Ml)t imc0, Nero SJloomftclb, Jpa.
washed walls and the absence of a fire
yet contained a tolerable bed. Miss
Farquhnr, removing only her dress, after
commending herself to Heaven, lay down
on the couch beneath the bod-clothes,
and, worn out with the unwonted fa
tigues of the day and hardships ot the
journey, speedily fell asleep.
She had slept as she afterwards said
she believed nearly an hour, when a
rat running across her face caused her
to start violently from her slumber, with
that feeling of vague horror which we
all of us feci when suddenly roused
from sleep in a disagreeable manner in a
strange place. Her first impulse of dis
gust was so great as almost to force a
scream from her ; but by a violont effort
she restrained it. Indeed, the occur
rence, which was naturally at first so re
pulsive to her, she subsequently consid
ered as providential.
It was some moments ere she suffi
ciently regained her faculties to remem
ber where she was, aud when she did so
she became conscious that some person
near her were carrying on a conversation
in subdued tones yet so close at hand
that their voices appeared to issuo from
beneath her very pillow. Somewhat sur
prised, and, perhaps, also a little startled
although naturally of a brave disposition
Miss Farquhar turned her eyes toward
the bed'& head, and then perceived for
the first time that there was a sort of
chink or crevices in the wall, occasioned
by the pulling away of some of the plas
ter, which had left a couple of laths ex
posed. This was the more plainly visible
as her own apartment being in total dark
ness admitted the rays of light from the
adjoiuing one, which she knew to be the
chamber, or kitchen, in which the party
had supped.
A little surprised to find that her com
panions should so far overcome their fa
tigue as to be still out of bed, and not a
little curious to to know what could have
detained them from their rest at such an
hour, Miss Farquhar turned on her couch
and applied her eyes to the aperture in
the wall. ' '
She then perceived that the sole occu
pants of the kitcken were the mistress
of the house und the supposed grazier,
who had formed one of the stage-coach
party.
The pair were but a few yards distant
from the now rather alarmed governess,
and she remarked, with inward misgivings,-that
a close and confidential inti
macy appeared to exsist between them.
. Both appeared somewhat excited, the
cause of which might, perhaps, bo the
brandy bottle which stood on the table be
. tween them.
The quick eyo of Miss Farquhar
however, noticed with extreme surprise
that the two glasses of brandy-and-water
which she and the coachman had declined
taking still stood on the table untouched
as did also the halt-emptied one of Mr.
Hartley, and this notwithstanding the
fact that both man and woman continu
ally replenished their owp glasses from
the green bottle.
A cold thrill of honor shot through
Miss Farquhar as her ready wit sugges
ted a reason for this. Were those glas
ses of which her party had partaken
drugged ? And if so, was not that the
reason why, when the old woman had
brought them in on the tray, she had se
lected two, retaining one, and giving the
other to the grazier ? Were they, in short
accomplices for the robbery and, possibly
the murder of their guests ?
As these thoughts crowded one after
another into the governess's brain, she
remembered that it had been the seeming
grazier who had brought them to this
house, and that, though ho all but dis
claimed acquaintanceship with its mis
tress, he was yet evidently on intimate
and long-standing terms of friendship
with her.
, As Miss l'arquhar thus reflected, her
convictions became certainties, and she
felt a deadly faintness creeping over her
to which nine women out of ten in her
circumstances would have given away.
Catherine, however, was not naturally
weak of mind, and she remembered that
possibly nay, almost certainly the
safety of tho whole party depended on
her retaining her presence of mind. Sum
moning all her resolutions to her aid,
therefore, she lay intently listening.
By the red glow of the embers which
still remained in tho kitchen grate, and
which were plainly discernible through
tho crevice of her. bedroom wall, Miss
Farquhar could perceive that tho old
woman Elsie, was resting her head upon
Jicr hand and looking thoughtfully into
the firelight, as if cogitating some plan
of the advisability of which she was
doubtful.
She could also perceive that from time
to time the grazier threw a glance, half
threatening, at the landlady.
