Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-05-25
Narrow Escape Of u Young Lady,

few months since, one of the travelling
agents for large house in this city, whose
route brought him to the town of New Frank.
fort, Scott county, Ind, as was his usual Gus.
tom, put up" at the best inn which the town
afforded.
1t so happened that on the afternoon on
which the agent arrived at the inn tie land
lords daughter, Nelly blooming country lass
of seventeen, on the invitation of one OF
her neighbors, Mrs. Doibear. living a couple
of miles distant, had gone to Quilting and
on leaving home said that il she did not return
by Il o'clock that night, she would s.ay with
her friend, Susy Dolbear, until the next morn
ing.
Accordingly as the hour was passed, Nelly's
parents concluded that she would stay al
night with her friend Susy, as she had prom
ised; SO, without any hesitation, the agent was
put in possession of Nelly's room, (her bed in.
cIuded,) which aGjoined that occupied by the
old folks and he, after looking around some
time in vain for something in vain to fasten the
door, undressed himself, taking care. however
to place the money (about $1,000 which he had
belonging 10 his employer, in the pocket of his
pantaloons, and put them under his head for
| safety, also, as protection against robbers,
he put the loaded revolver, ready capped for
service, under his pillow. After these ar.
rangements were completed, with strong as.
surance of safety, he retired, little ireaming
that he should be disturbed that night.
The quilting party at which Nelly was
guest did not break up until considerably past
midnight, when. somewhat to her disappoint
ment. she found many young ladies' who had
come much greater distance than she had,
owing to the lateness of the hour, were desi
rous of staying till morning. Nelly, with true
nobleness of heart, forbore to press her claims
to her young friends hospitality for the night
lest some ofthose who lived further eff should
have to go home. So she arranged with Susy
who was one of her intimate friends, that she
should go home with her for company, and
that she should stay at Nelly's all night
Under this arrangement they started in the
direction of NelIy's home; which they reached
after walk Of about an hour, bringing the
time up to about 2 o'clock in the morning.
Without making the least noise they effected
their entrance by the back door Of the house
and, Nelly leading the way ,betook themselves
up the stairs in the dark to Nelly's room, with
out having the least suspicious of finding an
intruder. AS they had arranged between them.
selves TO keep from the old folks the lateness
of the hour at which they arrived at home
their conversation, while dsrobing themselves
to retire, was carried on in whisper
The agents ear from long habit and practice
possessed properties of hearing, and the whs.
pering and light walking awoke him from his
sleep, and supposing it to be occasioned by
robbers he listened to their conver saton, hold
his breath lest he should give them notice Of
his being awake. The girls themselves being
little alarmed at the hour, and extremely anx-
ious that it should be kept from Nellys pa
rents their conversation was on the best meth
od of concealing it from them, &c, the agent
caught apart of it-and part, too. excited as
his Imagination was at the time, a little start
ling.
Susy said to Nelly
1T is much later than we would have been?'
To which Nelly replied
"Yes, it is; but We have got in without dis
turbing any body. So far all is right; but
We must be quick or We will be discovered .auG
all 20 wrong with u.s.
The agent was now certain that they were
robbers, and. in the dark, as he now was, saw
nothing befr him but robbery and murder
He grasped his p stols mechanically and firm
iy ;he cautiously cooked tand prepared for his
assalants. Directly he felt hand on the bed
clothes, passing in the direction of his pillow
under which his money and pantaloons were
aid; he acid his breath, and put himself into
position to reduce the liability Of injuring
himself on discharging the pistol and to ir-
sure It's effect upon his assailants ,supposing he
aimed at vital part. The hand continued to
pass round the upper part Of the bed, but did
not seem to hit the particular pillow.
This gave the agent time for reflection.