SOHWEIEft,
TEE OOI8TITDTIOI-TKB TmOI-AJD TffB EJT0ECIE1T OF THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
voi, xxxix.
MIFFLINTOWK JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. JULY 1. ISS5.
NO. 27.
ft
hr.her. do m tumble.
(VV rfTh i Jrk .. night;
to "' ,h" nu"'1'1
SJ,iGoaan.ia..M riM-
AlJ .vlv tn'iip or weaiy;
F wr 'oVtli betlll-rIUtlltlg.
ilaml ao the rM."
. form of tfuiitj passiou.
like . hrhjlit.
,-o-toiu. !,o..l, or f;iliiou;
in;,taml a-the rwbu"
ill luie tin-. '"" wili ,ove tlie
r.il Hitler. ....e. ill slight;
...... .,,,.1 l..k above thee.
fI;ui;',.d'and do the right."
a,,,;tru'aMf.-sts..i.lii.p:
, 3n'1 iuw-irJ lu:liti
t"1 . ... .- Li .i,i do the rurht-"
-irusi i" " ' "
A 1.1 CKY ESl'IPE.
tvu a singular adventure to relate,
kr i think, of bring told by a
Vfi-r-Via I must lirst explain tbe
Instances which led to uiy becom-
riri:l1 "f w -v fatner- a clergyman
.".,v mother with very reduced
" ' j .. 1 ...... f-.iinlv .if ulimn I
.twai-" ... -
stj oiJt. 1 was anxious to do
StfLii to help her, but, though I
r ' I.J .'iuhl plum education and
rtcUreid. 1 H.--ssed no aecom-.'-'awB:..
1 could neither play the
Laaor Jra . and 1 spoke French
L tn accent which I could not tlat-
icffi.v:! was Parisian. It wad there
to iioult to imd a place for me the
gSO,jIlier.tS 01 which oum ruauic me
Viilaiv mother. 1 was about, ho w
e, to advertise for the post of com
pcan, '!n a letter reached us from
vd relative of my father's which
-ctl.ed.ei.-u'ty for us.
Jl.-s. Keitli. his aunt, had married a
KiBia. who. dying, lrtt her his es
tiiLd wealth; but a quarrel with
Is iT'iliirr-niy grandfather had sep
ctrj Lrr lotni'.ete'.y from her family,
isirhad hoi heard from her for
TaS. And now she had written to us
jia cnmadly letter.
iiVrti.e ordinary condolences, she
titd that, having understood my
txixt Lad a large family and small
Boss, -he would le happy to receive
tatliot d iii-'iiter to reside with her
s,ijoir.'ti. ""I will give her, if she
my olier, thirty poundsa year,"
fcilJeil, "and. as veiy little dress is
soared hi my home for I see no one
It Uie doctor aiid clergymen she
Mb; to aUe to spare twenty pounds
iju: sjiu to help her family. But
tenuis: rruiemlier that my house is a
iaely place far in the countiy, that
psublisliiiietit is small, consisting
i pro olii and faithful servants and a
vhski assistant, and that her life will
it monotonous routine with only an
ip& woman as her companion. If
licnr'ere she is timid or fond of gayety
ft had better not think of coming
ire."
My mother, who was reading the let
leilosd to me, paused with a look of
"1 will accept the offer, dearest moth
e.rI said. "I don't know what fear
ltd 1 don't care for gayety, even if
I we not in such sorrow."
"But, my dear, the salary' is so small
cdtbe prosiH-ct so dreary; and we
lircalways heard that Annt Helen is
i perfect miser," remonstrated my
KM.
"But rumor always exaggerates," I
Ksawi. '-Le may be nicer than
juc itihk. she seems very straight
inrard. and prubablv means kindly.
Ksbeisauiiser. she must foroursakes
lit strolled azainst her besetting
R: io not let us refuse to accept her
su-i'-eof it."
"Well," said my mother, "if you re-
LttLsk you could like it, you shall
ft We are the sole remaining rela
Cw. and ji.e may, when she knows
t.w of us, reniemlier your brother
vld's claim ou her as the last male
f 1 family."
Nil wrote and accepted Mrs. Keith's
dS-r,i.J ou a dull November after
assiwrtiy afterwards I arrived at
W res.deiire.
ateii by the lire of the room into
t-iilwas u-heied was a very old
y. who extended her hand and wel
nl me kindly. As I took it, she
me down and kissed my cheek.
"Youhaxe a Wk of mv brother
if gnuidfather in your face, Lot
t. sh said, "his quick, keen eye and
I am glad to see you sit down."
. After a brief chat, she observed that
tion?htl should be glad to take
tiy travelin-diess, and rang the
On the butler appearing, she de
W liim to send up Mrs. Wheeler, ad
as he withdrew
''n jieeler, Lis wife, and a village lass
ad my establishment, Lottie. I
UJ Jou Jo "ot need much attend-
U. no!" I answered. "We have al
g1 to wait uion ourselves, Aunt
! smiled and lo. ked pleased. Mrs.
shortly afterward appeared
'nietomy room, which was on
suae floor, but down another cor-
riTit . 7 s l" L1,c pnucijiai one ai.
t armies. It was a large dismal
lj .rm. containing a four-post
lln hearv n-.!l.. r I. 1
clveriy embroidered in
no f;"'ed in a manner that
oi lrf i , 111 a manner inai
Utonrt ,deiiK''led the ai"t school,
WT ProUiUy they lmd been in their
tdtu J V1 Unll'ant colors. I admir-
ttie0rk til fro U'l. 4t
fc.'s nothing to the tapestry
!d S r' oln' ma'am. if yu
.W t j see n:-' And she led me
Kit m corritJor to room exactly op-
Uwn. uicu was hung with
ntioa m a W01'derf ul state of preser-
?l Tck -by iu and rather
ne b tt that 1 s,10uld not 8ltP
SdJ'"18 .pmbling dreary-looking
tf tod ' UKl' N,r3- Kelth feeWe
Wed tt , SUiaU Protection; and I
tet f y s,ie and 1 occupied
inir ir, le llouse' the servants
'"tich I
. """-'iiier Wins.
