Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1889, Page 10

10 * THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21. 1889-SIXTEEN PAGES, Written for Tax Evexrxe Stan. (Copyrighted. } AN AWFUL CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENTURE. A Rewiniscouce of Early Washington. BY MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTE. ‘This is the man should do the bloody deed: The image of a wicked, heinous tault Lives im bis eye: that close aspect of bis mood of show of s much troubied breast. “shakespeare, “Tommy Sparks! you've lost the way!" ‘Ob, no i haven't, Aunt Drake!” “Isay you beve! This ain't the New Cat foad! It is the old turnpike where the peddler ‘was murdered!” “Ob, no! Aunt Drake! It’sso dusty you can’t see! But it’s all right! I know the road!” cried Cousin Tommy with a confident side long nod of bis curly red head. “I tell you it is all wrong! Don’t I know? ‘This is the old abandoned turnpike, and these are the very thick of the woods where Fice and bis gang prowl! And the night is going to be as dark as pitch! And here's # storm coming , now! I just felt » spit of suow in These were the words that roused me—Dolly Phippard, a girl of fiiteen—from a comfortable doze on ck seat of our old carry-all, as it slowiy drew up in the darkuess of a deep forest, and they frightened me half to death, for though old aunt spoke with more annoyance than anxiety, yet were her words slarming, to Say the jeast. Let me briefly explam. ‘This was in the primitive period of our Bational capital. when it consisted of a few dwelling be grouped around the principal public buildings: around the -xecutive mansion end the departments um the west, the Capitol on Capitol Hull, the navy yard in the cast, and the arsenal in the south, with wide wastes of marsh lands and scrub wood between each group. And when Pennsylvania avenue was as ill-kept as a country road, sparsely built up on either side with assorted houses of one-siory frame to three stories of brick; with narrow, unciean sifewalks and open gutters fringed with coarse grass and rank weeds. And at the junction of 7th street was large cluster of low, Open cattle sheds called the Marsh market. This avenue was muddy in wet weavber and dusty in dry. ‘ ‘The country aronnd Washington was not very thickly settled. The farms and plantations lay slong the banks of the river, or near them, and the interior was still occupied by vast tracts of forest. Nearly all the land traveling was done on horseback or in private carriages. All the Water travel was done by little swiling coasters. There was no organized police force. If there bad been Jim und bis band could not have existed aweek. They were a legacy of the war just closed. While the British forces under General Ross were passing through the lower counties of Maryland on their march upon Washington they were joined by a few fugitive slaves. who proved very useful to them im guiding their foraging parties to the best- filied meat houses,” poultry vards and gran- aries on the various plantations, and, by so do- jag, acquired @ passion for pillage and adventure. But when the British troops withdrew from Washington, they left the fugitives behind them. he latter were afraid to meet their masters, even if they had been willing to return to work, which they were not. They sought shelter in the depth» of Prince George's forest, where their nocturnal out- and sudden attacks and depredatious Upon lonely travelers or defenceless dwellings terror through the neighborhood. read There wore sald te be two or mere white men among them—deserters from the British army. and more atrocious Villains than the negroes themselves, pee ‘The leader of this band was one Jim Fice. Often calied “The Fice”—not at all the ideal Regro ruftian, for he was small, thin, black as Jet, and crafty, swift aud cruel as the tiger. Only a month before this night of our adven- ture the robbery and abuse of two poor girls, ‘weavers by trade, who lived together in a lonely house and who barely escaped with their lives, had thrilled the community with horror and tion. And within a fortnight the mur- der and robbery of a harmless peddler had the popular fury to fever heat. it would Bave fared badiy with The Fice and his feliow fiends if they had been caught. A quick prayer and a slow firewould have been their reward But the age of detective police organ- izations was yet to come. Few women would have had the pluck of our old Aunt Sukey—Mrs. Susannah Drake—or dared to have started in @ private conveyance on a forty miley drive through tha: demon- haunted district. But Aunt Sukey was a woman of indomitabie courage, and she looked it. She was the ideal Amazou—the tallest woman Lever saw—broad shouidered. deep chested aud mus- cular, without an ounce too much of flesh, erect as a flag staff and bearing her sixty years as if they had been but thirty. She was no more concerned about Jim Fice than she was about Dick Turpin. We lived at that time in a large red brick house surrounded by a luxurious garden that eccupied a whole city square, fronting on New Jersey avenue. Our household consisted of Aunt Sukey, Cousin Tommy Sparks aud myself, Dolly Phip- pard, and a tamily of negro servants. On the morning of the 23d of December, after a breakfast by candle light, we three en- tered our old carry-all with our strong old draught mare Kitty harnessed before and our old seilow ba: ered trunk strapped on behind, and started on our long journey down into St. Mary's county to spend the Christmas holidays at the old homestead, ‘-Greenwood,” then occupied by Aunt Sukey’s elder brother, Jack Greeuficld. The sun was rising just as we passed over the Eastern Branch bridze, and promised a glorious winter day. A six hours’ Dieasaut drive brought us to Horse Head, an old-fashioned tavern about eighteen miles from the city. It was now 11 o'clock and we stopped there to dine and to feed aud rest our mare. After two hours’ restand retreshment we pre- pared to resume our journey, ‘The landlord tried to persuade Aunt Sukey to “put up” there for the night, declaring that it was not safe for ladies to travel in that dis- trict with no better protection that we bad, especially in the evening. But our intrepid sunt was resolute. “Tommy Sparks has gots the blunderbus in the bottom of the carry-all, and we shall get to Spring Hill before dark and stay all night there. Besides, I am not afraid! I believe these stories about Fice and his doings ail ex- aggerated! They may murder a poor, friend- Jess peddier, or mualtreat two poor, helpless girls. and they'li be burnt at the stake for it Yet! but they'll never dare to interfere with as! Tommy Sparks, hurry up! Make the host- ler put the mare to the carry-all! It's clouding over, aud I should not wonder if we should bave snow!” said our warlike relative with the air of a ticld marshal issuing an order. Cousin Tommy obeyed. What