Year: 1876

welcomed me and received the message
her father sent me.


"Jake is bad fellow" she replied.
"PaIa has borne with his bad conduct
for long time, and, strange to say, he
never had him punished until last
week. The wretch cut out the tongue
of one of our favorite hounds, and papa
then ordered Thompson to whip him
| and as Mr.. Larkin was willing to buy
him 10 work in his lumber mill, papa de-
termined to sell him."


"He must be bad fellow" replied.


"Indeed, you are quite correct, she
answered ;"but I knew he had escaped
before you arrived, for he visited the
quarters about daylight. Thompson
only neard of it at noon, and started
away with some neighbors III pursuit of
him, and he has not yet returned. It's
wonder papa had not turned back, but
now that recollect, he had some bust
ness at Cranch's creek. Did he say when
he would returna"


"T think not, I replied.


During the evening we had pleasant
conversation, and I took occasion to in
form Miss Northup of the object OF my
visit to Hickman.


"I dare say, uncle will be glad to see
you, for he is really over-worked with
business. He took young gentleman
in his Office a short time ago, but they
couldn't get along at all !; so they sepa-
rated. Uncle is very forgetful and ner-
vous, scarcely any one can manage to
endure him, but he is kind man at
hear. and very generous. Papa and he
are so very different in temperament,
you wouldn't suppose they were broth
ers."


It was ten o'clock when I started to 60
to bed, and Miss Northup came up the
stairs behind me, accompanied by her
maid, who carried couple of candles.
On the upper landing l metan enormous
black cat with green eyes, who crouched
as if she intended to spring upon me.
always had an aversion to cats. 1 am
not superstitious nor inclined on the
side of the metaphysical doctrines of
those who support them, but strange
end unaccountable feeling crept over
me IS stood in front of the animal
with its glaring orbs and raised back.
At word from the girl, however, the
cat glided down the stairs and was lost
to sight.


When 1 reached my chamber Miss
Northup remarked:


Your door has bolt on it, and l
believe it is the only room III the house
that is secured"


"Don't you lock your lower doors 2"
I asked.


She smiled and replied: "We never
think it necessary"


Musing on the strange custom which,
by-the-bye, 1 did not consider very safe,
l went to bed and tried to sleep, but
found it unable to do so. Strange vis-
ions foated across my brain, and L Lay
twisting and turning in the bed, vainly
desiring slumber. I heard the clock
down in the hall strike two, and then
some chanticleer, as sleepless as myself
perhaps, gave a prolonged crow. As
the voice Of the rooster died away, there
came q noise as of person jumping
from the window sill to the floor, and
then followed the light and almost
noiseless step of one ascending the
stairway. Miss Northup's room was in
front and adjoining mine, and l listened
with quick beating heart to the creak
upon the stairs. I got up quietly, and
slipping on some Of my clothes, seized
ore of my pistols.


Step by step the creak came toward
my door. I put my ear to the keyhole,
and couli hear the breathing of the vii
lain. I stood motionless, the pistol
grasped firmly in my hand. Not mus
Gle moved nor nerve was slackened,
for felt that Heaven bad selected me
as the instrument to effect it's purpose.
The step passed on and reached Miss
Northup's door. I heard it open soft
ly, and I also opened mine; the moon
was shining almost as bright as day.
Stepping softly along the entry l slight
ly opened Miss Northup's door. No
object was visible, save the bed within,
upon whose snow white sheets lay the
Intended victim of the assassin. l
opened the door still wider, and saw
Hannah, the maid, in sound sleep on
the floor, while in the further corner OF
the chamber stood a tall man, armed
with knife. He saw me, and was evil
IDENTIFY in the act of making a spring
upon me. :,


lily heart swelled into my throat al
most to sufocation, and I made bound
into the room, and Miss Northup start
ed up with a scream, the villain made
spring for me and I fired, taking de-
liberate aim. The blood spouted from
his mouth, and Jake fell his full length
upon the floor, shot directly through
the brain.


For an instant Miss Northup did not
comprehend the situation, and lmplored
me not to murder her. But the noise OF
the pistol aroused all the household, and
the truth wss soon understood.
+


Lawyer Northup and myself agreed
very well indeed, and the reader will
net be surprised to learn that ultimate,
ly married his niece, whose life 1 GER
tainly saved. I have now lived many
years in Kentucky, but I invariably
keep up the old Northern custom oi
locking up my house when I go to bed