Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-18

asleep save myself. could not sleep
strange visions hoatcd across my
brain, and lay twisting and turning on
the bed in all the agony of sleepless sus-
pensc. The clock struck one; its vibrat.
ing sound had scarcely died away, when
the opening Of shutter and the raising
Of a sash, in one of the lower apartments,
convinced me that some one was enter.
ing the house. A noise followed as Of
person jumping from the windowsill
to the floor, and then followed the light
and noscless step Of one ascending the
stairway.
Islcpt in the room adjoining the one
occupied by the lady; mine was next to
the staircase; the step came along the
gallery, slow and cautious. | had sciz'
ed my pistol, and slipped on part of my
clothes, determined to watch or listen to.
the movements, seemingly mysterious or
suspicious-the sound of steps stopped
at my door-then followed one as apply,
ing the ear to the key. hole, and low
breathing convinced me the villain was
listening. stood motionlcss, the pistol
firmly grasped. Not a muscle moved,
no, nerve was slackcncd, for | felt as
if heaven had selected me out as the in.
strument TO effect 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
conveyance of sound; for as soon as |
heard his hand grasp the latch OF one
door, mine seized on the other-a deep
silence followed this movcment;it seem.
ed as if he heard the sound, and await.
ed the repetition; it came not, all was
still; he might have considered it the
echo Of his own noise. heard the door
open softly, l also opened mine; and
the very moment stepped into the entry,
caught the glimpse of tall man enter,
ing the lighted chamber of the young
lady.
softly stepped along the entry, and
approached the chamber through th'
haIf.opened door l glanced my eyes in
to the room. No object was visible save
the curtaincd bed, within whose sheet.
lay the intended victim of midnigh
assassin, and he, gracious heaven, he
gro for at that moment tall, fierce
looking black man approached the bed
and never were Othello and Desdemon;
more naturally represented, at least il
that particular scene of the immorta
barl's conception.
1t Was now all suspense; my hear
swelled into my throat, almost to sufo
cation, my eyes TO cracking, as mad
a bound into the room.
The black william had ruthlessly drag
ged part of the covering off the bed
when the sound Of my foot caused him t
turn. He started, and, thus confronted
we stood gazing on each other FEY
seconds; his eyes shot fire, fury was de
picted in his countenance. He made
spring towards ME, and the next momen
lay corpse on the floor.
The noise Of the pistol aroused til
fair sleeper; she started in bed, an
seemed an angel of the white cloud
emerging from her dewy bed to soar u
to the skies,
The first thing that presented itself
her view was myself standing near he
with pistol in my hand.
"Oh, do not murder me TIA Ike al
you cannot, will not kill me, sir?"
The servants now rushed in, all we
explained The wretch turned out to /
a vagabond, supposed to be runawa
slave from Virginia. l had the prov
dental opportunity of rcscuins one frol
the worst of fates, who in after years cal
ed me husband, and related to our chi
dren the miraculous escape from II
bold attack Of midnight assassin.