else could he do? To argue the point with Aunt Sukey would have been as useless as to expostulate he gathering storm. tered our carry-all, Aunt Sukey and myself occupying the back seat, and Cousin Tommy perched om the front seat, with the eins in bis hauds, the vack of his curly red bead shining before us. “Keep to the New Cut road, Tommy Sparks, and drive faster, or we shall not get to Spring Hill in time, aud Molly will be sitting up for . “All right, Aunt Drake.” replied Cousin Tommy, with that sidelong nod of bis head that ‘Was peculiar to him. Spring Hull was a fine, breezy farm house on the top of an elevation, from which it was pamed, and it was the home.of enother rela- five. The road after leaving Horse Head akirted the edge of the forest. sorietimes pase- img under the shadow of leatiews trees and sometimes out upon the open. The light of the short winter's afternoon was fading fast. The sun sank behind a pile of clouds. Soon we could not clearly see the road. Aunt Sukey end myself were both tired We ceased to talk fo each other and lay back in our seats, I shink we both feil asleep and slept for some time. Iknow that Iwas dozing comfortably when I was suddenly roused by the voice of @ur aunt crying shar; “Tommy Sparks! ‘ve iost the way! “Whatis the matter, Aunt Sukey?” I faltered ae scon asl could collect my faculties, scat- tered by the fright, “What isthe matter? Why this blockhead hes taken the wrong fork and fetched us right into the thick of the forest and into a nest of yunaway niggers, for what I know!” angrily euswered Auat Sukey. “Ob! Lord Almighty, Aunt Drake!” nowcried poor Tommy in the depth of distress and ap- prehension. - “T'll never trust such s fool again even to trundle s wheelbarrow!” relentlessly exclaimed our sunt. a. “What do want me to do, Aunt Drake? Fil do earthing you tell me!” meekly replied Cousin Tommy. “Don't be adonkey! Turn right 0 back as fast as you can until you get to Fork and then ube the other road! idiots in this world!” “Aunt Sukey, I couldn’t turn here if it was to gave our lives! The road is that narrow the trees grow that close together!” Tommy, aimosterying. “Thea back the horee On, what # fool I was me right!” age” Beerves “But, Annt Sukey, Ihave driven the mare for you these five years past, ever since I was fourteen years old, and never drove you wrong but this once!” “No! and you couldn't murder me but once if you tried! Couid you?” “Oh, Lord! Aunt el” P ae tongue and back and turn the tI can’t, Aunt Drake. The road is nar- than this for miles farther back, and it’s up hill, too!” “Was there ever such an aggravating jack- 2 Weill, then, drive on. It's no usestopping here all night with the snow falling. Goon, I tell you! The road must lead to some place.” ‘Tommy tonched up the mare again and we went on slowly and more slowly, the road nar- rowing and narrowing until the branches of the trees on either side scraped against the leather curtains, Presently the carry-all stopped, the mare and Consin Tommy wailed,really wailed, forth in his distress: “We can't go a foot farther! Kitty’s got her head in the trees!” Aunt Sukey uttered an exclamation of anger and disgust and we both stooped forward to look, while Kitty backed « little and got ber head out of the thicket. It was dark as pitch. We could scarcely see the difference between the falling snow and the leafless trees, yet we erceived that we had driven into a sort of cul- le-sac, with # close barrier of iterlaced tree branches across the road stopping our way. The desperation of the case was that we could neither go forward nor turn back. “Here's @ pretty kettle of fish, Tommy Sparks! I dec! to man you are the bi sgest fool I ever saw in the whole course of my life!” exclaimed our distracted relative, “Deed, Aunt Drake, I couldn't help it! I didn’t know the road was grown up in this 1” pleaded the poor fellow. old your tongue and get out and push on shead. You can get through if the mare coulnd’t. And try if you can see any house or barn where we may get under cover. It will never do to stay out here to be snowed up and frozen to death.” : “Yes, Aunt Drake,” meekly replied the youth, ashe got off his seat. Stooping near the ground, pushing aside the branches of the tress, he slowiy made his way along the choked roudaud passed out of sight, while we sat shivering with the cold and brushing off the snow that had sifted in between the curtains of the carry-all and half covered our cloaks and | bonnets. It seemed a long time before our messenger was heard craunching over the frozen suow and breaking through the dry woods on his re- turn from his errand. “Aunt Drake,” he said, as he came up to the side of the carry-all, “I saw a light ‘way back in the thicket on the right side of the road, and it seemed to come from the window of a house, but there was no path.” “Then why didn’t you takea bee line toitand find out what it was?’ sharply demanded Mis- tress Drake, still angry and disposed to find fault. “I—I—I"— began Tommy, but she cut him short. “Help me out! Come along, Dolly! We'll 0 to this house and see if we can get shelter.” We got down in the snow, scrambled on pust the mare and through the obstructing trees, and made our way to a clearer part of the row road, and struggled on through the tracting aud blinding snow, fooking out for the light. A little farther on we cme in sight of it far off, faindy gleaming from the thicket on the right. “Come along! We'lltake a bee line straight for that beacon aid Aunt Sukey, valiantly. “But it might—it might’—— began Tommy Sparks, cautiously, “Might what, you simpleton?” demanded Mrs. Drake, “Might be Jim Fice’s hut!” gasped Tommy. “Fiddlesticks! Jim Fice’s hut, indeed! Jim Fice don’t live in a hut near any road, He hides tn a hole under the hills in the deep of the forest and he wouldn't be like to showa light. Come on,” sternly ordered our aunt, as sue turned sharply around and pushed into the thicket. Tommy followed, and I, in deadly doubt, brought up the rear. This intrepid aunt of ours was a terror only less than Fice himself. If any human being was likely to lead us to death through defiance of danger it was Mistress Susannah Drake. é After scrambling through the woods, tearing our clothes, stubbing our toes and scratching our ankles and hands, we came to a rough log cabin in the bush, The hut had a low door and a little window in front, a steep roof and at one end a great, clumsy chimney. The light which we had seen came through the window. Aunt Sukey knocked at the door. Then we waited, but nosound came from within. She Knocked again more loudly. But it was not until arter repeated knockings that we heard a sign of life from within. At last came a sound of a grumbling voice and shuffiing of feet and the door was opened. There stood a man holding a flaring tallow candie in brass caudie suck. 1 tnoaght he Was the most forbidding-looking being I had