think
a mistake of my
fiatW,?;11 Mr3- Wheeler, "seeing
Wun-il , . J-'w'sare all here;
""Where Miss rbould, she has
4reoiie ever since Mr. Keith's
th4.'"? Jwla here?" lex-
saaii cl1 1 Could Perceive on
erT airobe and a chest of
T
rt-?.'?' in a closet lhini the
S.e52t ?Uting two 01 the
iecKW,sliametonide- I then
Wtttthe Uapeatry hun from
w
a wide embossed ledge a little below
the top of the room, leaving a hollow
space between it and the wainscot. My
eyes, following the ledge, perceived
threv brass bell-wires above It running
round the room, which struck me as
unusual in modem housea bell-wires
ar jrenerally concealed but 1 made no
remarks on my discovery. Mrs. Whee
ler then led me back to my own room,
and. after I had declined her civil offer
to unpack for me, left me.
I found my new home quite endur
able, though very dull and monotonous.
My aunt was a great reader, and I also
loved books. One of my duties was to
read to ber, and, as she selected good
works and discussed them cleverly af
terwards, my task was a pleasant one.
-I grew quite fond of Aunt Helen, al
though I could not shut my eyes to the
fact that, she was parsimonious. Every
detail of housekeeping was most care
fully looked into by her, and our table
was of the plainest kind. A joint
eaten re-dressed in many ways till it
was limshed the simplest and cheapest
of puddings, stale bread (home-made
however), and weak home-brewed table
Uvr constituted our daily diet. But
there was enough to eat, and my healthy
young appet te was satisfied by plain
rival. My aunt seemed pleased that I
was happy and contented, and did her
best to amuse me by relating old sto
ries and the gossip of Iter early life,
when she bad mixed in the woild and
kuowu uiauy distinguished (eople of an
earlier day.
Mrs. Wheeler also was very attentive
and civi. to me; but somehow I never
could either like or trust her. She was
a very white looking woman of about
sixty, with veiy gray hair and eyebrows
and faded blue, luitive eyes, which
never looked steadily at one. Aunt
Helen told me that her housekeeper
had had ajrreat sorrow, which had pre
maturely silvered her hair and given
her complexion its singulai ly gray tinge.
Her only son had been wild and wicked
had been the companion of poachers,
and in a midnight fray bad killed a
keeper, for which, having been taken,
and tried, he was sentenced to some
years of penal servitude. His mother,
who doted ou him, had never recovered
the shame and sorrow of bis trial. For
this, of course, I pitied her; but the
manner in which siie encouraged my
aunt's foible of saving and the servile
ll ittery she offered her dLsgusted me.
Siie tried flattery on me at llrst, but
without success I was too well aware
of my own lack of beauty to accept her
rt cognition of my charms.
I had been two mouths nearly at
IViarhunt, and January cold, sleepy
damp and dreary was upon us. But
I generally managed to get a run out
into the park before dinner. Without
the fresh air thus obtained, I could
seareelv have endured the close room
which mv aunt never changed, and In
which I passed the whole of the other
part of the dav. But one morning
when about to dress for my walk to
week-day service, I found that a boot
lace of my only pair of walkuitr-boots
ivas broken. . Ou seeking foranotber, J
i oind that I had not one left, audi
ran down to Mrs. Wheeler to ask her
if flie could lend me one,
Althougli nominally a housekeeper
she had uo room of her own "it saved
a lire," she said, "to live in tne Kitch
en; " and thither 1 proceeded, ihe
door was shut; 1 opened it, and was
about to proffer my request, when she
advanced rapidly, stood exactly in front
of me. so as to prevent mv entering and
isked in a nervous, irritable manner
what I wanted. I told her; and she at
once as -u red me that she had no laces.
but that she had no doubt Mrs. Keith
could give me one; and then she nearly
shut the door in mv face. She had not
however prevented me from seeing the
figure of a man sitting in the chimney
corner, who for one instant had turned
a very evil looking face in the direc
tion. I was rather surprised at her having
a visitor, as I had often heard her de
clare to my aunt that she would never
admit one; and I ascribed her manifest
agitation to my detecting her in the act
of receiving "a followtr," as she would
have said. However, I hastened to
beg a lace of Mrs Keiti, who smilingly
assured me that she bad long since
ceased to wear lace boots or to tossess
laces. I could not therefore go out.
She advised me as a substitute for out-of-doors
exercise, to run over the old
house.
"It Is of great size," she said, "and
will take many steps to traverse, and it
may amuse you to explore the many
nooKJ and corners, though I cannot
promise you the excitement of a ghost
or a mystery to discover. It is a com
monplace old rambling house."
Pleased at the idea of exploring, 1
set off at once, taking a turning she
had described, lower down the gallery,
and finding a perfect nest of chambers
on that floor. They were all furnished
but the furniture was dusty, damp,
mouldy and falling into decay. A flight
of stairs at the end of these rooms temp
ted me to ascend higher. The upper
story was still more ramblin and ful
ler of passages, steps, nooks, and cor
ners than the one below; and I began
to think that 1 might lose myself in
such a labyrinth, and that I had batter
return, when on owning a dor and
stepping into another of these deserted
chambers. I tripped over something,
and, looking down, perceived a rough
strong pair of men's boots just tinder
my feet. I was greatly astonished,
especially when, on glancing round the
room, I perceived the signs of recent
occupation. The bed had been slept in
and was not yet made, and the grate
contained the embers of a Are. Who
could have slept here and been indulged
in a fire, a luxury which even Mrs
Keitb did not allow herself? The
Wheelers and the general servant slept
in the wing over the offices. Who
could Iks dwelling here unknown to
Aunt Helen?
