Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-03-20

did not know what he went fOr-per-
haps to fetch companion certainly to
rcturn-but | did know that my OPP
portunity had come.
In an instant, quicker than thought,
had started from my feigned slum-
bers: | was at the door, | had boltcd
and locked it. There were several
bolts to this olG-fashioned door, there
were even chains.
Idrew every bolt, | made every rusty
chain secure. | was not an instant too
soon. had scarcely fastened the last
chain, with fingers that trcmblcd, be-
fore the thief returned.
He saw that he had been outwittcd,
and his savage anger knew no bounds.
He kicked at the door, he called on
me wildly to open it; he assured me
that he had accompliccS outside, that
they would soon burst the old door
from its hinges, and my life would be
the forfeit.
To my terror | perceived that his
words were no idle boast. The old
door, secured by its many fastenngs
on the one side, was weak on the 9th
er; its hinges were nearly eaten through
with rust; they needed but some vigOr.
Gus kicks to burst them from their
resting places in the wood.
| knew that was only protected for
Il few minutes, that even if the thief
was alone he had but to continue Ia
asSail the door as vigorously rs 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 the night sent my
strong young voice.
"IIclp, help !-thicvcs!-frc dan
gcr!-help, hclpw
shouted these words over and over,
but there was no response, except an
echo. My room looked into distant
Shrubbcry; the hour was late, the
whole household in bed.
The thief outside was evidently
making way with the rusty hinges,
and ! was preparing, at the risk of any
consequences, the moment he entered
..', unt ,oI'lL , I 10 'eaP lro,i, , '"c "'''"""'
"''" ! '''"'" " "oS ""' ~
redoublcd my cries. The bark OF
the dog was followed by footsteps;
they came nearer, trcading down fall
on branches. which cracked under the
welcome steps. The next instant Il
man came and stood under the window
and looked up at me. perceived by
his dress that he was a villager, prob
ably taking short cut to the house.
He stood under the window; he
seemed terrified perhaps he took
me for the ghost. He was not, how.
ever, all Il coward, for he spoke:
"What is wrOng?' he said.
This is wronr" answered 81
am in extreme damrrr-rxtrrmr
danger There is not n moment lc
lose. Go instantlv-instantly. and
wake ND the house, and say that l.
Mrs. Crawford. am in extreme danger
in the tapestrv wing. Go at once al
once | spoke distinctly, and the
man seemed TO understand. He flew
away,thc dog following him.
instantly threw myself on my
knees, and in the terrible moment.
that followed prayed aS never had
prayed before. Would the man he in
time? Must my young life he sacri
feed?
Ah no! God was good. | heard joy
full sounds; the thief's attacks on thC
stant the Squire hearty voice called
out;
"LGl me IN Honor! what Is wrong
enid!
did let him in, and his wife, anc
several alarmrd looking servants who
followed after
we instantly began To LOOK Tor TIT
,hIfi' put-mySlerS ol lhNS''rieS-h'
i'"u "'So'Pt"ie"'
That terrible man with the blacI
hair and white lock over his forehead
had vanished us though he had nevcl
Deeh'
Except for the marks he had mad,
with his feet on the old oak door, ther,
was not trace OF his existence.
| believe the servants doubted thn
he had ever been, and only though
that the Young lady who was fooiisl
enough to sleep in the tapestry cham
; Der had been visited by new form o
: ghost. BE that as it may, we nevcl
got Il clcw to where or how the MAJ
, had vanished.
Ten wears later | was again ON
visit at Aspcn's Vale. This time | di,
5 not slccp in the tapcstry room.
, now occupicd most chccrfu
| modern and unghost-likc room ant
, but for one circumstance my visi
would have been thoroughly unrc
markablc.
l This was the circumstance whicl
seems, in wonderful way, to point
moral to my curious tale. paid m.
visit to the Cliitords daring the assizes
Squire Clifford, as one of the most in
: ilucntial county magnatcs, was neces
sarily much occupied with his magis
terial duties during this time. Ever,
morning ne went carry 'hto % ,nc 'pm' owl
I Will 'iic as "SS'Aos woio i.oiI. ou ~,
,nornilS ln,ll. ne ne 'oiu Us Vi c"Sc "nioh Ill
'orcs'eu i'in' .,
| me is II hardened Villain' ne sald