Year: 1868


cry out. / believe am not as cowardly
as most women; and after the first sick
terrOrs all my powers of mind and thought
doubly renewed, seemed to come to me
The case was plain to me. This was 9
robber; his intent was to steal. And here
l gave thought to little packet of three
hundred dollars which Frank had received
for horse that very day, and which now
was in pOcket-book in the very drawer
under my fingers In that drawer, also
was my watch, and what little jewelry
had-beside valuable pair of revolverS
which were given to Frank while he was
in the army The robber knew Of these
and they had tempted his cupidity And
| was alone in that house. not soul nearer
than quarter of a mile, entirely at his
mercyi Well, there was good God over
us all, and his power was strong to save
the innocent. Then another thought
showed me that had the robber wished to
do so he might have murd redme, secured
his booty, and made off soon after Frank
left. No; he meant to wait until we were
all asleep Perhaps he knew of Fans
coming, and had an eye to what was in her
trunks. / had heard that these burglars
had ways of arriving at wonderful
knowledge Of the whereabouts and what
abouts of places where they meant to ply
their trade. to,


If was perfectly natural and gave no
sign that | knew of his presence, | be-
lieved was safe-I could get out of that
room and fly on the wings of fear over to
Inlow's. But no; if | did that he would
be sure to miss me, would suspect some
thing and work his wicked will on our
treasures while / was gone. Beside-and
here another sick thrill of terror ran over
me-perhaps he had accomplices outside
burglars often had--and they would see
or hear me and l was lost. And, more
than all, deep creek, without a bridge,
ran between us and Inlow's In the day
time we crossed on big walnut log, but
at night the passage would be impossible.
No; it was my duty and my safety to stay.


All this, and much more, flashed over
me in hundredth part of the time have
taken to tell it, think my mind, then,
must have been as they say drowning
mans is-capable of reviewing lifetime
in an instant ofspace Certainly learned
ming swiftness, thought can fly, and how
many ideas can be contained in one mind
at one and the same moment.


was now perfectly cool-something, l
suppose, of the calmness of despair. Oh,
/ thought if | could only get one of
Franks revolvers out of the drawer,
ready for his return, without the robber'
knowledge. | resolved to try Taking
out some fresh towels | crossed the room
and laid them on the wash-stand. I re-
draped the window curtains and shook
up the bed-pillows without a tremor.
Then, with steady steps, went back to
the bureau, but dared not cast another
glance at that fatal glass / took my
guitar strings from a box, even stopping
to untangle a d string from some ribbon,
picked up my guitar, which leaned against
the end of the bureau, and, keeping my
face averted from that awful wardrobe,
turned as if to 60 out. But stopped and
turned back again, saying aloud to N.Y.
self: "Oh, forgot the towels; heigho !"
yawning as took them up with Franks
revolver slipped between them. 81 wish
Frank and Fan would come; supper will
be awfully late" And then / did 90 out,
humming my tune again-all for effect,
you know.


Once outside that terrible parlor, my
head swan for moment, and my breath
came in gasps. But / knew the robber
was listening for my next motions. |
must play my part out. dropped into a
chair by the table, restrung my guitar,
actually putting every string, from e to
E, in the right place. and then tuned it,
making purposely good deal more noise
than was necessary. Having finished my
task, sat down on the front doorstep
(both sitting room and parlor had outer
doors, and 1t was summer time) and began
to play little waltzes and cadcnccs-Heaven
knows | could not sing them with a
vague idea in my mind Of line / had
heard or read somewhere


Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
or something like it, And | thought
now don't laugh-if | could charm my
savage, the robber, he would be less likely
to do harm


While | sat thus, the faint, far-ofr whistle
OF the train fell on my ear. And dim
thoughts floated through my mind that
Fan was come-that she and Frank were
so near me-"so near and vet so farr'-
SO safe and happy, while I-ah, if they
but knew was in such terror and dam
ger. All, well the Lord knows best. I
breathed prayer, inward and fervent. for
comfort and safety. And through the next
hour of waiting-God knows how long an
hour it was my hands kept up their soft
arias and cadences without knowing what
they played


AT last | heard the welcome sound OF
horses hoofs-nearer and then nearer-the
rapid rattle of wheels-then the cheering
voices knew so well. Thank God they
were coming But ! did not move, nor
cease to play until they had entered the
outer lane, driven up to the hill, and stop
ped at the yard gate. Then dropped my
guitar, and was outside before Frank could
spring from the wagon. ] stumbled for
ward and fell into his arms, nearer faint
ing than ever was in my life, before OF
since.


He saw something was wrong He was
greatly alarmed, and so was Fan, who
jumped from the high wagon unaided, to
reach me. As soon as i could speak ]
answered their eager questions:


'Oh, yes, thank God, I'm safe, You
are here! Oh, Frank, there's robber in
the house J"


"A robber!' he cried. And you here
alone! My God are you certain?"


ooh, yes, certain, gasped Historically
clinging to him. Don't scream, Fan
he'll xiii us!''


Where is he y demanded Frank, in a
terrible TONE a


"In Fans room-in the parlor," I an.
swered. Hes between the wardrobe
and the wall, Your revolver is in towel
on the sitting-room table. put it>there.' -


Come on, then. I'll settle his hash
said Frank bearing me on his arm to the
door. We all went in He took his re
volver and was striding into the parlor
when | Whispered: " Frank, look in the
bureau glass and You'll see him."