Year: 1870

l slept with the hangings drawn back
and fastened to the head-board. The
bed was so large that no one ever
thought of moving it except in those
seasons of household panic called
house-cleanings. when the combined
strength Of three or four men was
called into requisition 70 draw it into
the middle ofthe room. SO deliberately
carved was it that it went by the name
Of Westminster Abbey. in the family.
At one end of the room, at no great
distance from the bed, was a large
safe, built into tine huge chimney of
the mansion, with door high enough
for person to enter standing upright.
Here was accustomed to place every
evening. our silver plate on shelves
which extended around the sides. on
which also were placed boxes contain
ing papers and other valuables. Op.
posite the foot OF the bedstead, be-
tween the windows. was n mirror. run
ming from the floor almost To the
ceiling. Like all the other furniture in
the room. it was old and handsome.
How many happy scenes it had reflect
ed III the hundred years 1t had stood
I there.


The night was exceedingly hot. and
l therefore left the windows open,
though drew the curtains before
seated myself at the table IN the centre
Of the room, lighted the candles, and
began to lead, in order 10 pass the
heavy time before the return Of my
! husband


After while. heard the clock
strike nine. at which hour Dinah always
went 10 bed Her chamber was in the
attic, the third story of the house.
/ Remembering some household matter
about which wished 10 speak to her.
| started hurriedly up. and went into
Y the entry 10 intercept her before she
got upstairs. had 10 wait about a
minute before she came, and our coll
/ loquy continued three or four minutes
more.


When | returned TO my bedroom.
feeling somewhat tired. resolved to
90 10 bed. as. at that late hour, in the
country. it was quite certain that 10
visitors would call. and my husband
could let himselfin with the latch-hey,
which he always carried. | thought.
however, would try to keep awake
by reading, and accordingly placed n
light stand and the candles At the head
OF the bed. then closed ana fastened
the windows. undressed and went to
bed. The key OF the safe placed, as
usual, under my pillow


Ailer reading. perhaps half an hour,
| grew weary Of the book, and quietly
laying IL down, rsmaia.d la, -orps
minutes meditating with my eyes fixed
on the mirror opposite the foot Of the
bed, in which ! could see myself re-
flected, together with the yellow silk
curtains behind nv head. | was think
ing. not unnaturally. how pretty |
looked, and how happy was with such
loving husband. and such a large
sum of money in our safe. when sud-
denly ! saw in the mirror a sight that
made my heart stand still. A haGd APP
HNe'tNt ''t'tSi tht 'iii va
them slowly apart, and grasping in
quite 4 cautious manner. the head
board. 1t was mans hand. large and
course. and dark As if it belonged to =
rnulatto, or TO one greatly tanned by
exposure to the weather


My first impulse was 10 start from
the bed. and scream for help. | re-
pressed it by a strong effort of will.
and lay perfectly motionless, except
that partially closed my ewes. keep
ing them only sufficiently open to
watch the mirror. As quick as light
ming my mind took in the situation.
In the few minutes of my absence from
the room, while talking with Dinah in
the eLtry. thief, robber, possible
murderer, had stolen in BY the piazza
windows, and had hidden himself
either under the bed or behind its
draped head He was doubtless arm
ed and if cried out, and attempted to
escape from the room, he could easily
reach the door before | could, and for
his own security. would probably put
me to death. Dinah was too distant,
and too feeble and clumsy, to afford
Inc any assistance, and besides was by
this time fast asleep in the third story.
The man doubtless knew that my hus-
band had that day received large
sum of money, and had gone of across
the river, leaving me alone, or nearly
! alone, in the house


The fellow had probably entered the
house. caring only for the money, and
anxious, above all things to escape un-
detected and unrecognized. III let him
know that l was aware Of his presence,
l should expose myself to murder, and
perhaps to outrage worse than murder
My obvious policy was to keep quiet
and to feign sleep. / thought also OF
the money, and was not altogether
willing to resign that without an effort
to save it, and to have some clue to
the identity of the thief. | confess
however, that this last consideration
was not a very strong one, and am
AFRAID that, if could have seen my
way clear to an escape from the room
and the house, Ishould have fled in
continently, without stopping to set
more than the terrible hand.


A moment which seemed an houl
passed while these thoughts rushed
through my mind. lay perfectly still
with my half-closed eyes watching the
mirror.-Slowly and noiselessly thu
frightful hand pulled up its owner, un
til l could see the head and face re
hected in the glass, and glaring at IN,
with fierce but wary eyes. The MAJ
was mulatto, very dark, with evi
passions written in every lineament