Whilst I still stood wondering, I
heard heavy steps approaching; and,
not liking to be found where 1 was, I
darted forward, opened another door
which I hoped led from the room and
found myself in a large low closet
with a small window in it. 1 had shut
the door alter me before I perceived to
what the egress led, and I was about to
open it and go out again, when I heard
a man's footsteps in the chamber, and
thought it better to remain where I
was. A harsh voice said
"The iral will have all the money
nnw. nu mav be sure, mother,
There
,.!t h in,r than a DilfxT flfty-pound
legacy tor vou and father and she with
all them untold, heaped upnchesl l ou
think of what I've said, and how jolly
we should be across the 'herring-pond.
"Don't talk of it no more, Will," re
plied the voice of Mrs. Wheeler. it
ain't to be thought of. The old lady
has always been good and kind to me.
I would not have a hair of her
injured."
"v ho wants to hurt her?" was the
gruff rejoinder. "Only I say it's a
sname tor that gal to cut you out of
your life's eamlrgs for that's what it
is aiKlUt."
"Well, we'll see," said the woman
I thought with reluctance and hesita
tion In her tone "we'll see! Now
take what things you want, and go; and
uou i come back till to-morrow night.
nor yet before ten then. You might
have been seen by Miss Corbould to
day if I hadn't had ray wits about me."
"1 believe she did see me. aud that
Mrs. Keith will be told that I am here "
was the reply. "If you do as I advise,
we have no time to lose."
"he didn't see you, or she'd have
asked who you were she did so once
when she saw the gardener In the kitch
en; aud I don't think she'd make any
mischief if she did. She's not a bad
sort, as you say, WilL"
He muttered something that sounded
like a curse.
"Come," she added, "take what you
left aud let us go. I must see you safe
out of the house before Mrs. Keith
rings for her breakfast and it is iast
her usual time now."
"Where's the gal gone?" he asked.
"To church; so we are safe from her
But make haste."
A drawer was opened, and after a
minute or two I heard them leave the
room and shut the door. I trembled
lest I should hear a key turn In the lock
but, happily for me, it had long been
lost. As soon as a profound silence
made me feel secure, I came out of my
biding place, and flew along tbe pass
age till I found the stairs, which I de
scended in great haste, only breathing
freely when I was in my own room
again. Then I sat down to think .
There could 1 e no doubt that Mrs.
Whevler's son had either escaped or ob
tained a ticket of leave, and was actu
ally in the house nay, had slept in the
deserted rooms. And wha was the
advice he had given his mother? Surely
to rob my aunt or kill mel Ttius I un
derstood his words. I resolved instan
tly to start for church; the services
would be over and probably before I
reached it, but I should see Mr. Den
ham, the clergyman, aud could tell him
what I had heard, and ask him what to
do.
I reached the church just as the con
gregation was coming out, and found
to my dismay, that Mr. Denhani was
from home, and thatthecleruyman who
had officiated for him had just driven
off, on his return' to his own parish. I
was terribly vexed. I went to the par
sonage however, and, on seeing the
Hector's old ftervant, I asked her if she
could let me write a line there, to her
master, as I had a message for him.
She consented civilly, gave me paper.
pen, and Ink, and, while I hastily wrote
my story to Mr. Denham, dried my wet
boots for me by her tire.
Before I left, I asked her if the al
arum at tbe park were rung, could the
villagers hear it. She replied, "Yes,"
she believed It had been heard many
years ago. But why did 1 ask Ire
plied that I was afraid of burglars, and
wished to know if help could be ob
tained.
Having her promise to give the note
to Mr. Denham ou bis return which
would be the next morning, she told
me I again set out on a hurried walk
home, but arrived there so late that
Mrs. Keith had become alarmed, and a
little cross at her delayed dinner.
Wheeler was with her, looking, I
thought a little anxious.
"Sj you went to church after all
said my aunt, when I had apologized
and explained that I bad been detained
at the Rectory while my boots dried.
"You bad much better have amused
yourself by exploring the old house or
walking up and down the corridor."
"Oh, but I wanted also to get so i e
boot-laces in the village," I replied,
"which I have done, or I should have
been kept in again to-morrow! On
some rainy day I can get Mrs. Wheeler
to show me the house." As I spoke, I
perceived the anxious expression pass
from Mrs. Wheeler's face.
"Wheeler u ill. you will be sorry to
hear," said my aunt, accounting for
her housekeeper's waiting ou us. "Mrs.
Wheeler tells me he had a sort of fit
last night. I want her to send for the
doctor, but she thinks he is better and
only needs rest."
Dinner over, I took a seat near my
aunt, and, lirst conjuring her not to
tell any one what I was about to com
municate and not to be alarmed, I re
lated my adventure of the morning.
Slie listened with amazement and ap
prehension. "He can mean nothing but wicked
ness!" she exclaimed as 1 paused. 4 He
is one of the most unscrupulous villains
I have ever heard of. To think of his
beiug free again and taking shelter here!
We might as well or better have a
loose tiger in the house. Jane Wheeler
is an idiot to be so infatuated with that
vile son of hers. She is and always will
be a mere instrument in his hands,
though I really believe she is attached
to me.
"And her husband?" I asked.
"He is a poor feeble old man. What
could he do without firearms? And we
have none in the house. No; our only
chance of safety lies in Mr. Denham's
coming to-morrow morning, as I have
no doubt he will," replied my auut.who
showed no signs of fear after the first
alarm had passed over. "The convict
will not be here to-nignt, you sayr"
Xo: Mrs. Wheeler sanl d-stinctly
tomorrow night at ten.' But, auntie
dear, does your bed-room door fasten
securely?"
"Yes; I have a strong night bolt. I
never lock my door because of the con
tingency of fire. Your door is also se
cured by a bolt, ai well as by lock and
key."
"And the ciot wan your piau?, wuicu
is in your room?"
"It shuts with a spring, ana can uo
opened by pressure on a certain flower
in the woou-carving or uie uoui, mo
secret of which is known only to my
self." . .
