Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-04-28
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
] heard story somewhere Of mer-
chant who collected q party together,
TO give eclat 10 one of those little fam
lily festivals which brighten the dark
face Of life and cheer the human heart
in every elmo. II was his daughters
wedding day; crowds Of her young
acquaintance circled round her. and as
the father gszed proudly on the face
Of the young bride. he wished as
bright prospect might open for his
other children, who were gamboling
merrily among the crowd. Passing
through the passage connecting the
lower rooms, he met the servant maid,
an ignorant country wench. who was
carrying lighted tallow candle in her
hand without candlestick. He blam-
ed her for this dirty conduct, and went
into the kitchen to make some arrange
ments with his wife about the supper
table. The girl shortly returned with
her arms full Of ale bottles, but without
the candle. The merchant immediate
ly recollected that several barrels Of
gunpowder had been placed in his eel
lar during the day, and that his fore
man bad opened one Of the barrels to
select sample for customer. "Where
is your csndle," he inquired. in the
utmost agitation. 81 couldn't bring il
up With me. for my hands were full, f."
said the girl. Where did you leave
it," well. I'd no candlestick, 80 !
stuck itinto some black sand that's there
in one Of The tubs. THE merchant
dashed down the cellar steps: the pas.
sage was long and dark. and as he
CROPPED his way his knees threatened
TO give way under him. his breath va,
choked, and his flesh seemed sudden.
ly to become dry and parcbed. as il
he had already felt the suffoeatine
blast OF death. Al the extremity o.
the passage, in the front cellar. under
the very room where his children and
their friends were revealing in felicity
he discerned the open powder barrel
full almost 10 the toP-the candle
stuck lightly in the loose grains. with
a long and red snuff Of burnt-out wick
topping the small and gloomy flame
This sight seemed to wi,her ell bis
powers, and the merry laugh OF the
youngsters above struck upon his hear
like the knell Of death. lie stood foI
some moments gazing upon the light
unable to advance. The fiddler com.
meneed lively jig. and the feet o.
the dancers resounded with increased
vivacity; the floor shook with their ex-
I ertions, and the loose bottles in the eel
lar jingled with the motion. tie fan.
cied the candle moved--was falling
With desperate energy he dashed for
ward--but how was he 10 remove il }
The slightest touch would cause the
small live coal Of wick to fall into the
loose powder. With unusual presence
Of mind he placed band each side OF
the candle. with the open palms up
weird, aud the distended fingers point
ed toward the object Of bis care.
which. as bis hands gradually met, was
secured in the clasping or locking OF
bis fingers, and safely removed from
the head Of the barrel. When ne
reached the head Of the stairs the ex-
element was over: he smiled at he
danger he had conquered, but the re.
action vas too powerful, and he fell into
fits Of violent and dreadful laughter -
He was conveyed senseless 10 the bed.
and many weeks elapsed ere bis nerve,
recovered sufficient tone 10 allow him
- resume bis habits OF everyday life.
Tie Dssf and Dssmb.--Mr. Aeker-
man and Midle Wincklebam. both
muses, and pupils Of the able Sieard.
we're recently married Al LackeB. One
Of the persons present vas the csle.
brated mute, Mr.. Laurent Clero. foun-
der and director Of the Institution 81
Hartford, Connecticut. This last is
deprived also Of the sense o. smell a.
well a. hearing. bot imbued with e
passionate love for letters. rare iudg
menl, good taste, and pure heart. He
writes with elegance both in English
and in french. tie 10 married 10 .
deaf and dumb lady, and theyI still
reside we believe II Hartford. -
Lnek fer .lfTioa.-~A free eoloEsd
man, and vegy poor Fssidingin George
town. u. G. got prize often thousand
dollars. IN q wbols ticket. N The Me-
yland LoaieEy, drawn lest Moaday -
The money Was paid 70 him on Tues
Dag, by Ar. Isaac Nichols. who cold
lbe magic ticket. and we ere told. that
The African was - seTupplous in exact.
ing even dime Of his due, - u be bed
saTnsd every cent Of a N awiag