Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-18
DAME URSULA'S GOLD.

Nearly 80 years ago in the city of
New York, not far from what is now
called the Battery, there stood Il square
and gloomy looking editice of stone, then
occupied by rich old dame, Ursula
Bond, with her granddaughter, Leonora,
who was in her seventeenth year, when,
one evening in June as she looked from
the door ere she should bar, bolt and lock
1t for the night, "A frank and manly voice
called out from Il near heap of old
boards, where the owner of the voice
had been watching for more than an
hour:
"Leow
Hist" whispered the maiden. "Is it
you, Walter?"
rs the coast all clear?" was the re-
ply, as a tall and handsome youth of %
years showed his activity by gaining the
side of the maiden by bound that clear
ed fully ten feet.
"Why have you come so late?" she
asked.
You must let me remain in the house
all night. This morning as | was going
to my work l passed the open window
of an ale shop, and | heard a strange
voice mention your name. The voices
which, you know, l have learned by
night study. Well, | heard enough to
tell me that the strangcrs-there were
two of them-intend to pay Dame Ursu-
la a visit some time between midnight
and dawn and for no good purpose. So
here | am to act as your defender"
But you should have told the police"
Bah for the policem said Walter
RrnnIpO m | t,b f,r tV-n
men who speak bad French?'
But, my dear Walter
But Walter had glided into the house
and vanished as quickly as one of those
rats he had mentioned.
Leonora was in great perplexity, yet as
she had boundless faith in the discretion
of her lover she barred the door and
hastened to her grandmother.
You've been very long in barring the
door" said the old woman, as she closed
her huge ledger, which was to her what
a Bible should have been. Il thought l
heard the voice of that impudent young
carpenter, Walter Brandon"
please, grandmother, let me have a
light" said Leonora, who trembled at
the thought of spending that night in
darkness.
"A light" screamed Dame Ursula, as
tonished at such extravaganza; "away
with you; you will be asking for some
thing more to eat next"
That night, as the clock in the hall
struck 2, the dame was aroused from a
golden dream by n sharp pain in her
neck and loud oath.
Springing from her bed, she shrieked
for help, and pursued by the assassin
rushed into the hall. She gained dis
tant room in time to lock herself in. At
this instant her horrors were augmented
by the report of a pistol, Immediately
followed by a shrill scream, aud then by
another pistol shot, and ere the echo had
died away the assassin burst the old door
from its hinges and was in the room. The
horror the dame endured as she crouched
against the wall praying that the dark
ness might shield her, curdled her blood
in her veins. But suddenly the assassin
sprung light. At the sight of this man,
instead of crouChing in fear or screaming
with terror, the dame sprang to her feet,
saying:
so it is you, John Bond, who have re-
turned to murder your wife-coward"
"Hag" hissed the old man-yet he was
much younger than she-''do you think
because the devil lets you live so long
that you are to live forever? Tell me
where you have hidden your boards, and
those of your first husband, whom all
men say your poisoned to marry John
Bond"
ITO tell you, I must leave this room,"
said Ursula, as her corpselke visage
grew livid with hate and despair.
WHITTIER, treacherous hagY
ITO the cellar, John Bond. Comel"
And stepping boldly by him she went
on along the hall, lighted by the thief's
lantern, which he carried.
IF | suspect treachery-if you cry for
help will shoot you dead Ursula
Bond" Ursula led the way.
Lift that trap, John Bond" said she,
pointing to u heavy iron ring imbcdded
in the floor.