Year: 1870

|


money in our safe, when suddenly, l saw


in the mirror a sight that made my hear


stand still A hand appeared between th,


curtains, drawing them slowly apart, an,


grasping cautiously the head-board. Il


was mans hand, large and course anC


dark, as if belonging to a mulatto. or t.


one greatly tann by exposure to tn,


weather.


My first impulse was to start from tn,


bed, and scream for help. repre- sed i


by strong effort of will, and lay perfectly


motlOnless, except that partially closed


my eyes. keeping them only sufficiently


open to watch the mirror. As quick n.


lightning my mind took in the situation


In the few minutes of my absence from the


room, while talking To Dinah in the entry


a thief, robber, possible murde er, had


stolen in by the piazza windows, nd had


hid himself either under the bed or be


hind the draped head. He was doubtless


armed; and, if cried out, aid 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 WIS too distant, and too


feeble and clumsy to afford me any assist


ance, and besides, was fast asleep, in the


third story, The man doubtless knew


that my husband had that day received a


large sum OF money, and gone off across


the river, leaving me alone or nearly alone


N the house. He had entered, caring only
for the money, and anxious, above all
things, to escape undctected and unrecOg-
nized. If let him know that l was aware
of his presence, | should expose myself to
murder, and to outrage worse than mur-
der. Ny obvious policy was, to keep
quie and feign sleep. / thought also of
the money, and WAS not altogether willing
to resign that without an effort to save II,
aud to have at least some clue to the iden-
tlty of the thief. | confess, however, that
this last consideration was not very strong
one, and am afraid, that, if l could have
seen my way clear to an escape from the
room and the house, | should have fled in
continently, without stepping to see more
than that terrible hand.


A moment, which seemed an hour, pass.
ed while these thoughts rushed through
my mind. l lay perfectly still, with my
half-closed eyes watching the mirror
Slowly and noiselessly the frightful hand
pulled up its owner, until L could see the
head and face reflected in the glass, and
glarlng at me with fierce yet wary eyes,
The man was a mulatto, very dark, with
evil passions written in every hneament. ]
could scarcely refrain from shuddering at
tho sight of his hateful visage, and speedily
closed my eyes to shut it out


1 was not yet quite ready for the ordeal
through which l knew / must soon pass.
/ intended to move my light stand little
out of the way, and to so arrange the bed
clothes that l could spring from the bed
xxrrfh hon ,fC
little sigh, and moved, as if about TO awake
slight, Opt Ling my eyes at the same time.
The head and the hand instantly disap-
peared. then composedly made the de-
sired changes In the position of the stand
and the arrangement of the clothes, put
my watch with the key of the safe under
my piilow-so near the edge that they
could easily be taken out, as knew he
would take them-extinguished one of nv
candles, said my prayers, and, closing my
eyes, resigned myself to my fate, with no
very sangnine or definite hope of extrica-
ton FROM my perilous position.


made my breathing regular, and a little
louder than when / was awake, and lay
With my cheek on my hand, counterfeit
ing sleep. At last the stiffness became
more terrible than even my first agony of
i
q soft step approach from the place of con-
cealment. As often / was deceived. Then
again that dreadful stiffness in which l
counted the ticking OF the watch through
the pillow 1t was a positive relief when
he came out from behind the curtain, stop
ped at the table, and stood looking at me,
as I was well aware, though my eyes were
closed. forced myself to breathe regu-
larly and audibly. He came closer; he
bent over me. He passed the lighted can
die slowly before my face two or three
times. 7 felt the heat, and saw the light
through ms closed lids, which must have
quivered, though he did not observe their
motion, Heaven gave me strength not to
move or cry out. Satisfied, apparently, he
put back the candlestick on the stand, and
his hand crept softly and slowly under the
pillow, and, one by one, he removed my
watch, and the key of the safe. He stood
so long looking at me that felt impelled
to open nay eyes suddenly upon him.


As he walked softly toward the safe, l
did partly open them, and cautiously
watched him through my eyelashes. /
heard him fumbling with the lock, and
once he looked over toward the bed. My
eyes were wide open, but closed them in
time not to be detected. Watching him
steaithily, saw him open the door of the
safe, 60 to the stand for the candle, and
return to the safe, which he entered with
out Withdrawing the key from the lock.


Here was the opportunity for which 1
had waited and watched. / sprang light
ly from the bed with one bound, reached
the safe, dashed the door to, turned the
key. and with one loud shrek fell PROSTATE
and senseless on the floor of the dark room.


How long 1 lay upon the floor, / do not
know pro cOably for few minutes only
but, as was unconscious, it seemed, when
came 20 myself, as if the interval had
been lone. l was aroused by his blows
upon the iron door, and found myself weak
after the long nervous tension, but still
calm. remember the satisfaction with
which / thought while lay there, before
rising, that he could not escape, mingled
with vague and foolish dread that he
night in his rage burn the valuable con-
tents of the safe. He pounded desperately
on the door, and swore fearfully at finding
himself entrapped. But as took no no.
tice of his ontcries, he soon grew quiet.


Presently rose, and lighting a candle,
dressed myself with all possible haste and
with trembling fingers, turning often to
look at the safe, from under the closed
door of which l more than half expected
to see blood trickling why, cannot tell.
except that my mind was full of images of
of horror was soon in readiness. / had
no means of ascertaining the time, as he
had my watch in his pocket, and there was
no clock in the room. Taking the candle,
/ FASTENED TO arouse Dinah, who, as /
shook her. slowly opened her eyes, and
with scarcely any more than her usual
slowness, pronounced her formula: swell
Miss Lille, what shall l fy--Lord
massyi what's de matter wild de chile T
You amt seen a ghost-have you honey


mo, Dinah; but I've seen something
worse than ghost. I've caught robber,
and he's in the safe. What tine is it?" and
looking at the clock, that ticked slowly and
deliberately, how conld Dinah's clock
help doing ?-I saw to my great relief that
it was nearly midnight.


We had scarcely got downstairs when
ieard the sound of wheels. A moment
more, and my husband was in my arms,
listening with amazement to a rapid mar
rative of my singular adventure. 1 would
not suffer him to open the safe until Silas
had summoned assistance from the neigh
Y A.