The Newtown bee., 1894-04-20

I woke with start at midnight. A broad strip of light lay across my bed from the lamp-post opposite? No, it was moonlight! raised on my elbow-why, of course, 1 was at Haywood farm, and and that was Rover barking so savageiy, and-yes, l heard voices, and scurrying feet in the hall. Why, what
 "Oh, quick! wake 'em, quick! He's turning into the orchard" '"
 That was Mrs Haywood Instantly grasped the situatiOn-horse-thi sprang out of bed and rushed into the hall.
 "They've got your Ned. Ma heard him step out of the barn :" cried Fan, as she dashed past me and up to the next floor, two steps at a time.
 "Our Ned?' l calculated, and flying back to my window flung open the shut ters.
 The full moon was deluging the earth with flood of silvery light, in which surrounding objects stood out almost as distinctly as at monday. Plainly l could discern man riding a dark horse among the trees in the orchard. Our dear old Nod, who had been wintering on the farm; the sight was maddening.
 "Catch him, Rover! Sic, sic !'' l shout
  ing up and down in my anxiety.
 Again came Mrs Haywood's voice.
 "Girls, girls, tell them to hurry! He's trying to take the colt. Matthew, told you it wasn't safe to leave it out over night. Oh, dear, dear, what keeps those boysw
 "Oh, heard it whinny !'' I screamed, joining the other distracted females.
 "Oh, so do I, so do In'
 "Ed, Frank, they're taking the colt l'' we cried, rushing pell-mell into the young mems apartment, where we found Fan frantically trying to drag them out of bed by main force.
 Now we heard pa calling for lantern thoroughly aroused young men, who quickly drew on their neither garments and followed in our wake. Mrs Haywood met us in the hall wiring ing her hands.
 HHe's riding one horse and leading an- other,'' she cried. ''Oh, I know he'll get away Matthew, I told you it was- mt safe to leave that colt out. And he'd just as leave shoot as not. Don't one of you stir step till you're all together !" Frank seized the lantern and hurried out to investigate the barns. By this time the hubbub had brought to our as- x of the neighboring place armed with a rusty old musket and no ammunition. Thus reinforced they sallied forth to meet the horse-thief, who was now in the road in front of the house. We of the weaker sex timoTously followed as far as the piazza, valiantly beaded by ma, who carried for defense an old slipper and candle which the wind extinguish- ed.
 Instead of digging rowels into Ned and galloping off af sight of our formidable array, the desperado pursued his way with unseemly leisure.
 ssHallo, thers! who are you, and where are you going?n called Ed.
 The spectre-like figure moved on with out vouehsafing word
 "Halt who are you, and where are you going," roared pa.
 No answer.
 ssHi, eef you no speek 1 shoot !'' shouted Hans, brandishing the musket like club.
 But even this blood-curdling threat was received in imperturbable silence, as man and both horses disappeared around the bend of the road.
 Just then Frank joined the mystified group on the lawn. We heard him re- port that our horses were all safe, and after short barley they turned toward the house.
 As the lantern approached, we sudden ly bethought us of our neglige attire, and bevy of nightgowned figures has, tily retreated to the upper hall and leaned over the banisters. But Mrs Haywood, who in the furry and excite ment had enveloped her substantial per- son in a sheet, remained, serenely un- conscious of the classical effect produced by her draperies.
 We were frelieved to learn that Ned was safe, but ma was rather chagrined to hear that her led horse had, on closer inspection, proved 10 be COW. How ever, it was suspicious circumstance thaE stranRe man should De driving a