You are sure Mrs. W heeler nas not
seen you open it?"
Sue paused ana mougui a momemu
"I believe not she said at length;
"but I cannot be sure. 1 may have
opened it before her, when I wished
the plate to oe ia&en oui uu umu,
years ago; for 1 have trusted her entire
ly. But how came you to know that I
had a closet there at all?"
"She told me or it tne aay i amveu
and Dointed out the spot. By-the-bye
Aunt iieien, i mma. uj
hide behind your tapestry.
, , I . I. ...... ia
one might
It is nailed
space for
on a leuife,
nniixhincr hfllind it."
1. 1 w. ..-f, ,
"For you perhaps," sue ausweieu.
-it h amile. "but for notning larger
than a tiny creature like yourself."
The next morning aawneu auu buuw-
ed the earth covered with a mantle of
snow, which was still falling heavily
I was dism ued at the sight. What if
it sho .Id prevent. Mr. Denham from
coming to us in a.iswer to my note? I
watched the sky all breakfast time, and
wheu I had finished my coffee hastened
to Aunt Helen's room to tell her the
bad news. She was not mucn impress
ed by it. Snow in the !s.uth, she said
was not the obstruction, that it gener
ally was in the orth
"My dear," f lie added, "I have rung
luree times tor heeler, and she is uot.
come; w ill you go and Si whit is the
matter? I am at raid her husband may
be worse."
I hastened to obey her, but met Mrs.
heeler at the top of the stairs, com
lug, she said, to see why her lady had
not, wrung lor her.
I explained that the bell had been
rung three tunes, at which she seemed
much surprised, and, hastening into
my aunt's room, told bee also that no
bell had Sounded. Aunt Helen desired
her to go down and listen while she
rang again, that they might ascertain
whether the bell was broken, or if she
had merely not heard it. She obeyed
and Aunt Helen pulled vigorously the
bell rope which hung at her bedside,
rreseutly Mrs. Wheeler re-appeared
ana announced that n j bell had soun
ded. Mrs. Keith looked annoyed, but
ordered her to send immediately to the
village for the bell-hanger -ind have the
wi e repaired. "The gardener can go
lor liim," she added.
Under the circumstances this ordi
nary accident gave us a very disagree
able Impression, esecially as, soon af
ter my aunt had entered the drawing
room, I saw the gardener employed in
quiet lv sweeping a path in the snow
Aunt Helen aked Mrs. Wheelersharp
ly, when she came to remove the break
fast things, why h had not been sent
for the bell-hanger? But the woman
though looking, 1 thought, confused
replied that she hail asked the butcher.
who chanced .to be at the house, to
send him, as Jones the gardener was
wanted to sweep awav the snow.
By noon Mrs. Keith and I began anx
iously to expect the arrival of Mr. Den
ham, and I did little else but watch
fro u the window across tbe dreary
waste of snow for his desired appear-
auce Fatima's sister scarcely looked
more eagerly but he did not come.
aud two o'clock dinner was served in
the profound gloom of a snow-storm,
Wheeler however announced that the
liell-hanger ha 1 arrived and was re
pairing tlie bells.
Lottie," said my aunt rather un
easily after dinner, "the bell-hanger is
a respectable man, 1 remember. It
would be well perhaps to keep him for
the night. His presence would be a
protection, lio into my room, dear,
bring a book off my table for an excuse.
aud tell him for me, that, as the
weather is so bad, I wish him to remain
to supper, and that Mrs. Wheeler will
air him a bed."
I hastened to take the message, and
found the workman just descending
his ladder, ins work being completed.
"And ;f you please to ring, miss,"
he said, "you will find the bells all
right"
I rang, and the bell was immediately
answered by Mrs. Wheeler, to whom
instead of the man, I gave Mrs. Keith's
message. Her brow clouded at It, but
the workman was excessively grateful.
and thanked me and Mrs. Keith effu
sively. I thought, as he spoke, I had
nevr seen a more cunning type of face.
and I told my aunt so when I rejoined
her. She smiled.
"Prejudice!" she said. Ben Tlill was
always a very honest, hard-working
fellow; your fears beguile your eyes,
Lottie."
But I felt verv uncomfortably im
pressed bv the bell-hanger's looks, and
returningTo the bed-room he bad just
quitted, I looked all through It, behind
the arras and under bed; sofa, and toi
let table. Then, glancing up at his
work. I was surprised to see four wires
where only three had been before. Had
he hung another bell? Was there any
trick in the matter? I returned to my
aunt and told her of my discovery.
"Four wires! He must have hung
another bell," she said, "or perhaps he
has repaired the alarum. Hill is an
honest fellow, and if he has any sus
picions of the Wheelers, has probably
acted from a good intention. Take no
notice of the extra wire, dear."
"But where is the alarum rope, aun
tie?" I asked.
"Behind the tapestry at the head of
my bed." she replied.
Twilight was now closing in, obscur
ing the remains or the very little day
light we had had, and a high and bit
ter wind walled through the old trees,
as if uttering a lament. 1 shuddered
at the sound,
"Mr. Denham cannot have received
my note, or he would have come," I
exclaimed despairingly.
My child," said Aunt Helen, "we
are not sure that we are in any danger.
It is mere suspicion. W heeler may
be faithful after all, aud may not per
mit her villauious son to carry out his
plots Remember, too, we are in the
hands of Heaven, to whose care I de
votedly commend you and myself," she
added reverently.
My aunt went to bed with a head
ache, and had her potion given to her,
which she managed lo pour unperceiv-
ed int the bed. Wheeler was quite un
suspicious, and lingered with her mis
tress, arranging her curtains etc , as
If unwilling to siy good night, oid af
fection and fidelity probably contend
ing against a powerful evil influence.