ever seen, He was tall, gaunt, with a thin, red face, a bald red head fringed around by ragged red hairat the nape of his neck anda ragged red beard on his chin. He was clothed in 4 coarse red flannel shirt and brown clowu trousers. He bliaked at us with bloodshot eyes, cautiously boiding the door but halt open, aad asked: “Who be you? What do you want here?” “We are travelers from the city, We have Jost our way and have been caagatiu this storm. and we want a nights lodgius. and we are willing to pay well for the accommodation,” Aunt sukey explaiaed, “Pay well for it,eh? Well, then, I reckon you'd betier come 1u outen tue storm,” he said, opening the door and making way for us to tuen closing it quickly, for the snow was We found ourselves in a large, low room. The walis were of thick logs with the bark on; the floor was mother earth, beaten hard and level; the ceiling was of rough plauks that had shrunk apart, leaving opeu liues between them; the fireplace was built of the rudest stone and without hearth or fender or andirons, A duil, smouldering fire of heavy chuuks threw a murky red glow over the place. the cor- uer to the right of the chimney stood a large, low-post bed covered wita w dark quilt, wudor which some one seemed to be sleeping. In the Opposite corner was a row of Woudeu sheives, furuished with crockery, tin and stone ware, and under the bottom shelf iron pots and ket- ties, and so fourth. At the other end of the room, in one corner, stood large spinning. wheel; in the other corner a machine that looked something lke @ bedstead, but more like the picture of a guillotine I once saw in an Uiustrated history of the French revolution. Is wasin reality an old-fashioned loom, Be- tween these corners stood « common ladder leaning against the wall und leading to a trap- door that evidently opened into the loft above. Arickety old rocking chair in the chimney corner, a pine table against the wall under the window, anda few three-legged stools com- pleted the furniture. “We left our horse and carry-all out in the road. We could not get them auy farther,” Aunt Sukey explained as soon as the old man turned around from closing the door. Couldn't, eb? Weil, { reckon not! Jis set down aud wait tell 1 wake up my ole ‘oman to "wend to you,and thea I'll go out with the Young youth there and look arter your creetur,” seid the old man ashe moved off toward the bed. Aunt Sukey deposited herself in the chair by the chimney corner, and I perched myself on a three-legged stool, while Cousin Tommy stood and leaned against the jambs of the door, wait- ing to show our host the way to the carry-all, while the man bimself was trying to rouse his wite from what seemed to be @ very deep . Toa see, she tuk a goodish dose of laudamy for the toothache, but i reckon I kin wake her, ‘and xs the tooth is easy she kin ‘tend to you,” he explained, as be renewed his efforts, “Pray, do not disturb her on any account, for we only need u night's lodging,” said our aunt. But the man had already succeeded in rous- ing the woman, who sat straight up in the bed, and, though still drowsy, needed but a few words to enable her to understand the situa- tion. a pinch of Scotch snuff and Ill git “Gimi right up,” she said. ihe man complied with her request, and after several resonant sneezes she rose, shook herself, and was ready to administer to our wants.’ As she had tumbled into bed with ail her clothes, she did not seem to black eyes, and was clothed in a dark skirt and a striped linsey sack. But I scarcely looked at her. My attention was taken up by the movements of the man. He was preparing to go out witn Tommy Sparks by putting on a heavy coat. Not much in that. No, but it was British soldier's coat, Too well I knew the uniform. And this ill-looking man —— be one of the very Fi until we hada glorious fire flaming up the | chimney, - Then she filled the kettle and hung | it ov a hook from the crane. Finally she drew | out the table, covered it with a clean crash cloth, set it with white crockery ware and placed upon it some cold corn-pone bread, a plate of batter and @ dish of cold bacon, saying deprecatingly: “Tm down right mortified as I hayn’tnothink better for you quality; but ‘deed I don’t feel that ekal to cook # hot supper!” hs t! and { feel almost much trouble,” said Aunt Sukey sympathetical “Oh, ; g woma bed agin. It was while she was making the tea when we heard the footsteps of the man and boy and the snorting and trampling of the mare as they came breaking through the brush. They passed on around to the rear of the house, where we heard them at work over the “ereetur.” When they came in the tea was ready to go on the table, Aud it may disgust you to hear whata hearty meal we three made of the coarse fare, but a twenty-mile drive over rug- ged roads on a keen winter's day anda fast of gain repeated the shill sleep like a top when I go to eight hours or more are better appetizers than any amount of bitters and sauces. So, in spite of hidden anxieties we cleared the plattera, “I reckon as how vou quality would like to go to bed now,” suggested the sleepy woman, Yawning and gaping until she showed all her bho or want of teeth, as we rose from the le. Aunt Sukey thanked her and said that we would, but looked around to see where our bed was to be found. “Come along o' me then,” said our hostess,as she took up the candle and led the way to the ladder and began to climb it slowly and care- fully, holding on to the sides. “Good night, Tommy Sparks! I forgive you! Inever let the sun go down on my wrath. (All Aunt Sukey’s wrath had risen after the sun had set, by the way.) Don’t forget to say our prayers, Tommy Sparks! And, mind you, 2 up early in the morning! Do you hear?” “Yes, Aunt Drake! Good-night!” Fortified by this assurance, Annt Sukey climbed slowly up the ladder. I, after bidding my cousin good-night, and wondering where be was to sleep, followed my leaders, Emerging from the trap-door, we found our- selves in a long, low loft, whose roof of rough plauks met vn a beam’ overhead sud sloped lown tothe eaves on either side, where the shrunken floor let through lines of fire hght from the room below. From the beam dangled ropes of ouions, dried appies, sweet herbs, and in their midsta smoked tongue and ham. At the farther end, against the chimney, where there was no firepiace, stood a low bedstead neatly made up aud covered with a bine yarn spread, Against the sloping roof on the front stood a large packing box turned upside down, and provided with a stone pitcher and a tin basin, which did duty as awashstand. There was uo other furniture of any description in the loft, “Now, I'll seo if there’s any water in the pitcher. No, there ain't. I'll go and fetch id the woman, as she set the candle on the wasistand and took the pitcher and went down the ladder. “Aunt!” [said ina little tremor, “I wonder where Cousin Tommy is going to