Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-05-23
CHAPTER /
SOPHIA IN A NUw CHARACTER.

slum5sr.
Sophia Sophia she heard her mother
u,teripg IN her ear.
Wide awake in an instant, and alarmed
by the way IN which her mother spoke, she
ssr ID IN bed. Mrs Temple was standing
beside her in her night dress, aaa by the
dim light Of the lamp which burned in her
room. she saw that the old woman's face
was almost hteless from its expression Of
Intense alarm.
Mamma mammal she cried out.
What is the matter2'
hush hush" the mother answered,
motioping her no. to speak so loud. III
We are heard We shall be killed"
What is the matter? Sophia asked
again, now almost as much TERMED ss her
mother.
There are robbers in the houss,' Mrs.
Temple answered, gasplng fer utteranee'
Come beve-sofgly.'
She motiusd SopGis 10 the door, and
stepping out on the landing, bid her listen.
An was dark and still, and for a moment
Sophia either hesrd or thought she heard
her mothers heart humping against her
siss. But the house was perfectly silent
It's nothing, mamma Sophia sald at
last beginning 10 speak in her natural voice.
You made 8 mistake.
.Hu.h" the mother cried, in the same
terrified whisper as 5,iose. Il heard them
in the house lried 70 ring the bell IN ny
room and | find it won't work. 1t was
quite right yesterday. This is a planned
robbery. The servants are in 1t; We shall
be killed, Sophia, murdered. D, what shall
Idog
Aud now, indeed, Sophia, straiuing her
ears 10 listen, did hear strange sound
below stairs, AID, bending over the balus'
trade, she plainly saw one CLEAN OF light
hastily vanishing, as if lantern had for
an iustsnt been turned 10 the wrong direc.
ton Nearly dead with fear che listened
sssin. and soor after sounds in the en-
trance hall as if hesvs box were being
cautiously removed, convinced her that her
mother was not wrong. She took the old
Womau's shaking hand and led her back to
her own room.
We must try my DELL, mamma; we
must ring that. Tho noise will brighten
them.
Try it, try itl the mother answered
she could hardly srtlculste, and the wOId5
came from bsJweeu her mononless bps az
If she had not uttered them.
But when Sophia tried her own bell the
result was simply that the wires pulled
Trayly and no sound was made, These, too,
had oeen put ont of order.
Il knew IT. the old woman gasped
The servants srs in It. We shall both De
murdered here. 10 this room
Aud in truth the position was trighttul
enough. Their windows overlooked the
garden, and 70 open these and cry for help
would have been not only vain, but would
sypaddedIlanger TO danger. Mrs. Temple
hal sulk upon Ihe bed, aud in the paraly-
srs of terroc seemed % bs losing conscious.
ness: aud Sophia, although she tried to
kaeo her senses, felt Is If she herself would
swOOn away.
There ia nothing 70 be done, the old
woman said. We mus, wait till they come
sud kill us D, Sophia. Sophia! can't you
do anything to save mef
/, was surprising to see how utterly pros
trsr-d with fear the active, energetic won.
IN hsI become in few moments And
Sophia the quiet and delicate girl, was
oven now growing more collected. She
remembered that the former owner of the
house bad erected in one wing kind OF
5eIl-g. with bell of sonorous tongue hang
ing IN it; Tor he was nervous householder,
dselirr in fear Of thieves. The girls knew
this oelfry-so they called it--Well and
had more than once rung the bell IN the
davtime in sport; and now Sophia thought
ihnr il she were only there, she might
easily raise such an alarm as would ettectu-
allv irigh,en the robbers. But how 10
reach The belicy2 The only way across the
very ball where the robbers were now at
work SOPHIA could not make up her mind
20 90 even a sep dows toe stairs and as
70 Consulting her mother IN her present
oarsiyzad state. hat was altogether useless.
She stood irresolute, herself almost losing
her senses with tear, but neither moving
nor speaking until the old woman called
out again
Sophia, Sophia can't you do anything
20 save me-
This appeal had wholesome effect.
Nerying herself by an almost superhuman
sEor, rhe brave gigl replied.
Il will try, mamma; but you must stay
he-e
No, alone, Sophia" she answered. Il
dare not stay alone, You shall not leave
ne
4 must. mamma, she replied. Il must
leave you. You can lock your door be-
alnd me. don't think they will come
ups'airs Quick; follow me and lock the
door
she stole ont and her mother rose up
and went after her. just as she was going
our the old woman caught her hand again.
Sophia. you must not leave me; / shall
die before YOU come back.
Lock the door Sophia whispered
again. And her mother heard her; tor as
she stole into the dark passage, the door
WAS softly sSut upon her and the key was
'urned
Il VAS a truly frIghtful position for the
glrl Nearly mad as shs was with tear, she
YET gathered up COursgs-hoW she knew
MOTTO steal few steps down stairs. And
nov the noises in the halt were quite audi
bIe, and again she Sss j0sr about to fly back
aud take her chance IN her own room with
her mother Just At this inncture little
BIT Of courage seemed to kin9ls in her
breast, and she waited moment, and then
stole three steps down stairs. Here, at the
turning she plainly that there was hight IN
the hall, and somehow the sense that she
vas IN the darkness and the robbers in the
light gave her sensation OF returning Sc
c1'ity She listened, trembled, and then
With shaking limbs ventursd three steps
doTn the second fight She could dis
hnctly hear the burglars talking, and "a
one Of them gave Low brutal laugh she
shuddered to think what wretshss were
oesr. sophia always declared that the
next lev steps she took unoonsciously, and
that she only knew herself when she found
she was peeiing from the dark angle OF the
stslrs into the hall
Three men were there. It was evident
that they had mistaken an old oak chest !
Which had stood against the wall for q de- |
Posltory of ysluables, and this they were |