Presently the old woman suddenly ex
claimed :
" I do not like it, Joe I do not like it
at all."
" Not like it, missus! Well, you are
sop ! Why, the furs alone are worth a
cool hundred. Why "
" Yes, yes ; I know that," said old
Elsie impatiently. " I liko all that well
enough, hut I don't like violence."
Catherine Farquhar shuddered.
" Violence I" retorted tho man, with a
brutal oath. " What, are you, turned
tender-hearted ? Why, they are all as
safe as houses and it's only to carry
them out and topple them down the well
and that'll soon do their buiiucss."
" But to drown four people ! And
then the bodies would bo found, and "
"What a fool you are Elsie 1 Why,
what's easier than to take 'em when they're
dead and lay 'em under the snow ?"
" But the snow won't last for ever."
" It will last a good six weeks, if I know
anything of weather ; and when they
are found the bodies I mean folks
would suppose as they'd lost their way
and got smothered in tho snow."
"But the coach?"
" Well we'll put the horses to it and
take 'em about half a mile out, and then
make 'em upset it in one of tho drifts ;
and then cut the traces and let tho lead
ers off, and, as for tho wheelers, they'd
soon get suffocated ; and folks, if they
should come across the leaders, would
think as the coachman had cut the traces
to help 'em off, and so "
" Ah ! and so we'll carry the bodies
and bury 'em nigh the coach, as folks
should think they'd been upset together
like."
" That's it old girl."
The old woman tossed her grizzled
locks back from her seamed forehead,
and, looking her companion steadily in
the face, said :
"Joe, you're a precious villain !"
" Very like," answered the man. coolly
taking a whiff at his pipe. "Co on,
mother."
" Mother !" thought poor Catherine,
shaking as if with an ague.
" And it's what I'd never consent to,"
continued tho old woman, firmly.
The man clenched his fist and half
started from his chair.
" No, never !" said Elsie. Bob 'cm
if you like, and I'll say nought; but no
lives shall pay for it."
It was noticeable that tho woman had
now entirely laid aside tho broad north
ern accent which she had at first assumed
and Catherine, even in her agony of
apprehension, did not fall to remark
this.
Then followed some words
tone, of which the listener
in a
could
low
not
catch tho purport. The man was evi
dently remonstrating with the old woman
and tho latter as evidently determined not
to be moved.
"Now," thought Catherine,
time to alarm my companions."
is
tho
But how was this to bo done ?
She did not even know tho room in
which they slept, and had she done so
they would bo insensible from the effects
of tho narcotic which had been ad
ministered to them. How devoutly sho
thanked heaven that sho had not parta
ken of the brandy and water. Then she
suddenly remembered that Mr. Hartley
had taken but little, and would probably
sleep less soundly than tho others. But
again, she reflected that the coachman,
liko herself, had taken none at all. The
thing to bo done, then, was evidently to
find the sleeping apartment of the dri
ver. She would have preferred, certain
ly, to communicate with Mr. Ilartly ; but
this was no time for prudery, when four
lives were at stako.
Silently, then, and as ranidlv as her
cold and trembling fingers would permit
her, Miss Farquhar dressed. She dared
not strike a light, although she had n
tinder-box matches wero not then in
common use so, with an earnest prayer
to heaven for assistance, she groped her
way to tho door. , But here an incident
occurred which almost caused her to dio
with fright.
Tho door being rather old and crazy,
and the wind high, it was no sooner open
ed than it slummed with a jar which
shook the apartment. Catherine had the
Erescnco of mind to fling herself on tho
ed, cover herself with the blanket, and
feign sleep; and fortunate was it that she
did so. Scarcely had she lain down than
the door was re-opened, and old Elsie,
shading a rushlight with her hand, look
ed suspiciously into tho apartment.
And now for the second time, the rat
which had disturbed Catherino previous
ly again proved her salvation. Tho ani
mal had been feeding on some scrap in a
corner of tho room, and startled by the
sudden light dashed across the floor, up
setting a small box in its course, and
rushing under the old woman's feet into
tho passage.
