Year: 1866

firm in his temporary possession, lockeC


no in the iron safe in our. bedroom


where the plate was kept. He was ;


bank manager, and responsible for all o
: it. It was winter time, and there was
fire in the room so bright and comfort
l able that was in no hurry to leave il


and get into bed, but sat up looking into
y the fery Goals, and thinking about al


sorts of things upon the long journey
+ Frank had to take that night, and how
dreary the DAYS would seem until he re


turned, and, 10 particular, how lonely
e should feel in that great room all by


myself, when he would be away-for !


was dreadful coward It was a little
, after eleven o'clock when I got into bed,
; but did not feel the least inclined for
sleep even then. I knew Frank would
be coming to bid me good-by presently,


and besides there seemed to be all sorts


of noises about the room, which my
foolish ears always used to hear when
ever was alone at night time.


IF a little SCOT fell down the chimney,


it was, thought, a great black crow, at


least, which would soon be flying about
the room, and setting on my pillow if
a mouse squeaked in the wainscOt, it was


the c=eaking of some dreadful persons
shoes, coming mp stairs TO kill me with


the carving knife and if the win5 blew
at the easement, it was somebody else


trying to get in at the window, although
it was two stories high You may imag-
ine then, my horrors when 1 heard a
tremendous sneeze within quarter of
an inch of me, Just behind the head


board of my bed, and between that and
the wall where there was a considerable
space. I had, as usual, taken the pre-
caution, before I put my candle out, of
looking everywhere in the room where
] it was quite possible that any person
could be hid, but in the little alcove into
which the bed was pushed I had never
so much as thought of looking, although
that was a capital hiding place for any
/ body Ever since 7 had been in that
room, in short, I had been like tie os-
trirh, who puts his head in the sand
and then imagines himself in perfect Sc
curity. I had piqued myself on precau-
tionary measures that, after all, might
just as well have been omitted. The
only thing, and believe, which saved my
reason from departing altogether, when
first heard the terrible sound, was that
my mind clung to the hope that it might
be, after all, only the sneeze Of a cat
/ Fifty cats together could not have made
half such a disturbance, it is true, for it
was the snceze Of man who sneezes in
spite Of himself and almost shook the
house, but the idea sustained me over
the first shock. The next instant the
wretch had sneezed again, and pushing
aside the bed, which rolled on casters,
felt he was standing near my pillow look
ing at me. If he had only given Just
one sneeze, be might perhaps have be-
lieved me. as I laid quite still, breathing
as regularly as I could, and pretending
to be asleep; but he reasoned very Justly.
that, unless I was deaf and dumb, must
have been awaked by the second.


You're awake, narm," said he, in
gruff voice, q and it's no use shammihg
IF you don't want q tap with this here
life preserver, why just look alive"


I opened my eyes exceedingly wide at
this, and beheld a man with a Grape over
his face, standing by the bed he held a
sort of club, with two knobs upon it, in
his right hand, and with his lefthe pointed
to the iron safe


as the money there ?" said he.


"The plate is, said I, in trembling
voice, pray take it, sir, I am sure you
are very welcome " for he might have
had everything of value out Of the house
with all my heart, so long as he left me
my life.


The money-the gold-the notes
are they there ?" cried he in a terrible
sort of whisper.


at is all there" replied I, although I
knew nothing about it. AN except
fifteen and sixpence in my purse, on the
dressing table yonder. There is silver
mustard pot besides in the pantry, and
couple of candlesticks in the study, only
they are plated, for would not deceive
you upon any account.


'' You had better not" observed the
burglar, grimly, e or it will be worse for
you" He produced a key like that my
husband used, and approached the iron
safe, but as he did, mis- guilty ear caught
a footstep upon the staircase.


who's that?" cried ne.


Ny husband, sir" returned I, " but
pray don't hurt him"
. {" Is he not going to town, then ?"
cried the rufian, with an oath of disap-
pontment.


He is going at twelve o'clock" re-
piled I, " he is indeed"


"Ifyou tell him." said the burglar,
hoarsely, if you breathe but one word !
of my presence here, it will be the death :
doom of you both" He had slipped :
into the alcove and drawn back the bed t
again to its place ofan instant My hus- :
band entered Immediately afterward, and
even while he was in the room I heard
the awful threat repeated once again
through the thick curtain behind me :
'' if you do but whisper it, woman, will +
kill you where you lie. Will you swear
not to tell him?"


81 will, I said solemnly, a promise :
not to open my lips about the matter"


Frank leaned over the pillow to kiss .
me, and observed how terrified looked. !


You have been frightening yourself t
about robbers again, suppose, you silly c
child" T


"Not I, Frank, " returned I, as cheer J,
fully as l could, "T have only little :
headache" but I said with my fingers so c
hat BE could plainly read it in the FIRE !,