J. COLE. 53

“Hark! what was that?’*—a sudden thud,
as if something had fallen somewhere in the
house; then silence, except for the loud beat-
ing of my heart, that threatened to suffocate
me. ‘Nonsense,’ I said to myself, “I am
foolishly nervous to-night. It is nothing

2:

here, or Bogie would bark ; ” so I tried again
to sleep. Hush! Surely that was a footstep
going up or down the stairs! I could not
endure the agony of being alone any longer,
but would go to my sister’s room, just across
the landing, and get her to come and stay
the rest of the night with me. I put on my
slippers and dressing-gown, and opening my
door, came face to face with my sister, who
was coming to me.

“Let me come in,” she said, “and don’t
let us alarm the girls; but I feel certain some-
thing is going on down-stairs. Bogie barked
furiously an hour ago, and then was suddenly
silent.”

“ That must have been when I was asleep,”
T replied; “but no doubt Joe heard him, and
has taken him in.”

“That may be,’ said my sister, “but I