Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-04-01

There, he moved again., I'm sure q
mans inside the armor."
"No. Well go upstairs together"
spoke, "give me your hand
Kate evidently had frightened herself
more than me for her hand trenbed as
l took 1t. "Now!" | boldly whispered,
"come." And away we Dashed oy
the grim sentinel and up into my room.
After had locked the door n the
dark l found a match and lighted q
candle standing on the drcssin, table,
and Kate and both looked into the
glass-to see who was the whitest, |
suppose.
Then we began laughing. 81 never
thought you was such a coward, Luce
said Kate, "wheres all your college
grit'"
"And where's yours7'' answered,
"you were more scared than l. Why,
you haven't nerve enough 10 maze
freshman or play tricks on a professor.
And so we bantcrcd each other as. We
prepared for our needed rest.
: Then blowing out the caudle, we both
said our shortest college prayer, and
jumped into bed.
But we couldn't sleep till our excite
ment subsidized, and so we talked.
"Whas would you do, Kate" l
asked, Gin real danger Would you
faint or 80 into hystericsl"
"Ncithcr, Luce, she laughed. "I'm
not built that way. I'd be as cool as a
cucumber, and as brave as lion in any
emergency. often wish had a chance
to prove it."
"That's my case, exactly" | earnestly
said. ~ may be frightened at-at q
man-cven a robber--could scare me.
There | forgot to open the window for
air. I'll do it now"
Out of bed got and lifted the window
| shade and stood for a moment naziDy Gu
the lawn. The sky had been overcast in
the early evening, but now the broken
clouds were flying before the wind. Tne
old moon, lately risen, shed enough
beams on the soft snow to make the night
effect Of light ard shade weirdly beauti-
; full, particularly about the large ever
green trees swayiny in the gale
AS watched the dark shadows they
cast on the snow when the moon pccred
through the cloud riffs, my attention
was directed to the tree nearest my win
dow. It's shadow seemed strange,
thought, and at times looked as if some
thing or somebody was moving under or
around the dense branches.
Finally whispered to Kate to come
take peep, too.
"There's something alive there, that's
certain" she said, after moments IN
tense gazing, 'but don't let It sec Us.
Keep out of the moonlight Goodness!
it's a man-two of them. What can they
be up to2"
"Mischicf, Kate! They must be bur
glars going to rob US. Seel That's the
end of ladder sticking out Now, my
college heroine! your chances to dis
tinguish yourself has come-and mine.
It's lucky we stayed up late. Slip OF
something quick, and we'll nip their de-
sign in the bud. I've got pistol aud
you know how to shoot, if don't"
1t was my brothers revolver | re-
ferred to. During my absence he used
the room, aud that loaded weapon was
in its case in bureau drawer.
showed i. to Kate, and she craSHcd
it fearlessly. "It's fortunate, Luce" F."
(she spoke low and without a tre.nor}
THAT I'm tomboy enough t. like fire
arms. They call me crack shot down
South when I'm home. But where's you,
gunl'
I'm more afraid of gun than bur
glar. Stop. Yes, there As.e..e. II
the closet I'll take that ana did.
"Now, then, Kate quickly wis
pered, SIN in command, for know tn,
. house. See the fellows are taking IL.
ladder around. They'll evidently tt.
the back window Of the fireplace hall
Well sneak down and lay for them, on
of us on either side OF the window
While they are forcing an entrance 70,
: shoot aad I'll chop-but not till | ORDER
Remember if we don, capture, or q
least, wound them SO they don't leav
tracks, no one will believe Us. Instead
I H..