The Argosy — page 96: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

One Christmas Eve. SI ELL Ir was evening; the ringers were practising in the _belfry-tower. The .chimes with all their changes floated on in perfect rhythm through the frosty air, right away across the Severn to the Berkeley shore. Kitty was alone in the parlour, for the rest of the party had gone to assist in decorating the Church for Christmas Day. Old Dinah kept guard in the kitchen, as Kitty, only too happy to be alone for awhile, crouched in a corner of the large chimney-piece, reading for the first time the story of “* Enid.” The red curtains were drawn, the lamp not lighted, for the flaming firelight was the height of luxury to Kitty. The wild, wintry blast furiously swept round the old house, rattled the shutters and entered at every unguarded crack or cranny. Presently Kitty looked up, the story was finished and she shed a few tears over its happy ending. ‘Then she began to wonder a little at the persistent rattling of one of the window-shutters. It seemed as if someone was striving to break it open. Kitty started to her feet and watched. It must have been her fancy, she thought, for the shutters were perfectly still. Only the blast of the wind could be heard as it approached through the orchard trees. “T wish I was not such a coward,” said Kitty, whose teeth were chattering. She opened the door to call Dinah, when suddenly she heard shrill screams from the kitchen ; rough voices swearing at the old woman, and then in the silence that followed, steps came tramping along the passage. Kitty knew she must be seen in another moment. “Robbers!” she instantly thought. ‘‘ They know everyone is at church, and have come for Ned’s cash-box. Oh! Dr. Driver told him he’d be robbed some time.” Quickly she sped across the hall, up the wide staircase to Ned’s room where she knew the cash-box was hidden. Ned had received his quarterly rents the day before; but, heavy as it was, Kitty crept softly with the box towards the back stairs which opened into the barn-yard. She paused at the head of the stairs to listen. The heavy footsteps of three men were heard, the parlour-door was thrown open, and loud voices swore at the darkness of the room. Feeling the house unprotected, they were careless about the noise they made. Kitty heard the men poking the fire, and calling to one another to light the lamps in order the quicker to finish their business. She crept softly down the stairs, feeling her way in the darkness, and terribly afraid she might come upon some ruffian ere she could find the door. She meant to find her way to the village and send back help. She thrust aside her fears for old Dinah’s life, which would have paralysed her with horror, and creeping across the yard, fled CoOnnicloookKks im