Year: 1876

answered "but I knew he had escaped before you arrived, for he visited the quarters about daylight. Thompson only heard of it at noon, and started away with some neighbors in pursuit ot him, and he has not yet returned. It's wonder papa had not turned back, but now that I recollect, he had some bust ness at Cranch's creek. Did he say when he would return9 9'

 q think not, ," I replied.

 During the evening we had 8 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 8 young gentleman in his office 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 heart and very generous. Papa and he are so very different in temperament, you wouldn't suppose they were broth erR."

 It was ten o'clock when started to go 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. l always had an aversion to cats. am not superstitious nor inclined on the side of the metaphysical doctrines of end unaccountable feeling crept over roo r o%o0l Rroy,k oF &ho with it's glaring orbs and raised back. cat glided down the stairs and was lost to sight.

 When I reached my chamber Miss Northup remarked:

 ''' Your door has bolt on it, and I believe it is the only room in the house that is secured"

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

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

 Musing on the strange custom which, by-the-bye, did not consider very safe, I went to bed and tried to sleep, but found it unable to do so. Strange vis- ions hoated across my brain, and lay twisting and turning in the bed, vainly desiring slumber. heard the clock down in the hall strike two, and then some chanticleer, as sleepless as myself perhaps, gave 8 prolonged crow. As the voice of the rooster died away, there came noise as of a 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 listened with quick beating heart to the creak upon the stairs. I got up quietly, and slipping on some of my clothes, seized one of my pistols.

 Step by step the creak came toward my door. I put my ear to the keyhole. and could hear the breathing of the vil- lain. stood motionless, the pistol grasped firmly in my hand. Not mus cle moved nor 8 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 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. I opened the door still wider, and saw Hannah, the maid, in a sound sleep on the floor, while in the further corner of the chamber stood 8 tall man, armed with knife. He saw me, and was evil dently in the act of making spring upon me.

 My heart swelled into my throat all most to suffocation, and I made bound into the room, and Miss Northup start ed up with scream, the villain made a spring for me and I fired, taking de- liberate aim. The blood spurted 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 implored me not to murder her. But the noise of the pistol aroused all the household, and the truth was soon understood.

 Lawyer Northup and myself agreed very well indeed, and the reader will not be surprised to learn that I ultimate ly married his niece, whose life cer- tainly saved. have now lived many years in Kentucky, but I invariably keep up the old Northern custom of locking up my house when l go to bed.