Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-30
..Ct G, Glarksbllrg Rrgiater
! AN INTREPID MOTHER.
A Thrilling Sketch.


stopped one evening, Just after dark,
some miles beyond the little town Of Ron
Way, to set down an English lady and
her child at lonely roadside Auberge.
Mrs. Martin expected to 6nd carriage
ready to take her to Chateau de Senart,
distance Of some leagues, whittier she
was passing ON visit, but was told that
1t had not arrived, The landlady, tall,
coarse looking woman, who showed her
into the vast hall that served at once as a
sitting room and kitchen, observed that
the roads were SO muddy and difficult at
night there was little chance of her friends
arriving before morning. "You had bet
ter, therefore, said she, "make up your
mind to sleep here. We have u good
room to offer you; and you will be
much more comfortable between pair Of
clean warm sheets, than knocking about
in our rough country, especially us your
dear child seems sickly."
Mrs. Martin, though much fatigued by
her journey, hesitated. A good night
rest was certainly tempting prospect,
but she felt so confident that her friends
would not neglect her, that after a mo-
ment she replied : thank you madam,
will sit up for all hour or so, it is not late,
and the carriage may come, after all
Should it not shall be glad of your
room, which you may prepare for me at
any rate"
The hostess who seemed anxious that
her guest should not remain in the great
room, suggested that fire might be made
above but Mrs. NJ. found herself so COM
fnrfohlo " hnra Sl,a VNtln IF ia uuntS
was blazing on the vast hearth--that she
declined at first to move. Her daughter,
about five years of age, soon went 10 sleep
in her lap and she herself found that
while her cars were anXiously listening
for the roll of carriage wheels, her eyes
occasionally closed and slumber began to
make its insidious approaches.
In order to prevent herself from giving
way she endeavored to direct her atten-
ton to the objects around her, The
apartment was vast and lighted more by
the glare of the fire than by the dirty can
die stuck into u filthy tin candlestick, that
stood on one of the long tables. Two or
three huge beams stretched across, half
way up the walls, leaving n space filled
with the fighting shadows above. From
these depended rusty gun or two, n
sword, several bags, banks of onions,
cooking utensils, &c. There was very
few signs that the house was much visited,
though pile of empty wine bottles lay
in one corner. The landlady sat at some
distance from the fireplace with her two
sons, who laid their heads together and
talked in whispers.
Mrs, Martin began to feel uneasy
The idea entered her mind that she had
fallen into a resort of robbers and the
words " G'ste ellie, "(it is she, } which was
all she heard of the whispered CONVERSE
ton, contributed to alarm her. The door
leading into the road was left ajar; and
for moment she felt an inclination to
start up and escape on foot But she was
far from any other habitation, and if the
people of the house entertained any evil
designs, her attempt would only precpi-
tate the catastrophe. So she resolved on
patience, but listened attentively for the
approach of her friends. All she heard
was the whistling of the wind, and the
dashing of the rain, which had began to
fall just after her arrival.
About two hours passed in this uncom-
Portable way, At length the door was
thrown open, and a man dripping wet
came in She breathed more freely for
this new conner might Illustrate the evil
designs of her hostess, if she entertained
any. He was a redhaired, jovial faced
looing man, and inspired her with conf
dence by the frankness and ease of his
manners.
ga fine night for walking 70 cried he,
shaking himseflike dog who has scram-
bled out of pond. "What have you to
give me? Statutes. messeure ct mesda-
mes. l am wot to the skin. Hope l
disturb nobody. Give me bottle of
wine"
The hostess, in surly, sleepy tone,
told her eldest son to serve the gentleman !;
and then addressing Mrs, Martin said:
"Eou see your friends will not come,
and you are Keeping us up to no purpose.
You had better 90 to bed"
II will wait little longer" was the
reply which elected kind of q shrug Of
contempt.
The red-haired man finished off his
bottle of wine, and then said:
"Show me room, good woman--1
shall sleep here tonight"
Mrs. Martin thought as he pronounced
these words, he cast protecting glance
towards her and she felt less repugnance
at the idea of passing the night in the
house. When therefore, the red-haired
man, after a polite bow, went up stairs,
she said, that as her friends had not arri-
we'd, they might as we'll show her to a
bedroom.
- thought it would come to that at
last" said the landlady, "Pierre, take
the lady's trumps up stairs"
In few minutes Mrs. Martin found her.
self alone in n spacious room, with large
fire burning on the hearth. Her first
care after putting the child to bed, was to