Year: 1864


day. Uncle and aunt were very fond Of
me, and had gone to New York in their wa.
gon to purchase some presents, as well as
some little luxuries for the party that was
to be given in my honor.


Our house was an old three-storied
bdilding, long since pulled down, near Har.
lem, and it was considered quite mansion
in those days. 1t was very lonely, too,
there not being another house within quite
good walk. Uncle's man had gone with
him, and aunt, and I was left at home with
only Gretta, our help, strong, courageous
girl, some three or four years older than
myself. She had been with aunt for sew
eral years, her mother living about mile
of, near the river.
Uncle had lived so long in those parts
that We had no more fear Of our solitary 10
cation than if we had been living next door
to police station. But we had something
far better than policeman, or even u squad
Of them, in our fine old mastiff, Watch-it
was really more like q lion than anything
else, and was known as the terror Of every
pcdlar, tramp and beggar for miles around
/ was, therefore, nota bit afraid when un-
Gle told me not to be alarmed If they were
not home till late, as the weather was fine
and the nights were moonlight. 1t was
just about halEpast ten at night, We ex-
pected uncle and aunt very soon. Before
the fire lay Watch, quite still, as though
fast asleep, while Gretta was beginning to
nod. All of q sudden Watch sprang up
went to the door-stood listening for an in
stant-and then gave deep growl. I got
up and listened. In the course of minute
or SO we heard footsteps coming up the
garden path. Tho next instant voice
said:


"Is this Squire Bolons?" ...


Having no fear US long as Watch was
with US, | answered,


dyes" .-. .....


"Is there q young woman, Gretta Boer-
man, here@ .s.rs


EYES," l replied.


"Then have come to tell her that she
must come home at once, for her mother is
dyingr ..I-.


told Gretta to open the door, which she
did. The person now came forward cycling
the dog, who went up to the stranger, with
half suppressed growl. The man thcn
gave Gretta few lines from her father, tell
ing her to come with the bearer at once, as
her mother was taken suddenly sick. This,
Of course, did away with any suspicion Of
evil. Poor Gretta was in terrible state.
She felt she ought not to leave me, but /
insisted upon it, saying that with Watch l
had no fear-and uncle could not bc many
minutes longer. She, therefore, put on her
things and went away with the man; tho
dog following them to the gate. When
Watch returned I noticed that he had some
thing between his teeth. Having bolted
the door, again took my seat by the fire,
while Watch went into the corner to eat
his dainty. A quarter Of an hour passed,
] intently listening to every sound, expect
ing TO hear the wheels of my uncle's wagon
all Of sudden ! was reused by Watch
giving deep howl-and upon looking
round ! saw the creature was in u fit. After
one or two strong commissions the dog lay
perfectly still. II was dead. The meat
had been evidently poisoned. A terrible
fear, amounting to perfect nightmare, fell
on me. saw ut once that we were the
victims Of a fatal treachery. was reused
from this stupor Of terror by q strange
noise, as Of something grating against the
wall. This nerved me. Iatonce suspected
that the thieves were putting ladder to
getin at one Of the upper windows. Istolc
upstairs to the top attic, and opening the
window quietly, / there saw man on the
path placing ladder against tho wall, and
preparing to mount. To my great joy
l perceived there was only one. / at once
formed plan, and / have always thought
il must have been an inspiration Of Proyi-
dence. In the next room was a heavy
weight, / should think half hundred,
which had been there as long as / could
remember. / ran and brought it to the
window; put it on the sill; then cautiously
looked out; the robber had just commenced
to ascend; step by step he came up higher
and higher; in another instant he would
have been on level with the window under
that at which was stationed. raised |
the weight; poised itover him; letit drop,
and the next instant the robber fell with |
dull sound to the earth. I knew no more. |
When I came to myself, my uncle, aunt and |
his man were standing around me, bathing |
my head with vinegar. It appears that |
when they arrived, at few minutes past |
twelve, they were astonished to find q man
lying dead at the door, and ladder stand |
ing against the wall. Our man ran up the |
ladder, and found me scnscless. II came
out afterwards that the note was not written |
by Grotta's father, for the man left her in |
a few minutes, saying he was going for |
doctor. On her arrival at her home the
trick was discovered, and her father got to
our house about half an hour after my un-
ele's arrival. When I was shown tho body
/ recognized it as that of the man who had |
come for Gretta. I have always thought,
my dears, that this made me marry sooner
than Ishould have done, for when your un-
Gle proposed, about month afterwards, I |
accepted him, as q sort Of protection.