Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-22

THRILLING TALE-VHE MIDNIGHT
ASSASSIN.

was on my way to P, in the fall
,of 1S-;sit was towards The cold evenings
in the first fall month, when my horse
stopped suddenly before respectable
house, about four miles from N.
There was something strange and re-
markable in the action of my horse, nor
would he move step in spite of all my
'exertions to move him on.
| determined to crafty this whim, and
at the same time a strange presentiment
which came over me, kind Of supernatu-
'ral feeling Undesirable, seemed to urge
me to enter. Having knocked, and re-
quested to be conducted to the lady or
gentleman of the house, / was ushered in
to neat sitting room, where sat beauti-
ful girl Of about twenty years of age. She
rose at my entrance, and seemed little sur
prised at the appearance ola stranger.
In few words related to her the strange
position TO my mind.
II am not" observed, "superstitious,
nor inclined on the side ofthe metaphysical
doctrines of those who support them; but
the strange unaccodntable feeling that
crep, over me in attempting to pass your
house, induced me to solicit lodgings for
the night
We are not" she replied, ''well guard
ed, it's true but in this part ofthe country
we have little to fear from robbers, for we
have never heard Of any being near US ;
we are surrounded by good neighbors, and
f1aiter myself we are at peace with them.
R,r <>t
fathers absence, | feel unusually lonesome
and if it were not bordering on the super
sti,ous, | might reason as you have, and
say, consent to your staying; for similar
feelings had been mine ere you arrived !;
from what cause cannot imagine
The evening passed delightfully."- away !;
my young hostess was intelligent and love-
ly; the hours flew so quick, that on look
ing at my watch | was surprised TO find
that it was eleven O clock. This was the
signal for retiring; and by twelve every in
mate of the house was asleep. save myself
could not sleep-strange visions hoated
turning on the bed in all the agony of
seepless suspense. The clock struck one );
its last vibrating sound had scarcely died
away, when the opening Of a shutter, aud
the raising OF a cash, in one of the lower
apartments, convinced me that some one
was entering the house. A noise followed
as OF person jumping from the window
sill to the floor and then followed the lgh,
and almost noiseless step Of one ascend.
ing the stairway.
l slept in the room adjoining the one
occupied by the lady; mine was next to
the staircase; the step came along the gal
lery slow and cautious. had seized my
pistol and slipped on part of my clothes
determined to watch or listen to the move
menis seemingly mysterious or suspicious;
the sound of the steps stopped at my door
then followed one as Of applying the
ear to the key hole, and low breathing
convinced me the william was listening. |
stood motionless, the pistol firmly grasp
ed. Not muscle moved, nor nerve was
slackened, for felt as if heaven had select.
ed me out as the instrument to affect
its purpose.
The person now slowly passed on, and
as cautiously approached the door Of my
bed chamber.
now went by instinct, or rather by the
conveyance of sound, for as soon as ]
heard his hand grasp the latch Of one door
mine seized on the olher-deep silence
followed this movement; it seemed as If
he heard the sound and awaited the repe-
,ition-.t came not--all was stll-.he might
have considered it the echo of his own
noise. l heard the door open soitIy-l
also opened mine, and the very moment |
stepped into the entry, caught the glimpse
ola tall man entering the lighted chamber
of the young lady.
l softly stepped along the entry, and
approached the chamber through the
haIGopen door glanced my eyes into the
room. No object was visible save the
curtained bed, within whose sheets lay the
intended victim to midnight assassin, and
gracious heaven a NEGRO! for at that mo-
ment tall fierce looking black man APP
preached the bed, and never were Othello
and Desdemona more naturally represent
ed at least that particular scene of the i'm
mortal bard's conception.
was now all suspense my heart SWELL
ed into my throat almost to sutlocatlon, my
eyes to cracking, as made bound into
the room.
The black villain had rnthless]y dragged
part of the covering off the bed, when the
sound of my feet cautioned him 10 turn
He started, and thus confronted, we stood
gazing on each other few seconds; his
Ieyes shot fire-fury was depicted in his
countenance. He made spring towards
me, and the next moment lay corpse on
the floor.
The noise of the pistol aroused the far
sleeper she started in the bed, and seemed
an angel of the white clouds emerging from
her downy bed to soar up to the skies.
The first thing that presented itself to
her view was myself standing near he'
with my pistol in my hand.
ooh do not murder me take alI-you
cannot, will not kill me, sir ~
The servants now rushed in-al! was
plained.-The wretch turned out to be
yagabond, supposed to be runaway slave
from VIRGINIA 7 had the prOvidential Op