" II sh ! h-sh !" screamed Elsie, sud
denly retreating. Then Catherine heard
her re-enter the kitchen, and say:
" It were only them darned rats a riot
ing, J oo.
For several minutes Miss Farquhar did
not dare to renew her attempt to leave
the room, but at last sho ventured to do it.
Using greater caution than before she
succeeded this time in effectually opening
the door.
But now what a task was before her !
In utter darkness, and in a strange place,
she had to find her way to a room of the
locality of which she was entirely igno
rant. She remembered somewhere to have
read that to pause under such circum
stances is only to perplex the mind and
to render a diffcult task yet more difficult;
so sho turned resolutely to the right down
the first passago which presented itself.
Sho felt gradually along the wall, which
was wet and clammy with ooze, of what
description she knew not, and suddenly
descended a step with a velocity that
nearly threw her on to her face, recov
ering herself, sho became aware that she
was standing almost up to her knees in
some warm, thick substance, which she
judged to be heather.
Where, then, could sho possibly have
got to? sho asked herself.
Auothcr step forward served to enlight
en her, for cautiously as she made it, f-.be
stumbled over the back of a cow who was
lying digesting her night's) supper. The
alarmed creature i uttered a sort of sur
prised groan in remonstrance, but a few
soothing words spoken in a low voice re
assured her.
Catherine, then, had found her way
into the cow-house, which in many rural
districts is under the same roof as the
dwelling-house, .and divided from it only
by a long-stunc passage. The poor gov
erness paused and reflected. It seemed
to her that there was nothing for it but
to turn back and try tlie passage to tho
loft. She resolved to do so, but she no
sooner formed tho resolution than she be
came aware of the sound of footsteps ad
vancing down tho stone passage, and per
ceived a light looming gradually nearer
and nearer. Boor Catherine felt her
blood run cold. Discovery was certain;
and discovery was diulh I
In an extremity of horror she crouch
ed down between the two nearest cows,
covering herself as far as she could with
their litter of heather, which, as has
been said, was fortunately very deep and
abundant. Then she prayed fervently,
scarcely venturing to breathe.
Nearer and nearer came the footsteps,
and brighter grew tho light. The gov
erness's heart almost stopped beating, so
intense was her fear. At last, with that
singular feeling which impels the crimi
nal on the scaffold of the guillotine to
glauce upwards at tho axe which is about
to destroy him, Catherine raised her eyes,
and, oh, joy ! It wax the coachman !
Tho reaction was too great and she
fainted.
Tho driver of tho coach, with that
restless regard for his horses in astrango
place which distinguished all good dri
vers, had resolved after he had retired to
rest to get up again and see in person af
ter their comfort, lie could not rest
without seeing that his horses wero also
at ease. His eouipanions wero sleeping
soundly ; but to accomplish his purpose
was very easy, since nono of the meu had
thrown off their clothes, hut wero merely
covered with rugs and plaids for tempo
rary accommodation.
Tho guard's dark lantern was conven
iently close at hand, and so up got hon
est John Dodftou. However, when ho
gained the passage, he, liko Miss Farqu
har, mistook tho way.
No sooner had tho horse-loving John
entered tho shed whore ho expected to
find his steeds, than he rubbed his eyes
aud stared around him with an air of ut
ter bowilderuicnt.
"Well, I'm darned !" he muttered, "if
tho bosses ain't turned into cows."
And advancing his lantern towards tho
nearest "milky mother," who sat upon
her haunches like a dog, regarding him
with a look of unmitigated astonishment.
ho becamo awaro of poor Catherine's pale
insensible face, us it lay farther buck, on
the sido of tho neighboring cow.
" Lord, ha' mercy on us !" ejaculated
tho coachman, " if it ain't the young la
dy I What tho prophet bo she doing
hero among tho cattle, nigh creshed to
death? A walkin in her sleep, I do
say." Muttering which, he raised Cath
erino gently from tho ground, and pro
ceeded to administer to her a dose from
his private flask, of which mention has
already been made.
