Washington telegraph., 1849-02-07
THE MIDNIGHT ASSASSIN.
A TRur sronY.

nings ia the first fall month, when my
horse stopped suddenly before II respect.
able house abou. four miles from N.
There was something strange and re
markahle in this action oi my hofse nor
would he move step IN spite Of all my
exerIions 10 move him on.
determined to crafty this whim, aud
at the same time a strange pfesenliment
which came over me, kild Of snperna.
tural feeling understandable, scented to urge
ING 10 enter. Having knocked aud re.
quesled to be t0ndncied to the lady or
gentleman Of the house, was usherel
INTO a neat sitting room, where sata beau.
lilul girl OF about twenty years OF age
She rose at my entrance. and seemed
little surprised at the appearance oi per.
feet stranger
In few words related 10 her the
strange conduct Of my hofse, aud his stub.
born opposition 10 my mind. am not,
observed. sdpefsllions nor inclined
on the side Of the metaphysical doctrines
Of those who support them bnl the
strange, nnaccounlable feeling TINT erepi
over me inallcmriing to pass yoaf house.
induced me 10 solicit lodgings iot The
night -
We are not, she replied. 4" weil guard.
ed. lis true but in this part Of the couu.
try We have little to fear from robbauss,
Tor we have never heard Of any aear u.
We are surrounded by good nei ghbofs, aud
flaIIef myself We are AT peace with
them But TIA, evening, IN consequence
Of my fathers absence. felt unusually
lonesome, aud If It were mol bordering on
the supefsiitious. might reason a. you
have. and say | consent u Your staying
i3f similar feelings had hesnnne ere JON
arrived, from what cause cannot ina.
gine.'
The evening passed delightfully."- away
my young hostess was Intelligent aud
lovely, the hours flew - quickly. that
On looking at my watch | wa, surprised
10 6ud that il was eleven o'clock. This
was the signal for retiring and by ~
o'clock, every nmate OF the house was
probably asleep save myself could not
.leep-slange visions Heated across my
brain. and lay twisting on my bed, 10
all the agony OF slecpless su'pense. The
clock struck onc-it, last vibrating sound
had scarcely died away, when the open.
ing bi rhutfoa aud ,iiJ rii,mg %. slsh
IA one ol the lowrrapadmculs, convinced
me some one was entering lhc house. 4
noise followed a. OF a person jumping from
the window sil 10 the iloor, aud then ioi.
lowed the light and almost nolselc,s step
OF one ascending the stairway.
| slept IA the room adjoining the one
occupied by the lady mine va, next TO
ihc staircase; the step came ulong the
gallery, slow aud cautious. had seized
my pistol and slipped on part Of my
clothes, determined To watch or listen 10
the movements. seemingly mysterious or
suspicious; the sound OF the steps stopped
ui my door--,heu followed uue a, II up.
plying the ear to the kcyhoe, and low
breathing convinced nc the VILLAIN was
listening, stood moliouless, the pistol
firmly gpsped. Not q muscle moved,
not nerve Wa. .iackcncd, Tor fell as il
heaven had selected me oul Il, the mstru.
menl to elccl it. purpose.
The person now slowly passed on, aud
| cautiously approached the door oi nay
bed chamber
now wen, by instinct, OF rather by
the conveyance ol sound iogNs room ~
heard his haui grasp the lalch ni one
door mine seized on lhe olhcr-a deep
silence followed his movement il seem,
ed rs II he heard lhc sound. aud waited
the repetition 1t came uot-all was still
he might have considered /, lhc echo OF
his own noise. heard the door open
soltly-l also opened mine. aud the very
moment lslcPped into the entry caught
a glimpse OF tall man entering the
lighted chamber Of the young lady
Iso,iy stepped along The entry, aud
approached the chamber; through the
half opened door glanced my eye. into
the room. No obIori was visible save
the cnrlained bed. within whose shpets
lay the intended victim to midnight
ASSASSIN, and he, graciou, heaven "a
HcgrO'
For nj that moment q tall, fierce look
ing black approached the bed md never
were Oihcllo and Desdemoun more nalu.
rally represented ni least that particular
scene OF the immortal hards conception
was now all suspense my heart
swclled into my throat almost to suiIoca.
ton, my eyes to cracking as | made
bound into the room
The black villain had ruihlcssly dragged
part Of the covering oil the bed, when the
sound Of my foot caused him to turn. lie
started, aud thus confronted, we stood
gazing on each other few seconds his
eyes shot dro---lury was depicted in hls
countenance. Ile made a spring towards
me, and the next moment lay a corpse
floor.
III. ,..s.a Z a. u 4 T. g..