sleep. “Idon’t kuow, I guess they will make hima pallet on the fioor down stairs,” she replied in- duferently, “I wish he could be nearer to us,” I mghed, for I was very uneasy, I searcely know why. “What for? He couidn’t be any protection to us even if wa wanted any, which we don’t.” ‘Tam not@o sure of that,” I sighed again. The return of our hostess stopped iurther talk. I went and met her at the trap-door and took the heavy pitcher from her hands, “Ar’ thar auythink else you want?” our hostess inquired in a tired voice. “No, thank you! But we should like to know where Mr. Sparks is going to sleep.” “You mean tie young man down stairs? Well, he’s gwine to sleep out in the shed ‘long o’,the creetur.” “But that is dreadful on such a night as this too!” exclaimed Aunt Sukey, joining the con- versation for the first tme, here's plenty of clean straw and thick blankets. Ido tue best I kin for you quality, ma’am, and I kin do no better, no ways, It’s bis doings!” And without waiting for further expostulation she began to go backward dowa tue ladder. with uer hand siretched up against bes trap-door which she let fall slowly after er. t and I looked at each other. Even stout- hearted Mistress Drake seemed suspicious and apprebens: And as for me, { shrunk in doubt and fear of (hat man at the first sight of his evii face and things that bad happeved in the house since our entrance had increased my a@atipathy, Now my dread of hum almost amounted to horror. “Aunt! what object can that old man have in sending Cousin Tommy out of the house to vleep?* I inquired, he Lord snows! Come, Dolly! $s prayers and get ready ior bed! {never Worn outin all my li! said my auut witha calinuexs that could not help thinking was assumed to reassure me, A few minutes atcer I had blown out the caudle aud crept into bed beside Aunt Sukey who Was the first to lie down, I foaud her fs aslvep, by her deep breathing, not to say mild Suoriug. Liknew then that 1’ must have been mistaken in having supposed her to be uncasy. And L wondered i: anytiung on east could frighten our Aunt Drake. dcould uot seep. L did noteven close my eyes. I lay staring at the strange, weird scene around me—the roagii floor witu the red fire- light coming up trom the room below and shining through the gaps betweeu the shranken planks aud striking uere and there upon the bauches of coppery ouious, red peppers and green or gray uerbs hanging from tue rough roof, ‘ne dried herbs were aromutic and filled the air of the loft with an agreeable odor. Presently another odor not altogether un- pleasaut mingled with it. Our bed stood im- mediately over the front of the fireplace below and with its head agaiust the chimney, Through the cracks of the door now came up the fumes of the good Maryland tobacco, By this | knew the old man was sitting by the fire smoking his | 5 ae int was vely still. I could hear the slightest sound below, as when the old man moved his feet, knocked the ashes out of his pipe or cleared wis throat, 1 thought the woman must have retired, but I was mistaken, for presently I heard the man growl forth: “Why ths devil don't you go to bed, Peggy? What are you sittin’ up and waitin’ fur? This ain't no work fur you, nc how! Go to bed!” “Oh, Luke, I couldn't compose myscit now, no how! I feelsort o’ roused up! Andlam thot oneasy ‘bout the boys! ‘They'li come to harm some nixht! Now mind, I tell you! No, 1 coulda’t go to sicep now!” answered the woman in a penetrating whisper. “Couldu’t, eh? Weil we'll see *bout that! muttered the mun, aa he got up and shuttled across the floor, made & rattling noise on the shelves and shuiiled back, muttering: “Here! drink this! This will put you to sleep sound enough, I bet you!” “Oh! aint it too much ‘arter what I have she murmured doubtinily, jo! That’s gone off! Drink this!” Apparently the woman obeyed, for I heard her slight sigh. muitied movements and the creak of the bed as she dropped wearily upon it, moaning and muttering something inaudi- ble about ““Phis here business,” Iheard the old mau sink upon his ch: ir, which also creaked, aud then all was dead lence for some minutes that seemed hours to me. What was the old villain waiting for? What heinous, murderous crime was he con- templating? Was he expecting his confeder- ates in crime? Jim Fice’s band of desperadoes? What did he mean to do with us? If it was only robbery! But it might be murder! Oh! how I wished we had stayed out in the carry-ail ou the road and braved the storm! We might only have caught cold, but now we are caught like poor rabbits in a trap! Ob! it was fate! It_was fate! And who can withstand fate? “Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad,” said the wise man. Surely we were mad to come under any circumstances to such @ place as this! A lonely but in the thick woods far from any tray- eled road! And with the air alive with rumors of robberies, murders and violence of the most atrocious description! Oh! what had become of Aunt Sukey's [eee and Cousin Tommy’s common seuse? Here was Aunt Suke: sleeping as soundly as if there was not a Fi band, or a murdered peddler, or a burned house heard of in the world! There was Tommy Sparks who had allowed himself to be sent out of the house to sleep in the shed with the horse, without a word of objection, and as if there were no women to protect! And where was the blunderbus? In the possession of that old demon below, no doubt! If 1 could only get to Tommy Sparks and wake him! But I felt that if I attempted to do so I should never et that old murderer alive! If I oul § to wake Aunt Sukey! But in I should make instance I felt —_ that if = ‘ht I to do? Ah! what indeed could I do? e up Aunt Drake and make a dash down ladder toward the door for dear life? Worse than useless, for that would only hasten our doom! We should be met at the foot of the ladder with a gunor an axe and be shot down or clovon down at once! There was nothing else to be done then except to wait, tremble and pray. And oh! did f not pray! Yes! as I nover prayed before in my life! Hark! What was that? My worst fears realized! The deep stillness broken by the sound of many footsteps craunch- | ing through the dry brush and frozeu snow, and approaching the hut. The time had come! My heart seemed to die within me. Before the new comers could reach the house, the old as- sassin rose slowly, shuffled over the floor snd opened the door. I held my breath to listen. My ears became as the ears of rabbits, My sense of hearing preternaturally acute as that of “Fine Ear” of the fairy tale, I heard the old criminal whisper in that peuetrating key which goes much farther than it is meant to go: bai sh-sh-! Don’t make a bit of noise!” “Wot's up now?” growled a deep voice as the crowd entered the roo “Hish-sh-sh-sh | Travelers from Washing- ton! Quality! Rich! Oh, I tell you!” “Who are they? Men or women? queried a third voice. “Hish-sh-sh-sh-! Ole ‘oman, young gal, \d_ boy!” !aph-hampht” -sh-sh! Now set right down and pull off them heavy boots ‘fore you come to the fire! Don’t want to ‘sturb ‘em.” I heard every word, every movement. I seemed to know everything that passed as if I had been in the room with them. The men dropped on the floor and drew off their boots, conversing in whispers, Presently a voice that had not spoken before inquired: “Where've you put 'em?” “Ole ‘oman and gal in the loft; young youth in the shed.” The crowd, having got rid of their boots, shuffled over the earthen floor and drew stoo! around the fireplace, where they seated them. selves. There was a slitht motion among them as of filling pipes, and tien clouds of tobacco smoke rose through tue cracked floor, in the midst of which the old cut-throat inquired: “Any luck tonight, Jim?” “Jimi!” My hair bristled up from my scalp! My skin turned to goose flesh? Marrow curdled! Biood froze! *Jim!!!” Then it was the terrible outlaw’s bund of murderers among whom we had fallen, helpless! But the evil council was going on below. A low, muttered ebulition of profanity escaped ‘The Fice in reply to the question. “*Tain't no use to curse and swar, Jim! Cussin’ and swarin’ never clothed the back nor filled the belly as ever I heerd tell!” said the old bandit, “Such infernal luck! The most cussed luck of the whole winter!” growled the outlaw with the fierceness of a wild beast balked of ite prey, ll, never mind, Jim! This here windfall will make up for it all! Ab! yes, they're awful rich, I reckon!” said the old wretch, ell to smoking #0 assiduously And then th a8 to suspend their conversation. Presently I heard the men muttering again, and the first distinct words I neard instantly sharpeued all my faculties to the keenest sense of terror in the vision of impending death! It Was the old head demon who was speaking. “No, Jim! No! You may be good enough out doors, but for a cute job like this you're too rough! I'll go and do it myselt, soon as ever I feel sure they're fast asleep, But it is jist as weil to be all ready for the job. Where's thet butcher's knife? Go look forit under the vheif, and that bit of grindstone, I must put a sharp edge onter it!” Don't ask me how I felt as [heard the stealthy steps cross the floor, and hands rummage among the iron ware, and then the return of the messenger and the old murderer's grunt of satisfaction as he took the stone and the knife and began to sharpen the biade. I had thought Thad suffered the last extremity of terror, hor- ror! But when 1 heard the sharpening of that blade meant for cutting our throats! 1 learned that the passion of fear, the capacity of anguish had iutiuite poss. bilities! Ou aud on it went, back and forth witha rasping sound that I “seemed to feel upon my flesh! Sometimes he would submit the blade to one of his companions to feel ir it was sharp enough, and then recommence the sharpening, ab! how tuat sound grated through nerves and heart and brain! I lay there, no longer listen- iug. but, through extreme’ nervous tension, bearing and almost seeing all that passed be- low; but with a sickening, sinking, expiring feeling like death, “That'll do!” growled the old tiger, ceasing to rasp the knife, ster let me or Jim goand do it, ole man,” muticred oue of the outhiws, “No! Lil you. You'd raise too much noise. Don't want no 'sturbance; I'll go my own se! growled the wild beast, getting up and moving towards the trap-dvor, i was dying, I felt sure! Dying already! need to cut my throat! I heard, as if ina dre the cautious, shufiling feet of the fiend as he came to the foot of the ladder and began to clim» up slowly, panting, and stopping aud listeniag, S.cange brain of the human! In that deadly cataivpiic horror that bouud me some gieams of reason penetrated. The grim thought cae that it was best to lie still and die quietly, since there was no earthly help for us. Queer! I thoi t of the hangman's advice to his ent,” “if you'll be quiet, you'll not suffer! You'll not even kuow wnen you die!” All this passed through my expiring brain while the old demon was coming up the ladder. My eyes were wide open—staring. There came a rea glow of light. The trap-door was lifted. One gaunt red arm, bared to the elbow, ap- peared, holding it up. Then the bald red head, With the evil inflamed face, the maugy beard and the blood-shot eyes staring around as if half frightened at the crime he was avout to commit.” Lastly appeared the other arm, with its vony haud grasping in one clatch an iron candlestick with a lighted tailow dip and the baudle of a huge butcher's knife with its blade flashing keenly in the flame. ‘That picture will never leave me while I live. He caretuily laid back the trap-door, slowly came out, glared around the loft, set his candlestick on the floor, suif.ed his butcher’s knife more conveniently in his hand and then crept, crouching and pant- ing like some wiid beast, on toward the bed on which I lay dying—yes, dying—beside my aunt. That was the lastI saw. Human nature could bear no more, Idied and the ‘bitterness of death” was past. It is suid that “nature has her own anwathetics.” The timely swoon is one of them. In that deep syncope I died, to all intents and purposes, for the time being and lay dead to all that passed around me. * No . When at length I woke to life it was scarcely to consciousness. I did not know where I was, howl came there or scarcely who or what was. The past chaotic, tae present was blank, the future vague. Streams of pale silvery light glanced through the rifts in the rough guble end opposite my bed. Yes! I was lying on # bed, and some one was lying beside me. I was as weak as a new-born babe and almost as ignorant of my surroundings. I was ina rade loft with arough plank roof rising from the eaves und meeting at a long beam overhead that was decorated with bunches of dried roots and herbs that filled the air with an aromatic lor. The chord of association was there struck, and memory awakened. I was Dolly Phippard and this way Aunt Sukey Drake who was sieep- ing beside me, We were in that lonely hut in the woods where we had sought shelter from the snow storm only to fall into the lair of the most murderous gang that ever terrorized a neighborhood! We had been within an inch of having our throats cut when I fainted! What had happened after that? How had we been saved? What had become of Jim Fice and his gang of assassins? Had the constables and a posse been dogging them and tracked them to their lair, and fallen upon them just in time to save us? And was there no one left in the house but ourselves? ‘The place was very still! And very dark ex- cept for the moonbeams shining through the brokengable. No more red light came up through the cracks in the floor. Evidently the fire was out below. While wondering over the situation I heard movements in the room under us, but they only raised my curiosity, not my