Thus stimulated, tho governess revived,
and in a few words made her companion
acquainted with the dangers which en
compassed them.
The good man listened with a counte
nance in which surprise and indignation
struggled for tho mastery.
" The murdcrin' ruffian I" ho cried.
"But never mind, miss; if they hav
physicked t'othcrs, I'm as good a man as
that sneak with the flash pin any day."
" Ah ! but," said Catherine, " that wo -
man is a match for two men.'
" P'raps you're right miss," returned
the driver, ruminating. "When a wo
man is a fiend, sho ? a fiend, and no mis
take !"
" So that," continued Miss Farquhar,
you must try and rouse Mr. Hartley."
" He's a suorin' like a rigamcnt, miss."
"No matter, you must try. He took
very little of the spirits, and may be rous
ed with some effort."
" And you, miss."
"I will stay here," said Catherine, firm
ly. " Cover me up with the heather. I'm
not afraid of tho cows, poor things !.
Then hasten to Mr. Hartley, and bring
him here.''
The driver looked at her admiringly.
"Well, you are a plucky one, miss!"
" Lose no time, but go !" said Cather
ine, entiCiitingly.
And the coachman departed.
In a few moments Mr; Hartley, much
agitated, and still half stupefied by the
effects of the narcotic, returned with the
driver to the cow-housc, where the brave,
but trembling governess anxiously await
ed them.
It was then decided that the coachman
and Mr. Hartley should return to the
kitchen, under pretence that they had
not enough rugs aud plaids to keep them
selves sufficiently warm. They would
thus bo enabled to see what the plotters
were doing. They accordingly proceed
ed at once to carry out tho plan, Miss
Farquhar following them at a distance.
To their extreme surprise, they found
tho landlady and tho pseudo-grazier-
sound asleep, and breathing heavily.
Alight burst upon Catherine's brain.
" We are saved !" she exclaimed joy
ously. " Heaven bo praised! we arc
saved ! They have fallen into their own
trap."
Yes ! As old Elsio and her compan
ion hud grown more and more affected by
tho spirits which they had taken, they
become unable to discriminate betweeu
their own glasses and tho two which had
been intended for two of their visitors.
They had ih-tutk thf. dntijijiut brandy,
which Ihvij Imil i-cjarcd for Mins Far
quhnr and the cmuhman.
Mr. Hartley und John Dodson bound
the two insensible wretches securely to
their chairs, although awaro that many
hours would elapse before their return to
consciousness.
Fortunately, with tho morning light
came a thaw, and Mr. Hartley dispatched
the coachman on ono of the horses to
York for assistance, whilst ho remained to
protect Miss Farquhar.
There was, of course, no evidence to
convict tho old woman and her accom
plice. No robbery and murder had been
committed, and there was but a solitary
witness M iss Farquhar to speak as to
their intention. Old Elsie, hereforo es
caped p.unishmcnt, and, indeed she had
never connived at murder.
The mau 'Joe,' however, who proved ;
bo tho old woman's stepson, was 'wauted'
for a previous robbery on the highway,
and, as that crime was then punishable
by the gallows, he suffered accordingly.
In after years we have it on good au-!
thority when Miss Farouhar became 1
Mrs. Hartley, and the wife of a rector of
a largo and populous parish, sho was of
ten wont, as an illustration of the manner
iu which Providcnco brings about import
ant results by thciid of apparent trifles,
to rolato tho incident of the rat waking
her from her sleep during tho night that
sho passed at lied Moor House.
Duo Notice.
An individual in Massachusetts, who
like Hip Van Winkle, found considerable
difficulty ;n " swearing off," has publish
ed tho following " Notice to Liquor Sel
lers," in the papers : I hereby forbid
all liquor or beer sellers giving or selling
me any liquor, beer, or other spiritous
liquors, if they do they may consid
er themselves responsible, because at
another time I shall take legal proceed
ings against them." '
ISUL BEADING.
