The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-24

)WA, THURSDAY, MAY
AN ADVENTURE DOWN SOUTH.
A Yankee schoolmsster hss printed thu
following tragic incident, which he declare.
upon bis honor 10 ~ true % gospsl:--'Whsu
was on my way to Georgia, travelling one
evening in tho old North State, my horse
stopped suddenly before respectable look.
ing house. There was something strange
and remarkable 10 this action Of my horse,
and no wouldent move step 10 spite Of oil
my exertions to move him 90. Idssermin.
ed to crafty this within, and q tho same
time . strange psesentiment which came
over me, kind Of supernatural feeling iu.
d!scribable, seemed to urge mo to enter
Having knocked and requested to b con.
Quoted to the lady or gentleman Of the house,
! WAS ushered into . neat sissing-room,
where cat beautiful girl Of about twenty
years Of age. She rose ct my entrance,
and seemed little surprised at The appear.
ance Of a perfect stranger. 10 . few words
! related to her the strange conduct Of my
horse, and bic Stubborn opposition to my
mind. lam NOT, observed, 'supersstious,
nor inclined 90 the side Of the metaphysicsj
doctrines Of those who support them; but
the strange unaccounisble feeling that
crePt over inc in attempting to pass your
house, induced me TO solicit lodgings Tor
the night
We arc not she replied, well guarded,
tbs true; but in this part Of the country 10
have little to fcar from robbers, for 10 have
never heard Of sny being near 10; 70 are
surrounded by good neighbour, and fiaster
myselfwe arc at peace with them. But this
evening in consequence ofmy fathers alb
sencc, ! felt unusually lonesome, and il il
were not bordering on the superstisious, l
might reason as you have, aud cay con-
cent 10 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.
"; the hours few % quickly, that on look
ing at my watch was surprised to find il
was ! | o'clock. This wss the signal for
retiring; and by twelve every inmate Of
the house was probably asleep save myself.
! could not slcep-ssrangs visions floated
across my brain, and lay twisting on my
bed. in oil the agony Of sleeplcss suspense
The clock struck one-its last vibrating
sound had scarcely died away whom tho
opening Of . shutteS, and the raising Of .
sash in one Of the lower apartments, con-
WINGED me some one was entering the house.
A noise followed ~ Of . person jumping
from the window ell to the floor, and then
followed the light and almost noiseless s,ep
OF one ascending the stairway. l slept 10
the room adjoining the one occupied by the
lady; mine was next 10 the staircase; the
step came along the gallery slow and eau.
tIous. ] had seized my pistol and slipped
on part Of my clothes, determining 10 watch
OF listen to the movements seemingly mys-
ferrous or suspicious; tho sound Of the steps
stopped at my door--thcn followed one %
OF applying the ear to the hey hole, and
low breathing convinced me tho villain VS.
listening. ] stood mo,ionless, the pistol
firmly grasped. Not . muscle moved. NOT
nerve was slackened, for felt - ifheaven
had selected ne out 40 the instrument 20 q.
feet ito purpose. The person nov slowly
passed on, and ! N cautiously approached
the door Of my bed chamber. ! now wen.
BY instinct, or rather by the couveyance Of
sound; Tor as soon ~ heard his band grasp
the latch Of one door mine seized on the
other--a deep silence followed THE move
'nent; It seemed - il he heard The sound,
and waited the repetition; il came uos-ali
was still; be might have considered il the
echo OF his own noise. Z heard the door
open sofily--Ialso opened mine, and the
very moment stepped into the entry, !
caught glimpse ola tall men entering the
lighted chamber ofshs young isdy. lsofily
stepped along the entry, and approached
the chamber; through the half opened door
glanced my eyes into tho room. No OBJ.
jecs was visible save the cursained bed.
within whose sheets lay the inssodid victim
Of midnight assassin, and 10, gracious
hesven!--a negro! For Il that moment !
tell, fierce looking black approached and
ruthlessly dragged part Of the covering OF
the bed, when tho sound Of my foot caused
him toturn. He started, and thus confront.
Cd, We stood gazing on each other few
seconds; bic eyes shot 6re-fory wss de-
picted 10 bic countenaoce. He made
spring towssds mo. and tho next moment
lays corpse on the floor! The noise Of the
pistol aroused the fair sleeper; she stsrssd
in the bed, end seemed sn angel Of The white
clouds emerging from her downy bed to
soar up to the skies. Tho fra thing that
presented itself 70 her view was myself
standing nssr her, With pistol 10 my hand.
Oh, do not murder ms!-taks sll-you
cannot, will not kill mo, sirv