Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-14

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well III odula:cd:
81 have lost my way, ladies'" sh,
said, bcsecchingly, "may crave ,
nights shc!ter2'
lganced ut my mother. She wa.
pale and trembcd violently.
/ had conceived an unaccouniob,e
aversion to the small stranger; but who
could have the heart to turn n woman
away into the painless forest, with nigh.
Coming down, dark and threatening,
ioT the sky was overcast, aad there
were signs OF m approaching thunder
storm, and the wind moane dIe,rily in
the boughs Of the pine trees.
Go told her that she might rcman :;
bat resolved 10 know no slumber that
night, but to watch the lon. hours
through.
My mother must not be alarme |; so
sending the stranger to the lli,c.,cl with
Aunt Dinah to get some refreshments,
coaXed mother to take her tea, and
carried her off TO bed in triumph.
1t was 10 o'clock before left her
sound asleep and stole off to the kitchen
to take an observation Ga the thrcsh
Old paused, my hears beat wildly, my
brain seemed OF fire; trcmblc.i so tina.
could scarcely stand; l pushed tie
door ajar and glanced in. What a
sight met my astonished eyes! The
dwarf was standing erect, and young.
and 1.-the; the woman's garments la
been dis carded, and saw before inc a
man, small, but muscular, and with n
diabolica! face. lie was STOPPING over
the form of Aunt Dnah, in one hand a
vial, which he held to her nostri.s. l
comprchendcl the situation at IL glance.
Aunt D.nah was dtugsed; even the frail
protection of her presence was gone
and the next step would be robbery.
perhaps murder.
The villain replaced the vial in his
ptckc:. with a grin on hi, u,iy face.
"'rhcrc!' he calculated, "lhat will
work. With the old womtn Gu. of the
way, the rest is easy. Lucky that I
know where to look for the m me-; it's
in the oil woman's room, saw the Gal
put it there. Let me see, right hand
corner, top drawer in dressing table"
1t flashed owe. me then, my own
carel ;ssness, when father had gwen the
r"ckeibook into my keeping; the open
window near US, and some gay words
that l had uttered. nil came back to mc.
was so frigatcnc |, it seemed as If
| should die. Trcr calmcr Thoughts
succecdc |; AMI l resolved to fl III: for
that money TO the death. Softly I stole
away, aud re-en.cred ny mothers
apartment. Taking the pockctbook
from the drawer. lid it in my bosom;
and then, p;using, to assure m7sclf
that she still SLEPT. turncl to the hall
where our small provision of fire arms
were stored. Oh, heavcnsl Tncy were
gonel y low, horrible chucl,lc fell
upon my ears. The robbar stood Mt
my side, Il look of tiium pin on his hate
full face.
is itl"
"What do you mean'" I gaspcl.
''Ihe money, of course. I've ius.
been 10 the old woman's room, bat
find you've been too many for M,
Now, girl he stepped closer to
me and RAISED one haal threatcninr.y;
his awful eyes glarcd into mine; his
lips, MS they opened, rcsemb'el those of
some huge wild animal. II know you
have the money; hand it ont!"
With low cry of fear turned AMI
fled. Buck to the large, old kitchen,
my heart surging and beating madly
flew like tho wind. Old Dinah still
lay upon the floor in blcst unconscious
ness. I shook her and callcI a,oul
and shriekc for hep, but no other
sound broke the stiffness save the low.
dreadful laugh OF the robbcr, who hal
me.
"stop that noisc?' he growlod.
you're wasting breath, you know.
S c's drusged, and won't wake till I'm
safe out o this. I want thai money.
G.vc it TO me and I promise to leave
you in peace; refuse, and -"
L thought OF Frank and ouy future.
81 never willl' cricl, a, bravely as
could. Again, that horrible, mock
ing laugh. lie sprang forward and
seized my arm; ono hand passed around
my waist and held me tightly, the
other prepared to close about my throat.
Just at that moment my eyes fell upon
the hugo brick oven; something I'M
known in these days, Bessie; an i'm