She went at last, and, as soon as the
house was still, I hurried Aunt Helen
into my room, aud then returned to
arrange her own. I tucked in the cur
tains exactly as they had been when
u heeler left her, and then prepared for
my watch. How was I to see through
the thick tapestry if any one tried the
door?
1 had, and I have still, in my posses
sion a large green fan formerly utd
by ladies in place of the then unknown
p rasol, to shield the lace rrom tne son.
I had been greatly amused by hnding
that the upper and centre parts of it
were perforated by large pin-holes, not
perceptible till the fan was held up to
the light, but enabling its possessor to
see all round her when her f.ice was
apparently covered by her fan. This
suggested to me that 1 could pierce the
tapestry in the same way with the stil
leto used in embroidery. I hast-nrd
to get mine from my work-box, and
pierced two eye-let holes carefully just
where if they showed at all they
would apar like embroidered black
spots. Then, arranging the night-light
to suit my purpose, 1 let the night-b It
tall, and ensconced myself behind the
;irr.is, just as the great clock struck
e'evea. a little bio soon periiap-", lor the
quarter, half-hour, and three-quarters
struck, and all was profoundly still.
I was very weary of standing so long
and had begun to think of sitting In th
room till 1 heard sounds, outside, when
just as twelve struck and I was looking
drearily through my eyelet-holes, I saw
to my amazen ent, the night bolt slow
ly rise or itself and the door open.
There had not been a sound. IJ there
had, I should have pulled the alarum.
Happily 1 was so astonished that, in
stead of doing so at once, I watched the
d Hr in silent awe. There entered
Will Wheeler, his mother, aud the bell
hanger. Th elirst Will made a step
towards the bid, but, with warning
gesture, his mother drew him back.
She believed that under the influence
of the opiate the old lady slept. And
1, when 1 perceived that robbery only
was iutended, judged it prudent to re
move my hand from the alarum-roe.
I was really startled however, when
the bell-hanger, at a sign from Mrs.
Wheeler, taking hold of the tape.try
close to me, threw it back over a chair
and displayed the door with a richly
carved bordering round it. I held my
breath and gazed eagerly.
"Mrs. Wheeler pressed a knob in a
bo nch of roses, and suddenly the door
fell back and actually struck my left
shoulder. Will and the bell-hanger in
stantly disappeared, and Mrs, Wheeler
followed them. They had gone into
the closet! .
In an instant I remembered the spring
and with the swiftness of the thought
itself I threw my whole strength on the
door and pushed it to. It shut wh a
clung, the spring closing at once: and I
heard a wild scream from Mrs. Wheeler
and the cry, "Great Heaven, we can
never get out!" in the housekeeper's
voice.
The robliers were trappedl Greatly
excited, I seized the rope of the alarum
a'td pulled it. It cams down upon my
bead, covering me with dust. It had
been partially cut through, and a touch
severed it. Bnt one single stroke nev
ertheless was given by my frenzied
strength on the great bell one awful
boom sounded on the night air.
" Then I rushed from my hiding-place
aud from' the room, locked the door
outside, and went to Annt Helen, who
was sitting up in bed, pale and tremb
ling. She had heard the one stroke on
the alarum and thought I had been
murdered ere I could sound it again.
She clasped me in her arms, weeping.
and murmured thanksgivings when sho
heard what I had done.
"They cannot get out, my love." she
said; "it is impossible."
I left her after a while, and returned
to the drawing-room, in order to see
if any one would answer that one stoke
on the alarum. A foolish hope it seem
ed; yet. wrapped in a large shawl, I sat
at the open window and looked eagerly
down the avenue. At length a sound
struck on my ear the gallop of horses;
aud soon after I saw two riders,diiliui:t-
lv ueflnw against the snow, ap; r nich
ing the hall door. I leaned out and
cried "Who corae3?" and uttered a glad
cry when Mr. Deuhain's voice answer
ed.
Fran down and, with eager tremb
ling lingers, unfastened the hall door
aril admitted him. He gntHped both
my extended hands and exclaimed
"Thank Heaven that you are safe!
Oh, Lottie, I have had a terrible shock!
by did the alarum stop?"
The rope was cut and fell upon my
head, "I said, laughing hysterically;
and then I led him up-stairs and told
him all that had happened, his man
holding his horse at the door.
I felt quite abashed, he praised my
courage and presence of mind so much;
aud 1 learned then aud there for the
first time that Cecil Denham loved me
He explained that the snow had delay ed
bis return, the road having to be clear
ed, bnt he had arrived in the course of
the evening; his housekeeper however
forgot to give him my note till just as
he was going to bed. As soon as lie
bad read it, he gave orders for his horse,
to l saddled, aud for his man to ac
company him. They had ridden off at
once, and had roused the villagers and
bidden some of the men and the police
men to follow them; then they hunied
on. Mr. Denham had been greatly al
armed at bearing that one sullen boom
of the alarum. He feared that further
ringing had been stopped by violence.
hen we hail thus mutually explain
ed matters, Mr. Denham thought he
had better see if the robbers hail any
accomplices in the house, and lade me
go and announce bis arrival to Aunt
Helen. Meantime he and his servant
searched the house.
By the time the s arch was conclud
ed, the rural police an 1 some men from
the village arrived; but it was thought
best, as the convicts were kuown to be
despsrate characters, to keep them m
the safe custody of the spring till daylight-
Ben Ilill.the bell-hanger, was amongst
our friends who came to help, and was
very indignant at finding he hail been
personated. The policemen informed
us that Will W heeler was out on ticket
of leave, and th it the bell-hanger was
out on ticket of leave, and that the bell
hanger was probably a "pal" of his,aud
had come down from London for the
job.
When day had fully dawned, the
police assisted by Mrs. Keith, opened
the closet door, and a terrible spectacle
preseuted itself. Mrs. Wheeler and the
two men lay on the floor in a heap, un
conscious. Then first we understood
why their shouts and cries had ceased.
There was no ventilation in the closet.
and they had consumed the air. They
were removed at once; but tne old wo
man was past mortal aid she was dead.
