The Halifax Comet. — 1893-02-21 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE COMET.  whatever was right. Human 'help she had no means of obtaining; for, even were he to her to leave the room (which was not very probable) she wisely judged that to call two terrified maids to her assistance would be worse than having no help at all, and, therefore, commending herself to the protection of an all-powerful Saviour, She remained for some time with her eyes fixed upon her Bible, now and then turning over its sacred pages, and gradually becoming calm and self-possessed. At length, having resolved what to do, she rose from her seat and proceeded to undress as usual, first taking the key of the plate-closet from her pocket and putting it down with some little noise that the man might know where to find it. She then knelt by her bedside, and, after silently imploring the protection and wisdom she so sorely needed, lit the rushlight on the hearth and extinguished her candle. As this extraordinary girl laid her head upon the pillow, it was in the firm assurance that nothing could happen to her without her Heavenly Father's knowledge. After a while, she heard the chair gently putted, and through her closed eyelashes she could see the man cross the room and take up the key and the candlestick. He then lit the candle and came to the bedside. She had just time to perceive some kind of instrument in his hand, but lay perfectly still, breathing as regularly as a little child. Not by the quiver of an eyelid, or by the slightest flutter of the breath did she show that she was awake, even though she felt the bedclothes drawn down from her face, and knew that he was stooping over her, watching her countenance most intently. He then went to the foot of the bed' and stood for some minutes shading I' his eyes with his hand so as to throw the full light of the candle upon the quiet fee, 'before him. At last, to her intense relief, he appeared satisfied and went out, leaving the chamber-door partly open. Shethen hm.rdhina unlock the strong closet at the end of the gallery (into which her own and the other principal bedrooms opened) and begin to move the plate about as though he were proceeding to pack it up. Behoving that he would have left the key in the door, she instantly resolved, if possible, to save her uncle's plate and to secure the thief. Throwing something round her, she stole along the gallery, and, finding the key where she had expected, she suddenly closed the door and locked him in. In vain did the man alternately call, threaten, and promise what he would do if she would only let him out. With the key in her hand she ran up-stairs to rouse the women-servants, who were not a little amazed to see their young lady standing beside them with such a story to tell. Neither of them wished for any morciaresalseee4 re that night, and as soon as they we they all sat up together, watching and waiting for the daylight. When morning came the thief was soon removed to prison by the proper officers, and, when tried for the offence, he admitted that, had he believed it possible for any young lady to behave as his mistress had done, he should certainly have murdered her; but sho bad completely thrown him off his guard, and, when he saw her (as he thought) so soundly asleep, he did not like to hurt her, for she had always been kind to him, and he had no personal grudge against her. The presence of mind displayed by this young lady was most exemplary. Absence of fear, on occasions of sudden and  allow