American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-21
From the Knickerbocker.l
A NIGHT OF TIE r r o r .
FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL.
IA fearful NIGHT


FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL.
"a fearful night
There is no stir, nor walking in the streets;
And the complex ion of the element
Is favored like the work we have in hand"
Shakespeare.
The rain poured in torrents from the dafken-
ed heavens, the thunder roared, the lightning
flashed, and it almost seemed as if the fate of
Gomorrah hung over the city, so fearful was
the strife, so endless the war of the angry Gle
ments The deluged streets were perfectly de-
serted; apparently, no human being dared to
venture forth The hour of midnight had al
ready sounded from the different clocks in the
town, and all animate nature seemed awed into
silence; when suddenly, by the occasional fash
es, a carriage was seen to dash through the
streets with rapidity scarcely equaIled by the
lightning itself; it might have been the chariot
of some Spirit of the Tempest flying from the
pursuit of a victorious enemy, so recklessly did
it rush through the thick darkness which en-
veloped all around.
:, E5It stopped before the door of SMALL obscure
ly situated house, when tall figure, closely
wrapped in cloak, sprang from the box where,
apparent regardless of all risk, he had sat en-
acting the part of coachman; and pulling the
bell with violence which threatened its des-
truction, he at length succeeded in rousing one
of the inmates of the dwelling.
So strangely timed visit probably excited
the apprehension of the individual thus impe-
ratively summoned; for instead of opening the
door, female was heard to demand from a
window above, the name and purpose of the
impatient visitor.
ain the name of all that is good, for the love
of heaven, and the fear of hell, come down
instantly, and do not stop to ask any more
questions, or you may have the life OF a fellow
Il ~ al,
ply.
The woman seemed less surprised than might
have been expected from the impetuous man
ner of the strange vsiter. She was evidently
one accustomed to witpess the agtated and
anxious sympathy they generally betray who
watch the agonizing throes of her whose APP
pointed task it u.s. through groans and suffer
ing, to bring into the world an accountable be-
ing. 1t was her business to usher into life these
little heirs of immortality; and she knew that
the Joys Of parents are often purchased by some
hours of anxiety to the one, and no slight need
of previous bodily sutferings to the other; she
therefore did not much wonder at the excited
manner of the individual who had called upon
her at such an unreasonable hour; but suppos-
ing it might be some case of peculiar urgency,
for which he thus hurried her to the exertion OF
her skill, she hastily provided herself, as she
which still ragged with undated fury, and ran
down stairs without farther questioning.
But what was her horror on descending, to
perceive that not only was his figure complete
" muffled in a cloak but that his face was en-
trely concealed by mask! She was about to
rush back up stairs, when he seized her with a
grasp which set all resistance al defiance, and
proceeded to bandage her eyes with his hand
kerchief. AS was to be expected, she struggled
violently and reiterated the question as to who
he was and what was his plea for such unwar-
rantable usage. He replied by drawing from
his cloak pistol, which instantly sienced the
frightened woman.
1.Be still, he said, land pledge you my
honor as gentleman that you shall receive no
injury; but give vent to one scream, call one
for assistance, and you shall never utter sound
again, until the last dead trump wakens the
dead! 1t is for the good of Others and not for
any harm to yourself, that call upon you to
submit to all that shall see fit to do. You are
wanted for one to whom your assistance is inn
periously necessary, and you must accompany
me, and do your duty without enquiry and
without remonstrance. repeat, any struggle
for assistance or escape will be fatal to you.
never threaten twice."
All this was said rapidly, and although with
dreadful energy and emphasis, in suppressed
tone of voice, the mysterious stranger having
closed the street door as soon as the female ad-
mitted him. He now again opened 1T, and
beckoned the footman who, masked like his
master, stood ready with his hand ON the car
rage door; the steps were instantly let down,
and the woman, rejecting that not only might
any objection on her part occasion instant death,
but that it might also deprive fellow creature
of the aid of which, from what had taken place,
must have been considered imperatively neces-
sary, she suffered herself to be thrust into the
carriage, the door was Immediately closed, and
altering the single word "Beware!" the dis
guised stranger again mounted the coach-box,
and uroing the horses to their utmost speed,
they wore soon flying through the storm with
the same mysterious swittness as before.
More than once was the woman tempted to
burst the door open, and by springlng into the
street, endeavor to make her escape; but the
risk of being arrested, and the benevolent anx-
iety already alluded to, withheld her, and in
almost breathess silence she kept her seat
Every precaution had been taken to prevent
tiher discovering the course of the vehicle, for
not trusting to the darkness of the night, the
blinds were so securely fastened that was i'm
possible for her to let them down for an instant,
and she could by no means catch glimpse OF
the street through which they passed. 1t
seemed evident to her, however, that instead
of pursuing direct course, the carriage went
more than once round the same square, and
backward and forward through the same street
at last it stopped suddenly; the door was i'm.
mediately opened she was almost dragged out