The men were restored by the wise
means used under Mr. Denham's dire
tlous, and by the time medical aid cai..e
had recovered consciousness. They
were taken away to gaol. Will Whee
ler afterwards confessed that he hail in
duced his mother to consent to the rob
bery of Mrs. Keith's hoards, on condi
tion that no harm should be done to the
old lady though, if any alarm had
been given, that promise would not
have been kept,
I am now the Rector's wife, and my
aunt's declared heiress, on condition
that we shall live with her at Boarhunt,
My husband has consented, as his poor
people are within a walk. The old
house has been renovated and refur
nished, and the bright happy faces of
my motner and her children now the
welcome guests of Aunt Helen make
it as genial and comfortable a home as
it was a dreary one.
Aunt Helen has hail the alarum-rone
mended, but she keeps up the fourth
wire rendered useless however as a
memorial of what she calls her dear
Lottie's heroism.
The city of Mexico has 10 daily
papers.
-Myriads ot Toung grasshoppers are
reported coming out of the sandy soil
on the south side of the Arkansas ri
ver, above Puebhv Col, devouring
vegetables and tende sbruba.
right with I4STll Flab.
The following extract from "The
Toilers of the Sea." bv Victor Huoti
shows the rare descriptive powers of the
. . . .
author recently dead
Such was the creature in whose pow
er (rilliatt had fallen for some minutes.
The monster was the inhabitant of
the grotto the terrible genii of the
place. A kind of sombre demon of the
water.
All the splendors of the caveru exist
ed tor it alone.
On the day of the previous mouth
wheu Gilliatt had lirst penetrated into
the grotto, the dark outline, vaguely
Ierceived by him in the ripples of the
secret waters, was this monster. It was
here in its heme.
When, entering for the second time
int the cavern in pursuit of the crab,
he had observed the crevice in which he
suposed that the crab had taken ref
uge, the jiicein're was there ly inifiii wait
for prey.
Is it possible to imagine that secret
ambush?
Xo bird would brood, no egg won id
burst to life, no flower would dare to
open, no bre.ist to give milk, no heart
to love, no spirit to soar, under the in
ane i ice of that apparition of evil watch
ing with sinister patience in the dusk.
Udliatt had thrust his arm deep into
the opening; the monster had snapped
at it. It held him fast, as the spider
holds the fly.
lie was iu the water up to bis belt;
his naked leet cluthing the slipiery
roundness of the huge stones at the
bottom; his right arm bound and ren
dered iwwerlesa by the flat coils of the
long tentacles of the creature, and bis
body almost hidden under the folds and
cross folds of this horrible bandage.
Of the eight arms of the devil-nsh,
three adhered to the rock, wmle five en
circled illiatt. In this way. clinging
to the granite on the one hand, and on
the other to his human prey, it enchain
ed him to the rock. Two hundred and
fifty suckers were upon him, tormentinz
him with agony and loathing. He was
grasKd by gigsntic hands, the fingers
of which were each nearly a yard long.
and furnished inside with living blisteis
eating into the flesh.
As we have said, it is impossible to
tear one's self from the folds of the
devil fish. The attempt only ends in a
hrmer grasp. 1 he monster clings with
more determined force. Its effort in
creases with that of Its victim; every
struggle produces a tightening of his
ligatures.
Gilliatt had but one resource his
knife.
His left hand only was free, but the
reader knows with what power be could
use it. It might have been said that he
had two right hands.
His open knife was in his baud.
The antenna of the devil fish cannot
be cut ; it is a leathery substance, im
osible to divide with the knife; .it
slips under the edge; its position in
attack also is such, that to cut it would
be to wound the victim's own flesh.
The creature is formidable, but there
is a way of resisting it. The fisherman
of Sark know this, as does any one who
has seen them execute certain abrupt
movements in the sea. The porpoise
know it also; they have a way of biting
the cuttle-fish which decapitates it.
Hence the frequent sight on the sea of
pen fish, polyps and cuttlefish without
heads.
The cephaloptera. In fact, is only vul
nerable through the head,
(illiatt was not ignorant of this fact,
He had never seen a devil-fish of this
size. His hrst encounter was with one
of the larger s;ecles. Another would
have been powerless with terror.
ith the devil-hsh, as with a furious
bull, there is a certain moment in the
conflict which must be seized. It is the
instant when the bull lowers the neck;
it is the instant when the devil-fish ad
vance Its head. Ihe movement is
rapid. He who loses that moment is
destroyed.
The thiugs we have described occu
pied only a few moments. Gilliatt,
however, felt the increasing power of
its innumerable suckers.
The monster is cunning; it tres first
to stupefy its prey. It seized, and then
pauses awhile.
Gill'att grasped his knife; the sucking
increased,
He looked at the monster, which
Seemed to look at him.
Suddenly it loosened from the rock
its sixth antenna, aud, darting it at
him. seized him by tbe left arm.
At the same moment it advanced Its
head with a violent movement. In one
second more Its mouth would have fas
tened on his breast. Bleeding in the
sides, ar.d with his two arms entangled,
be would have been a dead man,
But Gilliatt was watchful. He avoid
ed tl e antenna, and at the moment
when the monster darted forward to
fasten on his breast, he struck it with the
kut e clenched in his left hand. There
were two convulsions in opposite direc
tions that of the devil-fish and that of
Its prey. The movement was rapid as a
double flash of lightning.
He had plunged the blade of his knife
into the flat slimy substance, and by a
rapid movement, like the flourish of a
whip in the air, describe a circle round
the two eyes, he wrenched the bead off
as a mail would draw a tooth.
The struggle was ended. The folds
relaxed. The monster dropped away,
like the slow detaching of hands. The
four hundred suckers desrived of their
sustaining power, dropped at once from
the man aud the rock. The mass sank
to the bottom of the water.