fears, Llistened. Perhaps it was the ibe But no; me rere were those of the ing, yawning and tumbling up of men from. the floor in front of the fireplace. ‘he muftled and confused sounds were followed by a gruff, sleepy voice muttering: “It's cleared off cold, as I knowed it would! Bill, pull on yourboots and go fetch » bucket of water from the spring, whileI make up the ‘Then I heard one go out, and another raking the chunks and coals tegether in the chimne: lace. While this was Raat day was dawning. ray ‘But what did all this mean? Hi fright been a mere nightmare dream? No! I was sure that I had not slept nor felt it possible to sleep for one instant that night, Before I could speculate heed another sound came inven io id couple were waking up on Yawning, grunt Tea meeting. Then I heard them get just as the man who went to the sprig water returned. And now all the souks Sel, as Prt | a te i i i Aunt Sukey. slept like a top. nothing to disturb you?” “No! Yes! That old man came up here to cut some of those provisions down and about half woke me. but I was so dead for sleep that I went off again before he got through.” she answered, as she got out of bed and began to = very quickly, for the loft was bitterly col Well!!! But it would take a whole line of exclamation points to express my amazement! Had I been an idiot after all? Had I allowed my imagination to deceive me? To distort everything I had seen and heard? I did not linger long over my toilet. Ican tell you! As soon as we were dressed we went down stairs, In the light of day and of reason how differ- erent all things looked from what they ap- peared on the night before! Thatrude but with its wails of mossy logs; its floor of beaten earth; its broad chimney place with the biggest wood fire I had ever seen in my life; its little clear window and its open door, showing the brizht morning sky and the snow-laden trees and snow-covered ground, @ picturesque, wild wood charm of its own, The room had been “fixed up for company,” too! The bed in one corner was covered with a nice clean patch-work quilt of red and white, The shelves in the opposite corner, with their vessels of copper and tin, shone as with silver and gold. The earthen floor was as clean as & steamer’s deck. In the midst of it stood the table covered with a clean crash cloth and adorned with white stone crockery ware. The breaktast was ready, boing kept hot ever the fire or on the earthen hearth before it. There was no one in the room but our host and hostess, both dressed up for company—he in a home-made suit of dark brown cloth and a clean white shirt, she in a nice dark blue calico gown, white apron, and white handkerchief pinued around her neck. What scurvy tricks had imagination, inspired by suspicion and terror, played me?” The old man’s face was deeply sunburned and his eyes were weak. But whe were the dark, wicked, sinister looks of last night? Our host and hostess greeted us cheerfully. “I hope as I didn’t ‘sturb you when I went up in the loft arter them things?” inquired the old man politely. “Well,” said truthful Aunt Sukey, reluct- “you did half wake me, buti went to again while you were cutting them down.” ‘Sorry,” said the old man, “but you see, marm, I had to go and get suthin down for the boys’ supper, let alone your own Mteakfast, but Idid try to be as quiet as I could. Come! Draw up,” he added, as his wife placed the last dish on the table, We sat down accordingly to an excellent breakfast of coffee, cream, hot rolls, buckwheat cakes, fresh butter, honey, fried ham and eggs. “Where is Mr. Sparks? I haven't xeeu him this morning!” anxiously inquired Aunt Sukey, “Which? Oh, you mean the young youth as come ‘long o' you? bless you! He were up bright and early this morning to ‘tend to the creetur. Andnow he’s gone ‘long o’ the boys to the blacksmith shop to get her rough shod for the slippery roads ‘for they harness of her up. They'll be along soon. Come, try tomake outa breakiast! Do! So sorry we haint got nuthin better for sich quality as you, but the boys hadu’t no luck last night, or ‘else you'd a had a coon or “possum or suthin o’fresh meat.” Aunt Sukey assured our host that the break- fast was most sutisfactory, but forbore to add that we would as soon have feasted on rate and mice as on raccoons or opossums. Tommy Sparks came in at this moment and explained tnt sir, Jim, Mr. Bill, Mr. Jack and Mr. Sam (Tommy was the soul of politeness) were busy out doors, but would be in after a while. “Therm’s my boys!” exclaimed the old man, laughing. “They are that shy of the lauies! Draw up, young gentleman,” Thus vidd y Sparks sat down to the table, and svon demolished ail tua was left on the board. Then ho wiped his mouth, rose aud said: Did you hear w, Aunt Drake, the mare is put to the carry-ali aud the trunk is strapped on behind, and all is ready, Mr, Jack and Mr, Sam heiped me to back the carry-ali down the thicket until we got to where we could turn it round. The road is good, too, The snow is frozen hard and there is no wind. We shall have a spank- ing drive to Spring Hill.” “Are we far from the New Cut road? Mr. 1 really don't kuow your name,” said Aunt >ukey, “Ed urds, marm! Luke Ed’ards! And you mus? a took the wrong turn at the fork, ‘bout three mile up the road from where we found Your curry-ali, [ii go ‘ioag o’ you and put you im the right road. i've got @ airrant up that way and bad us lief go as not.” “You are very kind, Mr, Edwards, and we thank you very much. Now let us have a set tlement,” said Aunt Sukey, taking out ber pocket book, “What have we to pay you?” ‘The old man hesitated, rubbed his red crown until it was redder than ever, end said: “Why, marm, it goes to my heart to charge ladies! “Specially such ladies! It do, indeed! But you know you come in the dead o’ night aud made me rouse up my po’ ole ‘oman to git supper for you and she goue to bed with a dose 0’ laudaimy for her toothache.” “Lam very sorry,” began my aunt, “Oh! don't mention op it! It had to be done! And then I had to turn out in the snow storm to help the young youth to tote im the trunk and lead the creetur and ‘tend to her and rub her down and all.” “Iam very sorry you had so much trouble,” said aunt, “Oh, thar warnt no help for that! And then three on you had supper, let aloue the creetur what had a warm mash. And then you two jadios had the boys’ own loft, and that the on- liest room they had. And you ail had break- fast tuis morning and feeding o’ the creetur. And Jim, he’s the biacksiaith, rough shod the ereetur, and the —' “Never mind the items, Mr. Edwards!” im- | pauently exclaimed auut, naturally suspecting | our host of ‘piling up the agonies” im the ac- commodations we had received for the sake of raising the bill, We are greatly indebted to you, but pray let us know to what exte: He looked at her deprecatingly, rubbed his bead and said: “You see, it's because I have to charge ladies! Let