Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-17

ave mer Ea.
This appeal had a wholesome effect Nerv-
ing herself by an almost Superhuman effort,
the brave girl replied:
Twin Try, mamma; but you must stay
here
'Not alone, Sophia she answered Tdare
not stay alone You shall not leave ma"
II must, mamma she replied. Il must
leave you You can lock your door behind
me. / don't think they win come upstairs
Quick; follow me and lock the door,
She stole out and her mother rose up and
went after her. Just as she was going out
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; for, as she stole
into the DARK passage, the door was softly
shut upon her and the key was turned
It was truly frightful position for the
girl Nearly mad as she was with fear, she
yet gathered up courage-how she knew not
to steal few steps down stairs. And now
the noises in the hall were quite audible, and
again she was just about to fly back and
take her chance in her own room with her
mother Just at this juncture little bit of
courage seemed to kindle in her breast, and
she waited q moment, and then stole three
steps down stairs Here, at the turning, she
saw plainly that there was light in the hall; /;
and somehow the sense that she was in the
darkness and the robbers in the light gave
her sensation Of returning security. She
listened, trembled, and then with shaking
limbs ventured three steps down the second
Hight. She could distinctly hear the burglars
talking, and as, one of them gave low,
brutal laugh she shuddered to think what
wretches were near Sophia always declared
that the next few steps she took unconsciously,
and that she, only knew herself when she
found she was peering from the dark angle
Of the stairs into the hall
Three men were there. It was evident thRt
they had mistaken an old oak chest which stood
against the wall for depository of vaiuables,
and this they were now trying to force open.
They were quite occupied for the moment,
and from her dark angle Sophia could plainly
observe their movements, 1t was curious
that now, when fear might altogether have
overcome her, she began to feel a renewal OF
courage. She looked across the dark hall to
the passage on the other side which she
wished to reach, and she resolved while the
robbers were still engaged upon the chest t
make dart across Several seconds sh
waited, until she saw an opportunity, and
while the men were trying to force the oakel
lid, she few across the hall, and was in the
passage on the other side, hidden from view.
But now, as she slowly groped her way
along the passage, a new terror arose. What
if the belfry door should be locked? The
room was never used, and it might well be
that the key had been taken away. The bare
idea SO terrified her that she scarce dared to
creep to the door, lest her fear should be veri.
fed. But there was no returning, and the
next moment she felt the door, and finding
the handle she turned It slowly, and to her un-
speakable joy the door opened at her touch.
| o, what a rush of relief she feltl Her po-
sition might still be perilous; but the greatest
danger was past. She crept round the wall,
feeling her way until her hands touched the
belf rope; and then, drawing breath for the
effort, she pulled hard and fast, and immedi-
ately the iron tongue outside began to answer
her back in tones that seemed to tell that she
was once again in communication with the
honest world outside, and need fear 40 more.
Stroke after stroke the bell sent its resonant
alarm out upon the midnight; and at each
note Sophia tugged with fresh energy, and
the faithful bell above seemed to grow more
vehement as she with gathering strength ap-
piled to it for help.