West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-11

would soon burst the old door frou
hinges. and my life would DO the foA
To my terror I perceived tina,
words were no idle boast. Thd
door. secured by its many fastening
the one side, was weak on the OFT
its hinges were nearly eaten throu
with rust; they needed but some Wig
Gus kicks TO burst them from their re
ing places in the wood
| knew that was only protected
few minutes; that even il the thief "
alone he had but TO continue TO ass
the door as vigorously as he was ID
doing for little longer TO gain fri
entrance into my chamber.
rushed to the window, / threw
the sash and bent half out. Into
clear, calm air of the night / sent
strong young voice.
Help. help!-thieves! - Gre,--
ger!-help, help!"
| shouted these words over and ovtSy.
but there was no response except an
echo. My room looked into a distant
shrubbcry; the hour was late: the whole
household in bed.
The thief outside was evidently max
ing way with the rusty hinges, and
was preparing, at the risk of any con
sequences, the moment no entered the
room, to leap from the window, when
heard 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 wei
come stop. Tho next instant man
came and stood under the window and
looked up at me. | perceived by his
dress that he was a villager, probably
taking short cut to his house He
stood under the window; he seemed ter
rlhed; perhaps he took me for the
ghost. lie was not, however. all
coward, for he spoke.
What is wrongP' he said
This is wrong" | answered. 81
am in extreme dangcr-eXtreme danger,
There is not n moment to lose. Go i'm
stantly-instantly wake up the
house, and say that |, Mrs. Crawford,
am in extreme danger in the tapestry
wing 90 Mt once-at once!"
lspoke 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 | prayed as | had never prayed
before. Would the man be in time?
Must my young life be sacrifced?"
All! no. God was good. heard
joyful sounds; the thef's attacks on tn
door ceased suddenly, and the next in
slant the Squire's hearty voice was
heard.
- Let me in, Honor! What is wrong.
chiid?"
did let him in, and his wife, and
several alarmeG-lOoking servants who
followed after.
We instantly began to look for tho
thief, but-mystery of mysteries-ho
had disappeared.
That terrible man with the black
hair and white lock over his forehead
had vanished rs 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 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
Ter had been visited by new form of
tho ghost BE that as it may. we never
got clew to where or how The man
had vanished.
Ten years later | was again on n visit
TO the Aspen's Vale. This time I did
not sleep in the tapestry room.
l now occupied most cheerful,
modern and unghost-like room, and
but for one circumstance my visit
would have been thoroughly unro-
markable.
This was the circumstance which
seems in wonderful way to point a
moral TO my curious tale. | paid nv
visit to the Cliffords during the assizes.
Squire Clifford. as one Of the most in
huential county magnates, was neces-
sariiy much occupied with his maois-
terial duties during this time Every
morning he went early into Lewis. the
town where the assizes were held. One
morning he told us of n case which in
terested him.
"He is hardened villain" he said,
he has again and again been brought
before me, but he has never vet been
convicted. He is unquestionably
thief; indeed, one of the most no.
torlous characters in the place: but
he is such a slippery dog no Jury has
yet found him guilty. Well he is to DO
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 paw
visit to the court and see for our
selves the prisoner in whom he was in
terestcd.
No sooner said than done We drove
into Lewis, and presently found our
selves in the large and crowded build
ing. When we entered the case under
discussion had not commenced. but
moment after a fresh prisoner was ush-
cred into the dock.
What was tho matter with me?
found my sight growing dim, I found
myself bending forward and peerino
hard. The memory Of an old terror
came back, and the sensation of a
couple OF hours OF mortal agony re-
turned TO me again. Who was in the
prisoner dock? | knew the man. lie
was my guest OF the tapestry chamber
Of ten years ago.
There he stood, sury. indifferent.
his vast breadth and height, his raven.
black hair and that peculiar white lock
flung back from his brow. lie did not
glance az any one, but kept his eyes ON
the ground.
could not contain myself: T forgot
everything but my sense Of discovery. /
d