a little longer, to gain o
fresh entrance into my chamber.
I rushed to the window, I threw up
the sash, and bent half out. Into the
clear, calm air of the night I sent my
strong young voice.
Help, Observation-Disclosures
ger!-help, help!"
[ shouted these words over and over,
but there was no response except an
echo. My room looked into a distant
shrubbery; 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 tho
room to leap from the window, when ]
heard a dog bark.
I 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. Tho next instant q
man came and stood under the window
and looked up at me. l perceived by
his dress that he WIS a villager, proba-
bly, taking a short cut to his house. He
stood under the window; he seemed
terrified; perhaps he took me for the
ghost. He vas not, however all q cow
ard, for he spoke.
"What is wrong?" he said.
"This is wrong,"I answered; ST am
in extreme danger-extreme danger
There is not a 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 oncew
l spoke distinctly, and the man
seemed to understand. He flew away,
the dog following him.
instantly threw myself on my knees,
and in the terrible moments that fol.
lowed l prayed as I had never prayed
before. Would the man he in time?
Must my young life be scrificed?
All! no. God was good. I heard
Joyful sounds; the thief's attacks
on til door ceased suddenly, and the
next slant the squire's hearty voice
was !. ard.
"Let me in, Honor! What is wrong,
child?"
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 mysterles-he had
disappeared.
That terrible man with the black hair
and white locks over his forehead had
vanished as completely IS though he
had never been.
Except for the marks he had made
with his feet on the old oak door there
was not a trace of his existence.
l 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 by a new form Of
the ghost. Be that as it may, we never
got a clew to where or how the man had
vanished.
Zen years later I was again on a visit
at Aspen's Vale. This time 1 did not
sleep in the tapestry room.
Inow occupied q most cheerful modern
and u~nghost-like room, and but for one
circumstance my visit would have been
thoroughly unremarkable.
This was the circumstance which
seems in q wonderful way to point out a
moral to my curious tale. I paid my
visit to the Cllffords during
the assizes. Squire Clifford, as one Of
the most influential country magnates,
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 a hardened villain" he said.
he has again and again been brought
before me, but has never yet been con-
victed. He is unquestionably a thief;
indeed, one Of the notorious characters
in the place; but he is such a slippery
dog, no jury has yet found him guilty.
Well, he is to be tried again to-day, and
| 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 moment
after O fresh prisoner was ushered into
the dock.
What was the matter with me? ]
found my sight growing dim, I found
myself bending forward, and peering
hard. The memory Of an old terror
came back, the sensation of q couple Of
hours of mortal agony returned to me
again. Who was in the prisoners dock ?
| knew the a He was my guest OF
the Tapestry chamber of ten years g
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.
l could not contain myself; I forgot
everything but my sense of discovery.
I started to my feet, and spoke.
"AH. TI.{S.-l H. III
was in my ten years ago. Dc
you remember the night when I got the
terrible fright in the Tapestry chamber
in your house? There is the man who
frightened me. I could never forget