Breathless with the struggle. Gilliatt
zould perceive upon the stones at his
feet two shapeless, slimy heaps, the
bead on one side, the remainder of the
monster on the other.
Fearing, nevertheless, some convul
sive return of his agony, he recoiled to
avoid the reach of the dreaded tellta
les.
But the monster was quite dead.
Gill'att closed his knife.
Time tw Wear Olaaaea.
When persons Dud their eyes becom
ing dry and itching in reading, as well
as those who find it necessary to place
an object more than fourteen inches
from their face to read, they need spec
tacles. Sectacles sold by peddlers and
jewelers generally are hurtful to the
eyes of those who read much, as the
lenses are made or interior glass and
are not symmetrically ground. Unless
the lenses are mounted in a suitable
frame and properly placed before the
eye discomfort will arise from then- pro
longed use. 1 he proper lime u begin
wearing glasses is just as soon as the
eyes tire on being sunjeciea to pro
longed use.
Sandwiches are
a great staple in
A Castla Garden Romaaea,
Among the emigrants who arrived at
Castle Garden recently', was an old
woman, bent with age. She has lived
:ner lotted threescore year and ten and
. I . . ....1.1.... . 1 . L t
Ler feebleness made her an object of
universal pity. On the steamer she oc
cupied stifling quarters in the steerage,
but her companions were kicl to her,
aud the voyage was made as endurable
as possible She said that her name
was Janowski and that she came from
Cracow, Poland. She told an interpre
ter that, she had a daughter somewnere
In the States, near the Atlantic Ocean,
but where she did not know. The gov
ernment officials finally decided to send
hei back to Poland under the law
which prohibits the lan ling of emi
grants who are likely to become public
burdens. The old woman protested,
but in vain.
The day lor sailing arrived and she
was told that she must go on board of
the vessel. Age had niade her childish
and she sank upon the rude wooden
seals aud cried as if her heart would
break. An official gathered up her
bundle of clothing, when the shawl
which was wrapiied around it be
came loose and the clothing fell out.
An envelope, torn aud soiled, fell on
the floor, aud the official pickwl it up.
It bTre the postmark of Newark, N. J.,
-tnd was addressed to the old woman in
Cracow, Poland.
'Where did you get this?' asked the
interpreter of the old woman.
'My daughter Jennie sent that, she
replied sadly. 'She is my only child and
all that I have on earth.'
It was decided to take Mis. Jauowski
to Newark and endeavor to find her
danghter. A gentleman, who hail be
come interested in the old woman, vol
unteered to go with her, and soon after
they started. Arrived at Xewark in
quiries were made, and a Hebrew
woman was found who said that she
knew Jennie very welL
Vonie this way, I will show you,'she
said.
The trio proceeded np Canal street
until they came to a frame bouse In
front of which a crowd had assembled.
'Jennie is to be married today,' said
the guide; 4 the ceremony is just being
performed.'
The old woman forced her way
through the crowd iu the narrow entry.
In the neat but poorly-furnished room
the wedding guests had assembled.
The bride, attired in a dress of spotless
lawn, trimmed with fresh daisies, stood
beside the groom, a fine looking young
Hebrew, awaiting the words which
would make them one. A commotion
was heard in the hallway and, as the
door sea rated, tbe bride uttered a cry
ol 'Mother!' and the old woman rushed
into her arms. The scene between the
mother aud daughter was very affecting
and tears of joy were shed at the nuptial
feast.
How Tree rreent Malaria.
A fact recorded by an English officer,
who served many years in India, shows
that trees do prevent malaria. The
troops at a certain station in Bengnl
were so often attacked by sickness that
it was determined to remove them to a
more healthful locality. The officer was
ordered to select a suitable site for a
camp. As he was unable to find a
more healthy site in the neighborhood,
he thought that a rearrangement of the
Sepoys' barracks might secure their
health.
He had noticed that between the offi
cers' quarters and a large swamp there
were several large trees. He also ob-
served thiit fhera u im 4ieLn-4
among the officers or their servants ex-
cept in Uie case or the inmates of one
house, which being unprotected by the
foliage, was exposed to the wind that
blew over the swamp.
Some little distance from the parade
ground there was a belt of trees. To A large pigeon roost has been dis
the rear of this belt he removed the covered north of Shawano, Wisconsin.
Sepoys' hubs, so as to shelter iheui from One man killed '.m of the birds 'n on
the miasma or the swamp, ihe regi-
ment thus located remained free from
fever for several years. Then the trees
were cut down, and malani immedi
ately attacked the men.
The officer also records that at Prome,
Burmah, one company of soldiers were
free from malarial fever, whilst their
comrades suffered severely from its at
tacks. Investigation showed that the
healthy company was sheltered from
the miasma by a nicuud covered wita
trees, which interposed between their
barracks and the neighboring swamp.
The sick soldiers lived in barracks
which were unsheltered from the wind
when it bletf across the malarial swamp.
Running tor th Train.
More than one medical authority has
admonished people of the danger of
running to catch a train, especially for
those who are subject to heart disease,
one of the most common of ailments
in later days. The following may serve
to emphasize the warning : A few days
siuce a Tail way clerk aged 2J, was
found dead in a sitting posture in a
second class railway carriage when it
arrived at Woolwich. At the inquest
it was stated that deceased had been
suffering trom heart-disease for two or
three years, and it was supposed that
he had hurried to catch the train that
morning. The surgeon who had made
the post-mortem examination stated
that the heart was enlarged. Another
case of death from exertion tu a man
suffering from diseased heart has oc
curred. A single man at Brixton rail
way station, while pulling on the levers
suddenly fell backwards, and on the ar
rival of a surgeon was pronounced to
be dead. The widow stated at the in
quest that the deceased had been treat
ed for an affection of the heart for i
mmp limn In t.hi.4 raw thprA niipfl ;
not seem to have been a post-mortem
examination. Yet another death from ,
exertion has occurred. A young lady,
aged 1G years, expired suddenly in a
gymnasium after performing a feat
of skill. According to the medical evi
dence she was suffering from valvular
disease of the heart. How often has the
hurry to catch a train, or some other
sudden exertions, throwing extra work
on a dilated, fatty or otherwise diseased
heart, resulted in fatal syncope. It Is
our duty to warn such patients of the
risk they will run if they allow any con
sideration of business or convenience
to tempt them to a single rash act of
this kind.
