Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-15
Wasbingtnn Sentinel.
THE INTREPID MOTHER.
4 rnRrLLINo SKETCH.


1t#H tA
THRILLING SKETCH.
The diligence from Paris to Chalons stopped
one evening, Just after dark, some miles beyond
the little town of Rouvray, to set an English
lady and her child at q lonely roadside Auberge.
Mrs. Martin expected to find a carriage ready
to take her to Chateau de Senart, q distance of
some leagues, whittier she was repairing on o
visit but was told it had not arrived. The
landlady, tall, coarse looking woman, who
showed her into the vast hall that served at
once as sitting-room and kitchen, observed
that the roads were so muddy and difficult at
night, there was little chance of her friend ar
irving before morning. "You had better,
therefore," said she, "make up your mind to
sleep here. We have q good room to offer
you, and you will be much more comfortable
batween a pair of clean warm sheets, than
knocking about in our rough country, especial
ly as your dear child seems sickly.H
Mrs. Martin, though much fatigued by her
journey, hesitated. A good nights rest was
fdent that her friends would not neglect her,
that after a moment she replied "thank you,
madame, will sit up for an 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 her guest
should not remain in the great room, suggested
that fire might be made above; but Mrs. M.
found herself SO comfortable where she was--a
pile of faggots was blazing on the hearth-that
she declined at first to move. Her daughter,
about FIVE years Of age, soon went to sleep in her
lap; and she herself found that while her ears
were anxiously listening for the roll Of carriage
wheels, her eyes occasionally closed and slum-
Der began to make its insidious approaches.
In order to prevent herself from giving
way, she endeavored to direct her attention
to the objects around her. The apartment
was vast, and lighted more by the glare of the
fire than by the dirty candle stuck into filthy
tin candlestick, that stood on one of the long
tables. Two or three huge beams stretched
filled with fitting shadows above. From these
depended rusty gun or two, sword, several
bags, hanks of onions, cooking utensils, &c.
There were very few signs that the house was
much visited, though pile of old 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 re-
sort of robbers; and the words Cest ellie, /"
tit is she,) which was all that she heard of the
whispered conversation, contributed to her
alarm. The door leading into the road was
left aiar; and for a moment she felt an incli-
nation to start up and escape on foot But she
was far from any other habitation, and IT the
people Of the house entertained any evil do
signs, her attempt would only precipitate the
catastrophe. So she resolved on patience, but
listened attentively for the approach Of her
4. L. II 4 sotls Of
the wind and the dashing of the rain, which
had begun to fall just after her arrival
About two hours passed in this uncomforta-
BILE way. At length the door was thrown
open, and 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 red-haired,
jovial-faced looking man, and inspired her
with confidence by the frankness and ease OF
his manners.
"a fine night for walkingl" cried he, shak-
ing himself like dog who has scrambled out
of q pond. What have you to give me ?
Salute Messieure ct Mesdames. am wet to
the skin. Hope disturb nobody. Give me q
bottle Of wine.o
The hostess, in surly, sleepy tone, told her
eldest son to serve the gentleman; and then
addressing Mrs. Martin, said:
"You see your friends will not come, and
you are keeping us up to no purpose. You had
better go to bed
II will wait little longer" was the reply ;
which elected q kind of a shrug of contempt.
The red haired man finished his bottle OF
wine, and then said:
"Show me room, good woman--I shall
sleep here tonight"
Mrs. Martin thought as he pronounced these
words, he cast a protecting glance towards her,
and she felt less repugnance at the idea of pass
ing the night in that house. When, therefore,
the red haired man, after polite bow, went up
stairs, she said, that as her friends had not ar-
rived, they might as well show her to her bed
room.
II thought it would come to that at last, =
said the landlady. "Pierre, take the lady's
trunk up stairs. mn
In few minutes, Mrs. Martin found herself
alone in spacious room, with large fire
burning on the hearth. Her first care, after
putting the child to bed, was to examine the
door. It closed only by latch. There was
no bolt inside. She looked around for some
thing to barricade it with, and perceiveda q heavy
chest of drawers. Fear gave strength. She
half lifted, half pushed it against the door.
Not content with this, she seized table to in
crease the strength Of her defence. The leg
was broken, and when she touched it, it fell
with q crash to the floor. A long echo went
sounding through the house, and she felt her
heart sink within her. But the echo died away
and no one came so she piled the fragments
of the table upon the chest Of drawers. Toler-
ably satisfied in this direction, she proceeded
to examine the walls. They were all papered,
and after examination, seemed to contain no
secret door.
Mrs. Martin now sank down into chair to
think on her position. AS was natural after
having all these precautions, the idea suggested
itself that it might be superfuous, and she
smiled at the thought Of what her friends
would say when she related to them the terrors
of the night. Her child was sleeping tran
quilly, its rosy cheeks half buried in the pillow.
The fire had blazed up into q bright flame
while the unsnuffed candle burned dimly. The
room was full Of pale, trembling shadows, but
she had no superstitious fears Something posi-
tive could alone raise alarm. She listened at
tentively, but could hear nothing but the how.
A =