The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-22
INTERESTING STORY.
OLIVES ADVENTURE.

OuFe MoElsOn Went &c, her room In rear
and trembling, after having sat up by the
family fire as long as she could possibly
find any excuse for so sitting up and linger-
ing. She was soft-eyed, rosy-complexioned
little thing, with tender, tuneful voice--a
girl who would have been very beautiful
were it not for the unfortunate paralysis of
one limb, which made it necessary for her
to walk with crutch, and somewhat dwarfed
her natural height. Everybody liked Olive.
The parsimonious opened their hands to
her simple needs-the churlish grew almost
courteous-the hard-hearted instinctively
softened, and those who believed in the
hopeless deprayity of human nature made
an exception in favor of Olive Morrison.
Even the riotous, rebellious young horde of
the district school were more malleable, by
tar, under her gentle rule than they had
been under that of the male teacher, who
had just resigned his position in despair
As she stood before the glass, unbraiding
the brown, shining strands Of her long and
luxuriant hair, Mrs. Jaynesford looked into
the room.
" It's sharp, frosty night, Miss 0live,n
,he said hadn't you better have an extra
comfortable on your bed 2"
ST don't think need it, Mrs. Jaynes-
ford" said the girl. tBut do--do you
really think there is any danger of our be-
ing robbed and murdered 2'
~ only know what I've heard, there be-
in gang O. lawless fellers in the country
Mrs. Jaynesford answered, with a sort of
gloomy satisfaction in the prospect. "And
don't know why they shouldn't come here,
IS we'll as any place; faint likely they
know we hain't no silver, and lothian keeps
all his money in the county bank. Towsers.
all very well, but I've heard O. better dogs
than he is bein' settled bv dose of poison
and I'd like to know what good Jotham's
loaded rifles goin' to do us arter he's had
his throat cut from ear to ear in his sleep ~
80, Mrs. Jaynesford ' shuddered Olive,
the brush falling from her nervous fingers.
can't stay here alone to-night-will you
send Bessie in to sleep with me ?"
But in spite of little Bessie Jaynesforda
peaceful breathing at her side Olive Mort.
son could not go to sleep until midnight,
and when at last few snatches of capricious
slumber visited her eyelids, it was embit-
tered by frightful dreams of black-crape.
masked burglars standing at her bedside,
and pistols presented close to her eye
brows.
Pshaw !" said Olive to herself the next
morning, as she viewed her pale face and
swollen eyes. II am goose-and I'll be
one no longer. What good could any one
gain by hurting poor lame girl like me !?
don't believe there are any burglars around
and if there should be, I don't believe
they will come to Farmer Jaynesford's."
And thus reassuring herself, Olive took
her wicker dinner-basket ON her arm, and
set off bravely on her four-miles' walk
through the woods to school, neither start
ing at the sound of withered leaf, mol
screaming when bright-eyed squirrel dart
ID across her path.
Evening was already beginning to darken
over the solitary woodland landscape when
she limped along her homeward way. Joab
Miller had promised to call for her in his
ox-cart, but Olive had waited until near
dusk, and no charioteer had made his APP
pearance, 30 that she could only conclude
that either Joab's team or his memory had
broken down.
Still Olive felt no fear. Nature was heI
iaily companion, and in the surroundings
Of her peaceful influences there was Ger.
ain congeniality dear to the lone girls
heart.
But the walk was long and lonely, and
when Olive reached the fallen tree, just be-
yond the rocky spring, where the school
children always stopped to drink, she sat
down to rest little ere pursuing the re-
mainder of her weary way.
As she did 80 the sound of human voices
mote on her ear--the gruf, low voices Of
Two men talking by the spring beyond.
Olives heart stood still, as she suspended
her breath, In order to listen. Who could
they be-? What were they doing there OF
that hour? Should she scream and fly, OF
should she trust to her dark dress and the
obscurity of the twilight to screen her from
discovery She chose the latter alternative,
and shrank further into the deep shadow Of
The withered beech copse.
ga brown house." said one man, with
big chimbly in the middle and new stun
wall round til tell yer you can't miss it 7"
A new chill of terror crept through Olives
veins as she recognized the description Of
the Jaynesford farmhouse.
And how the plague are we to get in
without rousin' the house ?" retorted the
second man, rather harsher and more graf.
ing than the first
" He told me. Thar amt no fastenin,
but hasp to the shed door--it's easy lifted
with bit Of crooked wire. We can slip in
when they're asleep, an whew The things
done in o ninute.p
:" don't believe III no such way of goin'
10 work as that" growled the second man.
:" What would you do? Go round to the
front door and rouse 'em all upl Psha,
Jim, you're deal too soft-hearted, and
that's what I've always said"
81 don't like the job, anyhow" sullenly
retorted the other man.
!" It's soon over" was the indifferent re-
ply, and where's the odds Amt it all
the same hundred years from now ? Pooh,
I
Sim, didn't spose you was SIGH soft
stomached Miss Nancy of Teller /"
Il amt no wuss than anybody else |"
growled Jim; "but I'm human, and I've a
little gal of my own to home, no bigger than
Jaynesford's little Bessie, and"
Olive dared stay to hear no more. 1t was
loo evident what these rufians planned
robbing, burglary, perhaps murder itself,
and that within frightfully brief period Of
time As rapidly and noiselessly as she
could, she hurried along the leaf-carpeted
path toward the threatened domicile, re-
solved at least to give warning of the i'm
pending peril. Never before had the road
seemed so long, or her lameness SO delaying
never before had the star-sprinkled dark
ness seemed to descend so rapidly upon hill
and vale as now--and the old clock struck
xix with melancholy peal as she hurried
INTO the farmhouse kitchen. sa &c