The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-02-13

b''hlHS. iit tdnNiaNN NltHfh WIN
asionlshmrnt aud admiration their
matehlcss guest. But bring desired
| by the old gentleman 10 leave them
alone while they sat at supper. she
withdrew The mind of the young
maiden appeared to be absorbed IN
der great anxiety for herself and pa
rcnt, To whom she mentioned her
fears. and enlarged on the apparent
danger Of their situation. aud the APP
pearanCe of the house. ".Pcrhaps.
Maria" said h., :" no one wouln
be- fool enough to attempi inidrs np-
on person PREPARED aud armc'l like
myself. and if they were so hardy NJ
In attempt il. what but certain pun
ishment would b their lot" +" leo,'
replied she, if W. were eNerpoNer-
ed. could our bodies rise up To ac-
casr lhc.murderers. Silence, girl,
he Interrupted, LET me hear no
more" Maria hid her face IN
her hnsoa with painful sensations,
for she knew her father loved her
Too well 10 sperk' 81 harshls unless
artuatrd BY some powerful motives.
To explain these she readily refer
red In her own feelings and indeed.
not without cause, Mere her conI'c-
lures. for the looks al the landlord.
his hurried speech, the studied eau
tion which he observed, Mere enough
IN produce suspleion III less sens,-
tive mind, than hers. Nor did the
appcarancr of the room IN which abe
was To pass the night dispel these
fears. The hare walls. the dark
closet. the soilcd aud torn tapestry
oil the bed. and the crazy door. op-
Grated only 10 confirm them. That
which her father occupied vas on the
other side of the building. adjacent
IL the apartment . the two officers.
All had retired when the clock slow
| " struck the hour oil twelve II was
one nj those old fashioned time PIE.
ces, made during the administration
oil the protector. its tones were SO
lemn aud awful, just like those at
whose peal The ghosts Of old were
wont IL rise from Their graves, aud
strike terror to the guilty heart.
The two officers. Maria aud her
father. heard it with peculiar emo.
ton. A cold sweat came on the
forehead OF the old gentleman, aud
his heart beat hard. The Creaking
OF thesign post and window shutters
on their rusty hinges. combined with
the wbistling of the wind through Tie
drcayed timbers Of the mansion,pro
duccd a shuddering throughout eve
~ frame. They were endea'oiinS
To sleep, notwithstanding all these
annnyanccs, when piercing shrirk
Vas beard through the i'm. qnlek iy
followed by the cries ot murder,
which operated sariously Oh lts dill
fcrrnt inmates. The landlord MAS
not i'm the house, bat his vile and
StfA AUS. WIN tonih HdNi ali'ihNh
asslstance. kept close nor dare to
stir. The distracted father, who
knew the voice too we'll, sprang TO
the door. bat it was fast. and VAS
loci ed outside. loo SIudpWs were
tried in >aln---thes were st arcd for
the purpose lie ran ra,ins mp and
down the room in total darkness.
calling ont for help. With az my
he heard the trampng of numerous
footsteps aud The cries of his daogh-
ter grew fainter, until they were lost
in the distance.
The only one WAC IN this scene
Of confusion performed any service,
Vas the dark Comprehend young
OiIicer.swho 10 souner heard thr
shrirhs Of the lovely Maria. than like
her father he sprang 10 the door. "
found himsclfin the same prrhica-
mcnt. has next resource WAS the lit
H. window. Wltlpu considering
the danger op difficulty of the at
tempt, he made one sprigg. b found
himself the next moment rather un-
comfortably fixed up 10 the neck in
II large hrush heap, which. as ifpla-
ccd there hy some overriding hand
10 preserve him. saved his llnbs or
neck from otherwise certain dIaloca-
ton.
Tie shock Of the fall almost stun
ned hin, however he soon recovered
50 as tt extrieate himself. But what
was to be done ! The robbers had
by this time got out Of hearing. and
even if he could oycrtake them, what