Tna fraHlilyi-ta flower.
President Cleveland's favorite
flower is ths American daisy, and he
has given the several pots containing
i . , . . , ..,.. . . , . , .
handsome specimens of them In a high ,
state of cultivation the place of hone r
in the White House conservatories,
On either side of them are grouped I
some sieciniens of the English daisies, '
but as the latter do not grow to be
hair Qa fi,. rm, .,.to.
by being in such close proximity.
NEWS IX BRIEF.
In Icndon the clergymen pray for
the editors.
The population of Russia is about
Robert Browuiug.the English poet,
is 73 years old.
Milk is selling at ' cents a quart
in Tampa, Fla.
Washington has ISO churches with
49 .'."! members.
Ordinary bones are worth as much
per ton as pig iron.
lagoda panu-ols are seen on the
streets again this spring.
In Patagonia they tine a mau tw
goats for killing his wife.
There are about 10.1HH) one-legged
men in the United States.
Pool selling at horse races has been
made illegal iu Tennessee.
It is reported that there will be only
a half crop of peanuts this year.
Philadelphia extremists have begun
a war.on all Sunday amusements.
Fifteen persons have been hanged
at the national capital since 1S0O.
The entire coast line of the globe, so
far as known, is about HO.oJl miles.
Tbe first fire the town ever had oc
curred in De Iceland, Florida, the other
day.
Twenty-live years complete the
round of a well-cared for canary's ca
reer. Xew Orleans was founded by a
company of i rench adventurers in
li4.
Counterfeit silver dollars are in ex
tensive circulation iu Sharon, Pennsyl
vania.
A hospital for the insane, to tost
$200,1)00. is to be erected near Sail
Jose, Cal.
Paris, according to current letters
from that usually gay city, is unusually
dull just now.
Xo less thau4.."C0 relatives of Eng
lish titled families are quartered ou the)
public service.
The sign of Libby prison is iu the
possession of Edward J. Bartlett, of
Concord, M.us.
Queen Victoria is said to have,
mounted in silver, the ball that killed
Admiral Nelson.
Xew York's ocean steamships have
taken Ul.'3'.l passengers to Europe siuce
the 1st of May last.
An American Philistine has built
himself a house on the topmost peak of
biblical Mount Carmel.
A marl pit, which abounds iu pet
rified remains of animals, has been dis
covered near Cuthbert, Ga.
Minnie Hank has signed a contract
for a season or :2 concerts in the Suth
ern States, it is announced.
A malady, which is proving re
maikably fatal has broken out uuionz
the horses in Mooretown, X. J.
Advi'-es from .Calcutta report that
the tea and indigo districts in India are
suffering severely from droHght.
Mrs. Burnett, the daughter of Jas.
Russell Lowell, will preside over his
home after his n turn to America.
A Dakota scientist thinks that iu
time the steady w inds of the prairies
will be used for driving machinery.
Statistics show that in M.t sachu
setts pneumonia has, since 1S37, grown
almost twice as fast as the population.
The colored people of Tallahassee,
Pla., recently decorated the graves of
luc -"IUU wiuieis uuneu m mat cuy
An engagement ring that had been
b)st for a number of years, was recently
found in the mill pond at Barjaintowu,
X. J.
dav
The bible Is the touch-stone of a
gentleman. A man may conceal hut
vulgarity everywhere but at the dinner
table.
The Lackawanna Company's arte
sian well, near Wilkesbarre, Pa., has
1 een bored 1,100 feet without striking
water.
The army worm has appeared in
force in several localities iu Gallatin
I rotlntv III anil Is at wnrL- umin fli.
j , ., - - ..j-..
W heat.
A bachelor cairenter of Bingham
ton, X'. Y., has utilized some of his
spare moments by making himself a
colli n.
It is reported that a good vein of
coral has been discovered in the banks
of the Aucilla river, Florid.!, near the
natural bridge.
The hotels and lodging houses of
Xew York, it is estimated accomodate)
daily in the neighborhood of 15.0U0
transient guests.
Chicago is given as one of "the
States In which Air. Irving's success
was greatest,'' iu a list enumerated iu
a London paper.
The exploding of dynamite in
streams as a means of catching fish has
been begun in Waddiugton, X. Y., so
a Utica paper says.
A tanned bull's hide, addressed to
a Brooklyn woman, was received at the
post-office in that city recently. It cama
by mail from Dakota.
The preparation and sale of testi
mony to secure admission of Chinese
coolies is said to have become a thriving
industry in San Francisco.
The removal of one family from
Bridgewater, Mass., to Brockton, in
the same State, caused the closing of
a district school in the former place.
aose or lBK administered to
a lady in Monroe, Ga., in mistake for
I medicine that had been procured for
j colic, but the ink cured her all the
' same.
The remains of what Is supposed to
. have been a huge mastodon were laid
bare recently by the caving of the bank
of Putah creek, Yolo county, Califor
nia. j Dirt town is the not altogether
; euphonious name of a Georgia village,
i the citizens of which have petitioned
i the Postmaster General for a new
' name.
Philadelphia is to have a street car
with a patent spring motor. The in
ventor says that after the spring U
wound up it will propel the car eight
1 miles.
I In Lyons, X. Y., recently a man
was semeuceu no prison ior leu years,
Md u, 8tmnougll inUictmenti
ieft to keep him there over a century
longer.
One cent has been subscribed to
the Bartholdi pedestal fund by a Xew
Haven, Conn,, man, who says it is the
last copper he has and the last he ever
was sentenced to prison for
expects to see.