The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-05-02
- I;vo :. ,hev ala while thew carried h

ureameu oii-Mr' iieihi"S """ '"''' me
ing and rolling pills togetherupon mothers
silver salver.
Two weeks later party of the young
people came out to spend the last even
ing of my loneliness with me. Father
and mother were coming home the next
day, and was heartily glad of it, jim
was in Boston finishing his trip with some
college friends. Among my guests OF
the evening was Susie Brown and MIR.
Heming, Molly Hayes and one of the
Chidester Brothers! could hardly be-
lieve my eyes. But Molly was as uncon-
cerned as possible, introduced him with that
little air of hers which always says to me
as plainly as words: "See what have
caught" and ratified away all the even
ing as usual. As for him, he behaved
very well, and although | did not e:;-
change words with him after the intro
duction, | must say enjoyed looking at
him on the sly. Nothing had heard of
his looks had done him justice.
They all staid late. Mr.. Heming and
Susie were the first to leave, and Molly
and the Chichester the last. After they
had crossed the doorstep, l saw him
pause and glance back at the hall and
stairway. It was peculiar and search
ing glance; and gave me o chilly sensa-
ton of fear and dread. My suspicious
were all renewed and strengthened. For
l will confess, the mans noble face and
bearing had influenced me, even in the
one interview.
Under the effect Of that last glance,
however, l had all the silver gathered
in most carefully, and packed in several
baskets, and l concluded to sleep in
mothers room instead of m. own. More
over, l opened the doors between the
nursery and our rooms. l was not at all
mindful of tlc delights OF utter loneliness.
l went back and forth several times to
the tumbled beds in the nursery, envying
the rosy sleepers, and it was late indeed
before joined them. .,
Almost instantly, it seemed to me,
was broad awake again, and looking
straight before me at terrible, terrible
sight.
There was light in the room--a pale,
uncertain, Pickering light which streamed
upward from the floor at the foot of the
bed, and cast strange shadows on the
ceiling. The door into my room was
shut, but the one into the hall was wide
open, as well as the window beyond it,
opening upon the porch-roof. felt the
night-wind from it blowing over me.
think that woke me, and not any noise OF
movement, for l lay perfectly still and
calm until my scattered senses returned
and knew what to fear.
"Burglars!" beat my frightened heart
"The Chidester Brothers." came choking
into my frightened throat
| / had too much sense to move OF
scream. l lay still as death, only drawing
long, even breaths as if sound in sleep,
and using my eyes for all they were
worth. The shadows on the ceiling
showed that things were being taken W
and put down-our silver!-by gigantic
hands, but all other outlines were so con-
fused, could distinguish nothing. How
long the time, how deadly cold the chills
of terror that swept over me, no one viii
ever know who has not passed through il
all.
Suddenly, I heard sound--a SOUND
which filled me with sickening dread
The bows were awake--were moving
were calling me.
The burglar sprang to his feet, hght
and noiseless as breath, and stooc
poised and ready, his back toward me
There came the quick patter of little feet
He turned-his lamp fared up. In thu
glass opposite, above the mask which hat
doubtless slipped as he sprang up, saw
the face of the 'eminently respectable
Mr., Heming!
Involuntary, l uttered sharp cry
Then l closed my eyes and felt mysel
sinking away into helpless, hopeless ter
ror. But the door into my room flew
open with bang, I heard Jack shou
and Nutty scream; rustic, a thud, I
pistol shot, confused voices, trampling @
feet, and tremendous pounding and kick
ing in the porch.
Just let any one try "this sort o
thing" and see how quickly events fol
low each other, and how many differen
sounds they can hear at one time!
l sprang out of bed, and the chao
began to resolve itself into some kind o
order. Jack and Nutty were both tell
ing me that there was carriage at tn
door; the burglar was gone through tn
window and evidently into the hands o
his enemies, for above the confusion
down stairs l could hear Jim-ou
brother Jim-roaring for the hall door t.
be opened. Some one was pounding ava.
on it Justify. l seized Nutty and Jack
as soon as l had hurried into my wrap
per, and trembling in every limb, W
rushed down the long hall and stairs
The hall lamp was burning, as usual.
hastily unbolted, unbarred and unlocke'
the great front door, opened it with
jerk, and threw myself into the arms O
the Chidester Brothers.
al thought it was JIM" l cried, start
ing away.
"Jennie! Thank Godm cried jim
snatching me to him, as he rushed in
: care you all safe? No one hurt at all ?
"No one And nothing taken"
"Just in timen' exclaimed the Chides
tiers.
, "Just in time!" echoed jim. "Boy:
S l can never half thank you!"
' There were others trooping in an
D standing round me with startled and &C
r miring faces. A dark and compat
a group wore uniform and carried then
selves with the easy manner of men I
whom nothing was new or shocking. !
e their midst, hatless and pale, and Oh
t how ugly, mean and common, I saw Nj
d Heming
d know now there were not more tina
five or six men altogether, but that nigl
d they seemed to fill the hail.
e "Jennie you are shaking with chill
e cried Jim. ''You must go to bed
once. I'll take you up'-for tightene
d my hold on him-''and call the servan
o for you. l expect they are too frightene
v to come out of their rooms. Just NAL
;. yourselves comfortable, gentlemen; I
be with you in five minutes.
- He marched me to my room, ar