me see. Well—now really—would you | think as how—well—say teu ‘leven penny bits was too mucu?” Aunt Sukey gasped! She thought that the man might reasonably charge $3. She had been prepared by his talk to hear him charge six, But ten ‘leven penny bits—81.25 of the oldcurrency! {t shamed her into generosity, “Tominy Sparks!” she cried sharply, Land- ing him her pocket book, “here, pay Mr, Ed- wards a 35 bill? Our entertainment was worth every doilar of it!” It was now old Edwards turn to gasp, “No! no! no.” he cried with feeble demur. But when Tommy Sparks forced the note upon him, he took it with a child’s frank, broad grin of dchght and turning to bis old wife said in triumph: “There! didn’t I tell the boys so? As how these ladies ‘ould make it up to them fer all their bad luck last night, eh? Iknowed the quality.” We took leave of our hostess and, accom- panied by the old man, left the hut and en- tered the thicket by a narrow path which had escaped our sight in the darkness of the pre- vious night, Ashort walk brought us to the road anda few hundred yards farther to our carry-all, When we reached it we found Kitty with her head in a nose-bag and a tall, stalwart, red haired, freckled-faced young man watching her, He immediately ducked his head anu left. “That’s Jim! Don’t mind him! Never did see a young feller so shy o’ ladies, marm,” gig- gled the old man. Aunt Sukey and myself were hoisted to our laces on the back seat, Tommy Sparks and Ete Edwards mounted on the front, and we started, : “Has anything been heard of Jim Fice and hie gang lately?” inquired our aunt of Mr. Edwards, “Lots, marm! But I won't scare you ladies by telling on um. Why, when you knocked at the door last night I thought as you war that doggoned Leesa euss! And I wouldn’t let on as I heerd you ‘till I peeped through the crack and saw it was ladies.” No more was aaid on the subject. We drove on for about haif an hour, when Lommy Sparks palled up the mare, and the old man got out onsWell, ladies! Here we are at the fork. And if youever travel this way again I shill be moughty proud for you to stop ‘long o’ ua Good bye, marm! Good bye, miss! Good bye, — And, having shaken bands all around, left. ‘Cousin Tommy started the took a mare, sharp farn at the point of the fork and’ got into the New Cut road, along w we spun merrily. We reached ine Hill in time to dine with our friends journey in the and arrived at Green’ our homestead, wi aro! tea table and LOST CHRISTMAS PARCELS. When You Send Them by Mail Observe These Trifling Precautions, “If people realized Low often Christmas packages go astray,” said Assistant Postmaster Sherwood toa Stam reporter yesterday, “they would take more care in sending them by mail. don't think thatI am making an overesti- mate when I surmise that something like 1,000 Parceis are held at this office every year on an average at this season instead of being dis- patched to their destinations, all on account of some carelessness or other. Whatsort of care- lessness? Why, mostly failure to put on suffi- cient postage. People’s notions regarding the Postal rates for packages are, as a rule, oxceed- ingly vague; it would be worth their while to get a list of government rates for transporting matter other than letters. One thing very dif- ficult to teach also is the rnle relating to the Writing that is permitted to go on the outside of bundles posted as merchandise,” oe —— doin the case nig! cand age that is held for @ to get it to - tended recipient?” P°™*E® 6 “We writeat once to the person addressed and say that a package for thet person lies in the Washin, Post office awaiting the paymen | of postage Almost invariably we receive | reply inclosing the requisite amount | tamps and duly forward the parcel. If the | nder’s address is on the bundle we notify the Sender immediately. It very rarely happous that Christmas bundles remain finally ou our hands. But when they do ther are sent, asa | matter of course, to the dead letter office, and oo not claimed are eventually disposed of by fe.” “What is the rate of postage for Christmas pac! fs en?” they contain simply merchandise and no writing, one cent an ounce. They must be done up, however, so that they can opened readily, if desired, in the post office; if scaled up they require letter postage. Christmas | cards go at one cent for two ounces. Now, as | to writing on the outside the regulations are } very precise, and it would be well if every one understood them. In addition to the address, | the word ‘from’ with the name and address of | the sender is permissible; also the word | ‘merchandise’ or any other simple indication of the coutents of the package. Besides | the words ‘to be called for,” or ‘per- sonal’ or any other request or direction as to delivery. forwarding or return, are allowed, Nothing beyond this will pass—particularly not anything intended to convey an idea to the per- aon addressed; the notion is, of course, that the | writing on the outside of the bundle is exeln- sively intended for the information of the post | office department, and not to carry any intelli- gence to the addressed. Under the last admin- j istration, by the way, it was held that the sender's name and address could not be put on without subjecting the parcel to letter rate but the rule is otherwise now. I would like to caution peo- ple addressing postal matter to this city to always write ‘Washington, D, C.’ If they simply put on ‘Washington,’ the letter or pack. age i8 very apt to go out to the state of Wash ington, some distance out of the way, We ex- | pect a good deal of trouble from this mistake | how that the state has been admitted to the Union. Persous here often write ‘New York Ave.’ 8o carelessly that their ietters go to New York city, while other letters adiressed indis- ee the Navy Yard go likewise to New ork, ——_»—____ HOME MATTERS, SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS TO PRACTICAL HOUSE KEEPERS—TESTED RECIPES WORTH CUTTING OUT AND KSEPING—CUSHIONS AND LoUNGES— DAINTIES FOR THE FIVE O'CLOCK TEAS. Brionrry Buass with a cut lemon. PowprneD Aumonia is cousidered excellent for cleaning silver, Turxt 1s xo Economy in cheap soap, Get the best, whea half the quantity will be needed, Burter ts Tastep by any strong smelling odor. Therefore it should be kept by itself, Have Corree Puvverizep. A third less will be required and the quality much improved. To Creaxse Kxir axp Crocurr AnticLes rab in & pan of four until clean and shuke thor- oughly. City Peorue Cax Manz “Covytay Savsace” by taking six pounds of lean pork—tenderloins are best—four pounds of chine, fat, four ounces of salt. two of pepper and the same of mixed sweet herbs, savory, sage, thyme and marjoram, For tae Haxps.—Mutton suet, well rubbed in at night, drawing on a pair of white cotto: gloves to sleep in and washed off the next | morning with a few drops of ammonia in the | Water, is better than glycerine and rose water, both of which are, in result, too drying for some hands, Farrp Ecos Wirr Prcxes.