The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-12-24

looked down into the box where lay a
few punches of late autumn grapes. the
down still upon their fat. purple cheeks.
They pleased Polly's artistic eye.
Next Polly fed the pigs and locked the
poultry houses. Then she went indoors.
The house was a modern built one. with
large double plate glass windows to keep
the cold out and with a great furnace in
the cellar from which hot air pipes car
ried warmth into all the rooms. Many a
kings palace was less comfortable than
and windows were fastened: then she sat
down in the warm dining room to read
and knit and think by turns.
Polly was not lonely or afraid. The
country neighborhood was considered
quite safe. and. besides, pioneer girls are
not the kind to scream at q mouse. She
remained up till IL because she did not
like TO leave the warm fire. Then she felt
sleepy and prepared to go to bed. The
family would not be back till 3 o'clock in
the morning. The guests at the ball
danced till midnight: then they had sup
per. then farewell cotillon. Then for
the Valentines came the ten miles sleigh
ride.
In their home at II o'clock Polly. the
cool headed. strong armed border girl.
went down to the cellar to give the fur
mace q last feeding and shake up for the
night and to see that II was not hot
enough to set the house on fire on the one
hand and that 1t should give out heat
enough on the other hand to make the
rooms warm and coy for the family
when they arrived. Then she went back
to the dining room. To Polly. who lived
In q cabin. but who nevertheless liked
<kaf
room looked beautiful. with its crimson
painted walls and the handsome silver
ware sparkling upon the sideboard. She
had heard that silverware was worth
$40O. and she eyed 1t with something like
awe. What lot of money!
Admiring the silverware. Polly did not
notice how time passed till she looked Up
with q start and saw 1t was half past IL.
She jumped to her feet. and at that mo-
ment exactly she heard the sound Of q
sleigh and the horses hoo; beats upon the
soow. What had happened to bring the
Valentines home three hours and a hall
sooner than they expected to come?
But. NO. Listen! Where were the sleigh.
bells? They did not ring. They were
mufled-the bells on tE;s sleigh. What
did It mean? 1t might r:ean harm. dan
ger. terror. IL the sleigh with the muf1ed
bells stopped in front Of the farmhouse.
1t did stop.
Poor Pol!y's breath almost stopped. too
q moment later when she heard two mer
approach the door and talk together in q
low voice. The Ecyt moment they ham
mered on tie door tremendously. maxim,
all tie noise t:ey could to scare the cir
the more. and ore Of them ordered her II
thrade-i1.; voice TO open the 6oo.:
10 banx -s,f
know you ere In there all alone, anl
there's $500 In the house that va!entin,
brought home yesterday. and we're goini
to have it."
Eut Polly said never a word. only sa
still. so still she might have been carve,
out OF stone.
"Oren this door" roared the men again
B:t the beating OF Po-y's heart was tn
only soand in answer. ead they coald no
hear that. Then they pounded harde
than ever and kicked the door and shoe!
Il In q rage. But 1t was of brave OAK
strocg and well seasoned. and voC!d no
yield. The robbers were in a fury. Ono
again they c:msd to her. cursing her LOi
: ribly. They said:
III you open the door. we will le
you of alive. II yoa cont. we'll get |
anyhow. end then we'll shoot you dea
7 for sure"
Still little Polly would not open.
TIE noise et the door ceased. Whs
would the rex. terror be? Polly soon III
: de-stood. TIE robbers went TO window
: 1t vGs easy enough to force the shuttle
: Then there was q faint grinding soun'
= Tie burglars were Getting the large. ue'
I. fask:o:, ed window pane with a diamon'
I. And yet Ho.y woa,d net open the doc
: Indeed |. would have been no good to
: 30 row. 20: the robbers would soon be
: tie room anyhow. FOLLY only sat sti
= a.d waited TO-. her doom. Her tongr
: fe.t G:y In her mouth. She felt SO col
: he- teeth chatterci, erd she could n,
: even hear her heart test now. for
seemed to almost stop.
, Crash went the outer pane. The grin'
= Ing, eating sound began on tn inner on
! : II was quickly loose en- two sides: only
mater of i've minutes more for Poll
= = emu then
And then. In the very nick of time.
: the lest moment. there came q sound I
. . slsighbelis. merry Ginning, sweet sr