Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-25
A NIGHTS Adventure.


is proyed the sorest night of my life. Retiring in
sea of abstraction by the aiiment of prom
ise and about to enter upon magnificent occasion
for perfect recoyery-bewildered by the contention
of pleasant anticipatons and imaginary Ills which
dazzled like sunbeams without my valet walked
into the wrong room. Still groVelling in the wells
of truth the depth of error, went into lady bed
What fatal error for my repose! What delicate
distress The chamber had entered, to have and
occupy, belonged to an aged spinster-a regular wa
terins-place hunter, who had long since consumed
her share of the honey of heayen-born charity, who
loved only her lap-dog and winning partner at
whist; who disliked the young of her own SEX and
who had the widest hatred of mine In the room
of such an example of mortality, what a disaster
what catastrophe to my ends and visit All! what
prodigous ills from petty causes spring.
marvel to this day, how | came there. wonder
how overlooked the femme byontere, the toilette,
caps ribbons, combs, curls, artifcials, roses and
springs of myrtle, Or the dressing -tabe, and |
swer, | cannot imagine! l have rummaged my
Imagination for excuses in vain; the only which
aids me is this-I must have been In state of SOM
nambulism when entered the den of that amiable
virtuoso. I remembered nothing in the morning,
but that had quietly and sobery gone to bed, filed
with hope from the cheering conversation OF the
ter doctor. This, and dreary fragments Of the
life of easy happiness ianguished to attain, linger
ed on the tablet of memory.
| had gone to bed after the second, or 1t may be
the third watch, most uncomfortably disturbed. The
upshot of it is this the room was doublebedded and
in the occupancy of lady and her maid. had en-
tered upon and occupied the latter's couch In the
morning she called Justify to administer to the
mistress the usual dose answer being given she
had risen from her bed to awaken this creature: who
it was discovered had slipped out, after pretending
to retire. to join dancing party in the hotel I'm
luckily had taken her place. For nights had not
closed my eyelids but this night slept like rock
and Tapped in that delicious sumber, which refresh
es the weary, and prepares the strong man for toll
on battle, needed not the cangs and cries of voice
in distress till my head was grped between two fair
hands and shaken most profoundly.
| called for silver and my masculine voice startled
my astounded witness. It was moment of recogni-
ton, and surprising to the it was unsatis
factory to the other. scream, shrill and loud,
luted my ears as caught a glimpse of face, be-
frilled in lace, retiring from mine!
"What is the matter 2" said l. fancying the house
was on fire, by tie rudeness of the shocks. heard
her mutter-' 1t is mans voice "a man y Anoth-
er scream, and yet another! And as peered forth,
she towards her bed like lapwing, plotting We
ry modestly, that should not spy her feet, which,
heaven knows, not cOvetOus enough to look at
violent pull at the bell reused to crisis of ap
prehensions, and | arose in my sitting.
"Lie down, sir, you horrid VILLAIN said she, = lie
down.
| obeyed precipitately. When spoke she scream
ed. l heard knocking at the door, and watched to
get up and open it. She saw me move--ap appeared
to be convulsed at the idea of one of my gender ris
ing in her presence, and Silly overdecate was a.
Dashed into inacton when should have been active.
What perplexty. What was to be done in such a
position She would not rise to open the door, or
| permit me. 'Stay in bed, sir! was her cry con-
tinually; and when protruded leg, she seemed to
| be faintng
She called for Fanny
! "She is not here,'' said l.
"What! you alone q
! felt all over the bed and protested was alone.
protested and explained it evident had miss
ed my chamber, and the discovery distracted me-
| Said T riS Shei with inf
mite rancor should lie down; | had nearly killed
her already and if | rose | should be her death =
How dreadful it is to be attacked by woman with
free and not particular tongue to pocket those ep-
| ithets in sort Of rivalry The door burst tC
my bedside came a young woman, with a candle II
her hand, and two more followed at her heels.
thought should have been set on and torn to piece;
by this ungentle creature, and to my SURPRISE hel
mistress spoke to my good behavior. Fanny, to ex-
cuse her delinquency, made it evident she was bolt,
ed out, and she had chosen to remain out, rather
than disturb her poor, dear, sick mistress in hel
sleep. Rather than disturb The slut! The truth
IS true to my habit had cautiously locked the door
l but believe she had never tried to open it.
Seeing how matters STOOD tantalzed and almost
exasperated, and perceving what extraordinary
mistake had been committed, was anxious to dis
cuss my position, was pronounced a-what do you
think A robber! | gaspcd for breath protested
was knocked down with shower oficy abuse; and
trembling and ncensed, agonized and ready to give
up the ghost and begging to have leave to explain
in God name, and finding excuse would be heard
resigned myself to my fate, without hope of quarter
With chagrin heard the mistress congratulated on
her escape for they discovered plot in spite of my
innocence--a grave design.
began to perspire with fear, and pettioned heav.
en- for early delverance. l would have fed from
the scene discovering | was in the wrong room, but
in robe de chambre, surrounded by girls and their
elders, could not stir without treadng the line
of delicacy: and every time l moved, my Tabitha
Bramble, who had put on her garments, threatened
my infrmity with her gallons. She dared me to stir
and her maid alarmed the house. | offered to apol
ogize to her beautyshp. but she grew furious, and
the fiery spot her face became redhot with ealoric
of anger, when moved in my Affections Clytem
nestra in the tragedy Siddons in her dark persona
tons, never looked many unutterable things Was
she an oyster woman! | discarded the austere sup
position for its vulgarity. By and by half the in
mates of the hotel having arrived walters and watch
men, masters and maid, was pronounced to belong
to the premises and respectable! But if escaping
the indignity Of change of felonious intentions
was still jeered reproached, and eyed curiosity
if this luckless trespass into anothers nest mus
needs have design in it, if could have helped
it: but molly morality is suspicious, and wickedly
perverse in judgment. The unforgiving fury whom
| was supposed to have insulted, withdrew with tn
crowd of tittlers, crawled out, shrunken, dark
ling, and huddled in blanket to my room attende'
by the walters and the master all looking if laugh
ing heartily in their sleeves.
, A Beautiful Sketch.
The bells toll "A gain the sad mnstrelsy of dealt
strikes out his iron notes in measured tones Again