—Put enough but- ter, drippings or ham fat into a hot frying pan | to cover the bottom; break in as many eggs as | it will bold; dust them with pepper aud galt; | have ready a pickle chopped very fine; put ttas | into the pan as the eggs come out of it for one minute; sprinile over the eggs in their dish. Curxese GLoss Stance is made of two table- spoons of borax dissqlved in one and one-half | cups of cold water. Dip the thoroughly dry unstarched cuffs, collars and bosoms of shirts in this, then roll them up tight and let them remain a few hours in a dry cloth, then rub off and iron, Carnors with Conay.—Scrape and cut Young carrots in four lengthwise; stew until tender, | To a gill of the water in which they were stewed add a gill of milk and an ounce ot batter rubbed with half a tablespoonful of flour, a little salt and a teaspoonful of eurry wder, Let this simmer in « saucepan until it thickens; slide in the carrots, cover for a few moments and serve hot, Sorr Gixcerereap.—One and a half cupfals of molasses, one-half cupful of sugar, one and @ half cupfuls of sour cream, one-half cupful of sour milk, one-half teaspoonful of salt, two teaspoonful of soda, one teaspponful each of ginger and cinnamon, flour to miuke a not very stiff batter. Bake in sheets in a moderate oven, Svean Jcmpnes.—Two eggs, two cupfuls of sugar, one and a half cupfuls of sour cream, one anda half teaspoonfuls of soda, one tea- spoonful of cream tartar sifted with the flour,a little salt, two teaspoonfuls of lemon, flour to make a dough that can be handled. Roll not too thin, cut in strips or squares, in hearts, rounds or any preferred shape, spriukle thickly with sugur, and bake in a brisk oven. A Remepy rox Dirataerta.—That malignant enemy of children—the diphtheria—is again prevalent in various localities, Dr. Field.a celebrated physician of England, when the disease raged in that country, several years ago, Was very successful in treating it by the application of a simpleremedy. He used noth- ing but common flour of sulphur—a tea: ful mixed with the finger in a wineglasstul of water, given asagargle. In ten minutes the — was out of danger, and the doctor never lost @ case of the disease. In extreme cases, where a gargle was not practicable. dry sulphur was blown down the throat through a quill and was equally effective. For Cusnioxixa Soras ap Louxces.—The pretty fashion of interlacing cords like shoe lacings gives finish toeven the blue denims and jeans when outlined in white or red and with bobbins of matching colors. The appearance of two square pillows by these lac- ings. A puff of any contrasting or matching material you choose, say of satin when the cushions are velveteen covered is sewed down the middle and on each side is fastened a row of rings, covered with crocheted silk or cotton, through’ which the laces are drawn, making « good effect upon a sage green or , TOKe- brown or royal biue cushion, New “Five O’crock Tea” Cares. — Quite wonderful are the novelties in bonbons and slabs of fruity cake toset before one’s friends at 5 o'clock and quite as much in favor as ae IS rum) = ed with lemon juice; buttered brown read sand’ made with grated yolk av ww eww Pp yey ww wow —'0:—— THE EVENING STAR fs a PAPER OF TO-DAY, not of YESTERDAY nor of LAST WEEK. It prints ALL THE NEWS, Local, Domestic and Foreign, LONG IN ADVANCE OF THE MORN. ING PAPERS, This ts conspicuously true of all classes of news, but especially so in regard te Local News and District Affairs. THE STAR bas a very much LARGER and BETTER force of LOCAL RE- PORTERS and SPECIAL WRITERS than any other paper in Washington ever thought of employing, and ITS MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND PRINTING FACILITIES ARE MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS POWER- FUL AND RAPID AS THOSE OF ANY OTHER WASHINGTON PAPER. Itis therefore able to print each day a full Feport of every transaction of pubiic ine Serest occurring in the District up te the very hour of going to press. By the free use of the OCEAN CABLES: for REGULAK AND SPECIAL Dis- PATCHES, and with the difterence of time in its tavor, it is also able to give its readers every afternoon the news of the WHOLE EA: LRN HhMISPHERE for the entire day, and up to 12 o’clock miduight, thus leaving literally nothing in the way of news trom Europe, Alay and Africa for the morning papers. Equally does THE STAR lead all its contemporaries inthe pub:ication of the NEWs OF OLR OWN COUNTRY. Receiving the regular dispatcbes of both News Associations; with alert and enterprising special telegraphic cor= respondects at ail important points; and with wires leading directly from its own office to the general network of telegraph system touching every city, town and hamlet tu the United States and Terri-~ tories, it is enabled to receive and print atonce a full report of every event of cousequence occurring during the day aaywhere between the Atiantic and Pas cific Oceans. ——0: @ NOTE THE RESULT: 29 —0: THE STAR HAS MORE THAN THRE MMES AS MANY REGULAR SUBSCRILERS and MO THAN FIVE TIMES AS MANY KEGULAR READERS AS ANY OTHER DAILY PAPER IN WASHINGTON. It is de- Uvered regularly by careful carriers at the HOMES OF THE PEOPLE, AFTER THE BUSTLE AND WORKY OF THE CAY ARE OVER, and it is thus read leisurely and thoroughly by EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. They know that it prints all the news, and has ouly the interests of the people of the District in view, with no partisan measures to advocate, and no private schemes to forward. They know it, in short, tobe THE PEOPLN’S PAPER, and fothingelse. Asan ADVERTISING MEDIUM it is, therefore, ABSO- LUTELY WITHOUT A RIVAL, It ts in fact worth more as a means of reach- ing the public THAN ALL THE OTHER DAILY PAPERS IN THE CITY TOGEIHER, Furthermore, in proportion to the re- turns ft gives its patrons, ITS ADVER- TISING RATES ARE THE CHEAPEST UN THE CITY. pid eins In conclusion, the public should bear in mind this one siguificant fact: THE STAK does not rely upon empty boasts to imprest the public. ITS CIRCULA- TION IS SWORN TO; its PRESS- ROOM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; and its BOOKS MAY BE INSPECTED by any one having an interest in their examination. These are CRUCIAL TESTS, which few papers invite, and which those that boast most are least wble to stand. © The esteem in which THE STAB is held by the reading and advertising public is conclusively shown by tif fige ures given below. In the first six months of each of the five years named the average daily cir- culation of the paper was: -+++---22,507 copies 24,382 “ -25,702 “ ..-27,068 « ciecahippeeite Equally significant is the showing im regard to the advertising patronage of the paper, which is the surest indication ofits acknowleded value as « medium