Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-01-28
were fastened. then came back to the

so begged her to go up stairs with
out me, promising to come up in the
course of an hour.
The clock struck eleven almost be-
fore | knew the time had passed.
laid down my work and counted the
strokes without looking at the clock
itself.
l was sitting at little center ia
BILE near the lamp. At my left, lit
tie off against the wall, was fathers
desk, with books and papers scatter
ed upon it and the battery at one end.
Opposite me were two long win
dows that opened upon the side pi-
azza. Over these were thick curtains
closely drawn, which shut out the
pelting storm outside. Directly OPP
posite was the hall door, standing, as
usual, wide open.
Just then, / heard, or fancied /
heard, low sigh or breath in the
hall. I turned my head instantly,
but did not see any person, and lis
tening intently, heard no further
sound. I felt a little uneasy, and
laughed at myself for my nervous
ness, and then took my work again.
| had not finished what I had set my
self to do.
1 had not taken three stitches when
/ laid down the work again. There
was no use denying it or laughing to
myself again. For some reason
there came over me strong feeling
of nervousness and dread. 1t SEEM
ed as though [ had realized, as [ had
not done before that evening, the
fact that was sitting all alone down
stairs in the house, at eleven o'clock
at night, with large sum of money
in my pocket.
1 glanced at the desk. Possibly
Harry was still at work at the office.
If he was, a single sentence over the
wire would call him.
was just getting up to go to the
desk to signal and see if he was at
the mill, when something occurred
that seemed to turn me cold and mo-
tionless as stone in an instant
Behind me, so close that knew it
came from the threshold of the hall
door, low hoarse voice that l knew,
without seeking the speaker, must be
that of a desperate and wicked man,
broke the stiffness, and babe me
''Good evening""
For d moment, as | say, felt as
though I had been turned into stone.
Then the voice speaking again, seem
ed at least to restore the life into me
and to set my heart to beating vio-
lently.
The language that the man used
was not even as good English as, in
attempting to reproduce, find my
self writing.
"Don't be frightened, miss. l beg
of you not to be frightened. All ye
have got ter do is ter keep still an
not hair Of your pretty head shall
be harmed
Then I turned my head, half wheel
ing my chair at the same time, and
saw in the doorway tall, brutal
looking man, altogether as ill-condi
toned and fearful looking person as
l have ever seen.
Naturally enough I opened my lips
to utter a little cry, but he stopped
me by single threatening motion of
a club he carried in his hand.
''S-h,' he fiercely Kissed. eff
We raise a single scream I'll strike We
as senseless as yer mother is up
stairs"
The last words changed for mo-
ment the nature of my fear, and gave
me strength to speak.
"What have you done to my moth
err" | demanded, excitedly. "Do
you mean to say-have you killed
herr"
He uttered a sort of low laugh.
"No, my dear; she was waking up
so we had ter use chloroform. An
you must keep still or you'll be serv-
ed in the same way. You see, it's
just here"--
He drew step nearer, and seemed
disposed to explain matters.
'sWhat we want is some money
which your father brought down
from Palmer yesterday. Maybe yer
don't know he left it in the house
when he went off tonight. My friend
is upstairs lookin' for it this minute.
All we want is money. We don't
mean to harm anybody. Ye shan't
be touched if We behave yerself an
keep quiet"
Somewhat assured by this, and
having had time while he was speak
ing to collect myself, / was now able
to assume at least an appearance of
calmness.
took up my embroidery and went
on working, or pretending to work,
at the pattern I was embroidering.
/ think the action helped me, too, for
1 presently found myself quite calm,
and with a GOODNESS and resolution
that / can hardly believe in now, as
[ recall it, turning over in my mind
what ought to do.
What would those two men do
when they found, as they would soon
find, that the money was not up
stairs? They would be disappointed
and desperate-capable perhaps, of