Tlie Poisoned Kobe.
A MONO the stories which have come
J, down to us from the old Greeks is
one which tells us that Dcjanira, the wifo
of Hercules, once sent her husband a
close-fitting robo dipped in poison, on pre
tense of preserving him from evil. Her
cules, knowing nothing of the power of
! the poison, put it on, and for awhilo felt
; no ill effects But soon the poison bo-
j gan to work, and sharp pains ran through
j his whole body. And now ho strove to
j pull off the robe, but iu vain ; it clung
j fast to him ; or, if by means of his great
, strength ho tore awav a tncce of it. tho
skin and flesh came with it, and at last
the poison ate into his very vitals, so that
he died. He had been strong enough
for almost any thing else, but ho was
not strong enough to tear off that gar
ment. Now this is not, a true story, of course ;
it is a fable; but as many of - tho old fa
bles had a meaning in them, it has seem-
cd as if this poisoned garment might
; have been intended to show the power of
; bad habits. They aro easily begun, and
the boy or girl docs not at first feel the
evil of them, but after they havo prac
ticed them awhile, and begin to feel the
sting, then they faintly and vainly try to
get rid of them, but they cling to fast,
to bo got rid of.
Smo"iiii, end lyimj are such poison
garments. Either is easily and thought
lessly taken up ; it grows upon the boy
or young man until, from the single oath
or falsehood, his wholo conversation be
comes one stream of evil. But let him
even become a changed man, and then
sec how this garment sticks to him, how
hard it is to overcome.
litlnii jicrimcc is such a garment. For
awhilo it does not seem to injure those
who indulge in it ; but before long it be
gins to pierce them with a thousand
stiugs. Then if any ono try to tear
away the' habit, with what fatal force it
clings ! Audit', by the grace of God,
and the power of a strong will, he rends
it away, how it is like the dividing asun
der of soul and body. How terrible the
pangs of tho drunkard who strives to
overcome his evil ways ! Take care,
boys, that you do not put on a garment
like this.
While there are some who, by the grace
of God, do overcome, and save them
selves from tho destroying venom of evil
habit, the greater number either sink un
der it without an effort, or, after some
vain attempt to tear themselves away
from it, give up a strife for which they
aro not strong enough, and in which they
aro constantly ovcrcomo, and sink and '
dio, destroyed by the. fatal poison. Oh,
never, never take up a habit, uny habit
which cither must destroy you, or which
if you filially wrench yourself away from
it, will leave its deadly marks and scan
upou you all your remaining days on
earth.
Business licligion.
The Bible allows no slovcnliuess.
Christianity encourages invention, pro
motes refinement, suggests method, iD.
sists upou order, promptness, regularity,",
good huuior, good manners, and good liv
ing. The resources of the earth are
abundant for all. If manual labor were
made a part of education, an essential in
every school and collego curriculum, the
world would be brighter and cheerier for
the change. It is because labor hasbecu
dunned out as toil for a livelihood un
derpaid, overtaxed, unfashioned, and un-
churched that so many toilers aro worn
and weary, and forced to ignorance and
melancholy ; whereas if their work and
position wero properly rewarded they
woum do strong and vigorous, intellectu
al, religious, and happy.
One Drop at a Time.
Have you ever watched an icicle as ii!
formed ! You noticed how it froze ono
drop at a time, until it was a foot longoj
more. If the water was clear, tho icicle
remained clear, and sparkled brightly in
tho sun ; but if the water was but slight
ly muddy tho icicle looked foul, and it
j beauty spoiled. Just so our character
arc forming ; one little thought or feel
ing at a time adds its iuflucnco. If each,
thought be pure and right, tho soul will
be lovely and sparkle with happiness;
but it impuro and wrong, there will b
final deformity and wretchedness.
Vanity. Of all passions vanity is th
greatest corrupter of good dispositions.
Others subside occasionally. Avarice
sometimes bleeps. But vanity is a per
petual trade-wind, always moved bv
i single cause, and always Betting one way."
s