Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-11

thank Heaven, and 80 We're she and
Hetty and the money-box.
But the thought of the money-box
worried her. She looked under the bed
to see if it were all right. There is
something'in the mere act of looking
under the bed that is disorganizing to
the feminine mind. After Alicia had
looked, she began to feel a tritle tim
orous She went out and listened at
the ladder-hole. The old man snored.
That sound should certainly have en-
couraged her, but it didn't.
The combination of a snoring man in
the house, a stranger, even though
under the bed, of all places, and a
storm raging, and alack and alas! a
broken promise to ones husbands; this
combination was very disagreeable.
Moved by an irresistible impulse,
Alicia took from a drawer a pistol be-
longing to her husband. She had found
it accidentally but a few days before in
an old trunk OF his filled with bachelor
belongings. She was glad now that
she had moved it down from the attic,
where the old trunk stood in one corner
and the old man snored in another. The
sight of the pistol did not perhaps re-
store her courage, as she had hoped it
would, for she put it back with q
shudder, threw o hasty glance around
the rooms. and with a shrug at her own
fears went to the window, pulled up
the shade, and looked out. The moon
was struggling through the clouds; the
long line of roads leading past the
house up to a distant hill shone out
white from between the dark fences on
either side. Up on the hill, q quarter
Of a mile distant, there was a moving
spot-some belated neighbor on his
way home to the village probably.
Alicia felt comforted. She wondered,
idly, who it might be. Squire Roberts,
perhaps, coming from Widow Hobart's.
There was little doubt that that would
be a match. though how a widow could
eve remarry! She shuddered, then
thought of Nathan, and smiled.
Alicia stood at the window to watch
the neighbor pass. She had taken
down her hair, and 1T fell in a long Jet
braid down her back. She looked very
young and girlish, and az she stood she
hummed to herself-partly by way of
keeping up her rising courage, I dare
say-the quaint words of the old Scotch
English, and which Nathan, being
Scotch himself, was fond of:
He gave his bridle-rein a shake,
And turned him on the shore
With, Adieu for evermore, my love,
Adieu for evermOre.
By the way, the spot on the hillside
was growing nearer and clearer. 1t
was not Squire Roberts, after all, but
men on Observation-Disclosures of them.
The woman's country curiosity was
piqued. Equestrians on a Massachu-
sets highway at nine p. m. were an un-
usual a sight as hobgoblins. AS the
riders came nearer she saw they We're
mut1led in long black cloaks. A stray
Cling moonbeam struck across their
faces. Great heavens! They were
masked.
For a second there was a wild con-
fusion in Alicia's mind. The money
box, the lonely house! These men had
come to rob the county in her hus-
bands absence. Could she resist them?
All!
Adieu for evermore, my love,
Adieu for
But then her thoughts grew calmer,
she watched the men turn in at the
gate. They did not speak or look to
right or LETT. They rode in; they dis
mounted.
Alicia flew, first for Hetty, and then
both of them-women to the last-for
the one man within reach. 1t was all
the work Of a moment. Down came
the old forlorn bit of male humanity.
To him appeals the young, live woman.
His BRAN seemed alive at least. He
grasps the situation. Daring thieves
knowing of the husbands absence have
come for the strong box full OF county
money. There are three of them.
Says. the old man: ''Have you a
pistol?"
EYES," replies Alicia.
sGive it to me. Is that the box un-
der your bed?"
eyes, replies Alicia again.
'tAll this time the men have beat on
the door, but no word has been spoken
by them.
'You must trust me-" says the old
man.
YES" replies Alicia bravely. 1t is
all she can do, even though he should
play her false.
Light a candle and bring me the
cartridges. L will keep them and re-
load your pistol if necessary. Stand
here at the top Of the stairs, so. l am
just behind you. Blow out You candle.
Soon they will speak and ask to be let
in. You must not reply. They will
beat in the door. They will break it
open. There will be one man who will
dart ahead up the stairs-the ring
leader, you know. Wait until this man
is within three steps of you. Wait until
l say Fire then pull the trigger. That
mar will fall. The others will run off
that is, they may. 1t is our only
chance. DO you understood it,"
EYES," replies Alicia again, in aclear.
firm tone. All fear has vanished. She
is calm and quiet now.
The robbers were beating at the door.
The old man was crouched behind her.
Hetty in the background moaning out
her "Holy Joseph's' and BLESSED
Mary's." Alicia, erect at the head of
the stairs with her husbands pistol in
her hand. All, her husband! Her teart
beat at that thought. Should she enzs
see him again?
Adieu for evormOre NV love