Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-11-20

1 fatigued, or from thoughts of meeting
! her husband next day, lay awake. A
couple Of hours might, have passed,
when she saw the door slowly opened,
and a, person enter holding a light
;shich he screened with his hand. She
Instantly recognised in him one Of the
young men she had seen below y
son 10 the landlord. He advanced
| with steaithy steps to the bedside of the
pedlar, and watched him for a few
| seconds. He then went out, and en-
| tered again with his brother and faith
er, who held in his hand large pew
ter basin. They went on tiptoe to the
bedside, where the pedIerIay in deep
sleep. One Of the young men drew a
knife, and while the father held the ba
! sin so as to receive the blood, he cut
the poor victim s throat from ear to ear.
A Sight half audible groan, and all
was still, save the cautious movements
Of the party engaged in the fatal deed.
They had brought in with them large
sack, into which they quickly thrust
the unresisting body. The poor wo-
man lay silently in her bed, fearing
that her turn would come next. She
heard low muttering among the men,
from which she soon gathered that
they were debating whether they should
murder her too, as they feared she
might have it IN her power to betray
them. One Ct them said he was sure
that she was fast asleep, and that there
was no occasion to trouble themselves
more: but to make sure Of this being
/ the case, one came TO her bedside with
the candle in his hand, and the other
with knife. She kept her eyes closed
as if in sleep, and had such complete
command over herself, as not to be-
tray III Der countenance any sign that
she was concious of what was going
on. The candle was passed close to
her eyes; the knife was drawn across
close 10 her throat; she never winked,
or showed BY any movement Of feature
or Of limb that she apprehended dan
ger. So the men whispered that she
was so soundly asleep that nothing was
to be feared from her; and went out
Of the room, removing the sack which
contained the body ofthe murdered man.
| How long must the night Of horror
have seemed 10 the poor lone woman
/; how frightful was its stiffness and its
darkness! The presence of mind
:, which had SO astonisingly enabled her
:. to act part to which she owed her
life, sustained her through the trying
scenes which she had yet to pass
She did not hurry from her room at
an unreasonable early hour, but wal
ted till she had heard all the family
astir for some time; she then went down,
and said she believed she had oversight
herself in consequence ofbeing greatly
| tired.
:. She asked where the pedler was,
; and was told that he was IN too great
hurry to wait for her, but that he had
left sixpence to pay Cor her breakfast.
She sat down composedy to that meal,
and forced herself to partake with APP
parent appetite of the food set before
her. She appeared uncencious of the
eyes which, with deep scrutiny, were
set before her. When the meal was
over, she took leave of the family and
! went on her way without the least APP
: pearance of discomposure or mistrust.
; She had proceeded but short way,
when she was joined by two strapping-
looking women; one look was sufficient
to convince her that they were young
men, land one thought to assure bertha,
she was yet in their power and on the
very verge ofdestruction. They walked
! by her side, entered into conversation
, asked her where she was going, and
e toldherthat theirroad lay the same way:
I they questioned her as where she had
a lodged the night before and made min
E ute inquiries about the family inhabi-
ting the house of entertainment. Her
! answers were quite unembarrassed,
1 andsaid the people of the house had
J appeared to be decent and civil,
G and had treated her very well.
! For two hours the young men continu-
7 ed by her side conversing with her.
b and watching withthe most scrusinizing
e chances any5changein her countenance
n and asked questions which, had she
e not been fully self-possessed, might
!, have put heroff her guard. 1t was
!, not till her dreaded companions had
S left her, and till she saw her husband
i coming aloDgt the road to meet her,
7 that she slost her self command which
: she had SO successfully exercised ant
e throwing herself into his arms, faa'tee
e away.