Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-02-03
IA NIGHT OF HORRORS.

ped one, evening. just aiter dark, some miles
beyond The ,lille Town of Rouyray. 10 Sc.
down an English lady and her childsat a
lonely roadside aa6erae. Mrs, Martin ex-
pected 10 find a carriage ready 10 lake her 70
The Chateau de Senart, a DISTANCE Of some
leagues whittier she was repairing on q
yisl. bu, was ,old thai ii had not syet arrived.
The landlady,a tall, coarse looking woman,
who showed her intoahe vasthail that. .sery--
ed al once asa si,ting-room and kitchen,
observed tbatlhe roads were SO muddy apd
dific all 10 travel al night that there was, ,lil-
.lea chance atof her friend arriving before
nornlngsrmya ~ q A&d .fqa o. y, gt,gseisg,
sw,,Ypu had better, therelore,"os she SAID,
SNAKE up your, mind. to. sleep here. I'VE
have q good warm sroomi 70 offer you; and
you will be- much more comfortable between
a pair Of clean warm sheets, Than knocking
about 10 our raugh company, especially as
your dear child seems sickly."ee. Bhg6, 4
Mrs. Marlin. though much latgned by
her journey, hesisaled A good nights rest
was certainly tempting prospocg gbul she
fell so copfden, tha, her friends would not
negIec. her. thai, after a moment she re-
plied:rS ron itofsisI lo 9qifnsa. Z
IL thank you, madame, will isilup for
an, hour or so-it is no, toolale, the carriage
may come, alier all, Should il not, shall
be glad Of your roonIF-which you may pre-
pare for me, a. any ra,e@ Il .zFera5
/ The hostess, who seemed anxious that
her guest. should not remain in the great
room, suggested that o fire might be made
above; but Mrs. Martin found herself SO
comfortable sho was--a pile of fag-
gols blazing on the ,hearih-,hul she decli,
ned a, frs, to move. Her daughter about
five years Of age, soon went 70 sleep in her
lap; and she herself found tha, while her
ears were anxiousl listening for the roll OF
carriage wheels, her eyes occasionally clo-
sed, and lslumber began 10 make its insid-
ious approaches. s1 aal y yr IA te..
In order 10 prevent, herself from giving
way, she endeavored 10 direct her attention
10 The objects around her. The apartment
was vast, and lighted more by The glare oil
the fire than by the dirty. candle, stuck into
filthy lin candleslick, that slood on one oil
the long tables. Two or three huge beams
stretched across, leaving space filled with
fliuing shadows above. From these depend
ed rusty gun or Two. a sword, several
bags, hanks Of onions, cooking utensils, &c.
There were very few signs thai ihe-house
was much visited, though apple Of empty
wine bottles lay in one corner. The land
lady sat some distance from the fireplace
with her Two sons, who laid their heads to-
ge,her, and talked in whispers.
Mrs. Martin began TO feel uneasy. The
idea entered her mind ,ha, she had fallen
into den of robbers. The words "C'est
elicit is she-which were all she heard
of The whispered conversation, contributed
TO alarm her. The door leading into The
road was left ajar; and for moment she
fel, an inclination 10 start up and escape
on foot. But she was far from any other
Ihabilalon; and if the people Of the house
really entertained any evil designs. her at
tempt would only precipilate the catas,ro'
phe. She was resolved on patience, but
listered ateniively for the approach OF her
friends. All she heard, however, was The
wind and the rain, which had begun to fall
jus. after her arrival. About Two hours
passed in this uncomfortable way. AT length
The door was thrust open, and man, drip
ping wet, came in. She brealhed more
freely; for this new conner might Illustrate
the evil designs of her hosls, il they enter
tanned any. lie was red.haired, jovial
faced looking man, and inspired her with
confidence by The Gtankness and ease oil
his manners.
"a fine night for walkingl" cried he,
shaking himself like dog who has crawled
out Of pond.
"W hat have you to give me? Salut
meSSeurS et meSdemes. am wet 10 the
skin. Hops | disturb nobody. Give me
bone oil wine." s
The hostess, in sury, sleepy tone, told
her eldest son 10 serve the gentleman; and
/ then, addressing Mrs. Martin, said;
"You see your friends will not come, and
youare keeping It's up TO no purpose You
had better 60 10 bed" e' eii'
"I'will wait lille longer" was the re-
ply; which elci,ed a shrug of contempt
The red-haired man finished off his bot
lie Of wine, and then said: t
"Show me room, good woman; | shall
sleep here tonight ,rs Ha
Mrs. Martin thought rs he pronounced
these words he cast projecting glance TO-
wards her; and she felt less repugnance a
The idea Of passing the night at that house
When, therefore, the rcd-haired man, alle
polite bow, went up The stairs, she said
that as her friends had not arrived, the!
might as we'll show her 10 bedroom.
II thought il would come TO that at last,
, said the landIady. "Pierre, take the lady
trunks up stoirs.'
In few minutes, Mrs. Martin found her
self alone in spacious room. with larg
fire burning on the hearth. Her FIST care
, after putting the child TO bed, was TO exam
= inc The door. Ii closed only by latch.-
= There was no bolt inside. She locke
around for something TO barricade i, will
and perceived heavy chest Of drawers =
: Fear gave her strength. She half lilieC
I, half pushed il against the door. No. con
: tent with this, she seized table to increas
q he strength Of her defence. The leg wa
2 2 broken, and when she touched it, il fe
4 with crash to the floor. A long echo wei
: sounding through The house, and she fe
: her heart sink within her. But the ech
h died away, and no one came; so she pile
|, =, The fragments Of the table upon The chest
!. drawers. Tolerably satisfied In this dire,