The Dickinson press., 1896-05-02

,ilIlI ,,; ;$:lii u
sfsf ;, e i
1eti6f6s from work, I
( "a, and yet, why did he not look
Straight ahead instead of toward this
house, unless he was attracted by the
cheerfully lighted windows?
l felt strangely uneasy aud peered
into the darkness, vainly endeavoring
to see ii lie were still there. No
more friendly flashes came, and as the
rain began to patter down, l was fain
to return unsatistied to the house.
Why was 1 suspicious?
l did not know. 1t was not that
the mans face frightened me, for the
glimpse had been so momentary that
If the c~oGhtenance were evil, or that
Of the most benign philanthropist, L
could rot tell.
l wanted to ask my friend if there
had been any burglars in the village
of late; but l feared to needlesslv
alarm her, and so refrained from men,
tioning the incident; but while | con-
versed on ordinary topics, the form Of
that man persistently required to my
mental vision.
l did so far forget my intention as
to say to Mr.. Adams, my friends hus-
band: "Have you any firearms in the
house" To which he replied that lie
always kept n revolver under his pill
low. "a very excellent precaution," l
explained, with relief. And the mat
ter dropped; but afterward the
thought came to my mind that while
the revolver might be a good means
of defense to him and his wife up
stairs, it would scarcely benefit me,
who slept in the little spare room
down stairs, just off the parlor.
The windows Of this room, I trem-
blingly remembered, were easily ac-
cessible from the piazza which extend
ell round that side of the house, and
the ~fastenings on the shutters and
sashes were very frail little arrange
ments.
l did not believe in presentiments,
but wondered how and why this bur.
glar question, q thing which had never
troubled me before, should haunt me
so. i.
Still bordering the matter, I fol-
lowed my friend into the kitchen,
where she wanted to get q pitcher of
water. On the table lay a knife that
had been worn and ground away till
the top was q sharp point. She often
used it for peeling vegetables, and that
1t had a keen edge, l knew, for I had
helped her that day.
AS she turned for the water 1 quick
ly picked up the knife, and Slipped it
up my sleeve, urged to do so by the
instinct of ~self-defensc, not of any
kleptomanincal tendencies.
l flushed guiltily when my friend
faced NE, for I was unaccustomed to
any underhand or u.ldersleeve movc
lnents, and fancied she must know I
had done something sly. However, .lle
did not suspect anything, and q few
minutes after went as fur rs the door
of my room with me, kissed me good
night. and retired.
Under my pillow l slipped the knife
I meant should act as my protector.
Then, smiling at my cowardicc, l dis
missed the subject from my mind,
lcisurely undressed. and was soon fast
asleep.
How long l slept 1 do not know. hut
z ray of tight fell across my eyelids,
and in an instant l was wide awake.
l did not move Il muscle, but all my
previous fears rushed across me.
The light from 4 burglars lantern,
reasoned my fright. A faint fash of
lightning, whispered my cooler sense.
NcrvOusly alert. l listened.
A slight rustling and rafting fell on
my ear. Some one was at the window
near the head of the bed, of that !
was certain.
Without moving my head, l turned
my eyes round till ! got IL view OF tue
window, item saw with horror, that Al
a being slowly raised. By some Iii
nbolical means, the fellow must have
broken or loOsened the fastenings.
] was frozen with horror. In u few
seconds the opening would be wide
enough to admit the lNffian. l dare
not scream; for befole help could
come, even s%upposing that my Coy
should awaken those above me, the
brute would have time to silence M.
perhaps forever.
Then l remembered the knife. A ray
Of nope filled my terrified heart.
j slipped my hand-ol,, so stealth'ly
and silently-under my pillow, at t;lt
samc time trying to maintain Il regu
Iii LISllllltuE " AlSISSlC
Never did soldier clasp his hand on
trust than | did the little bone handle
Of MY humble blade.
None too so0n did l Grasp the wea
POI. for now appeared a big head GOV
cred with Il thick shock Of dark hair
Two glaring eyes rolled fiercely rounn
l closed my eyes Il moiuent in terror
and remained rigid. Tlen l openty
them slightly, and saw shat, with hx
head and shoulders in che room, til.
nan was leaning over the window-sijl
ami placing something perhaps hss
lantern OK toUls-on the floor.
Now was my opportuuity-my onl,
one. The back of his neck glcame.
before me. ! set my ;eeth. Swift an.
silent as a panther about to spring.
rose to my knees, raised the knife
above me, thell-oh, horslble!-dashe,
it down with all the fierce. mac
strength that possessed me, straigh
at that broad, bare neck!
1t sunk in soft flesh a moment. thcl
struck something hard. A living hu
man bone. ! thought. rs the blade
swrrved aside and sunk feepcr. The,
deadly terror, and q burning desire t
undo my murderous act filled my SOU
I tried to drag the knife from its be
of living flesh.
It snapped off, and with the handl
still in my grasp, l fell back on til
bed.
:; When next 1 opened my eyes til
bright sunlight was streaming in d
the window and the joyous twitterin
of birds fell upon my ear. / smiled a
the sound thea shuddersd,as the men
Dry Of something flashed Gro III
What n dreadful dream l thought
then sat up and rubbed my eyes.
Alas! no dream. Red drops of bloot
now dry, dyed my hands and til
sleeves Of my night-gown. The hal
: die Of the broken knife lay on til
: counterpane, where it must hay
= dropped from my hand us I fell bac
. and lost consciousness.
. Imagine the horrible amazement
Y , INV fr'io1,Cc m, 1ou rinr IF ,n,, m IA ~ ~