Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-11-09
NUMBER 81.

sis. &c. There were very few signs that
the house was mu h visited, tho'a pile of
wine bottles lay in one corner. The lan1-
lady sat at some distance from the fire
place, 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 resort of robbers and the words,
"C est elte," Git is she, which was all she
heard of the whispered conversation, con-
tributed to her alarm.
The door leading into the road was
left alar; and for moment she felt an
inclination to start up and escape on foot.
But she was far from any other habta-
ton, and if the people of the house en-
tertaned any evil designs, her attempt
would only precipitate the catastrophe.
So she resolved on patience and listened
attentively for the approach of her friends.
All she heard was the whistling of she
wind, and the dashing Of the rain, which
had begun 20 fall just af,er her arrival.
About two hours passed in this un-
comfortable way. At length the door
was thrown open and aman dripping wet
came in. She brcathed more freely; this
new conner might Illustrate the evil de-
signs of her hostess. if she entertained
any. EIc was rcd-haired, joyal-laced
looking man, and inspired her with con-
fidence by the frankneSs and ease Of his
manners.
A fine night for walking! p cried he,
shaking himself like n dog who was scra-
milling out of pond "What have you
to give me? Salute MesSie,trs et 1ies-
DANES. ] am wet to the skin. Give me
bottle OF wine"
The hostess, in a surly, sleepy sone,
told her eldest son to serve the gentle
man; and then addressing Mrs Martin,
said
"You see your friends will not come,
and you are keeping up to no purpose.
You had better 90 to bed"
~ will wait little longer" was the
reply. which ELECTED kind of shrug Of
contempt,
The red haired man finished his bottle
of wine and said:
"Show me room, good woman--I
shall sleep here to night"
Mrs. Martin thought as he pronounced
these words, he cast a protecting glance
toward her. and she felt less repagnance
at the idea of passing the night in tina
house. When, therefore, the rcd-haireC
man, after a polite bow, went mp stairs
she said, that as her friends had not ar
rived, they might as well show her to he
bedroom.
Il thought it would come to that Il
last" said the landtady. Pierre, tax,
the lady'S trunk up stairs"
In few minutes Mrs. Martin founc
herself alone in spacious room, with
large fire burning on the hearth He
first care, after putting the child to bed
was to examine the door. 1t closed oY7
ly with a latch There was no bolt in
side. She looked around for somethin;
to tarricade it with, Sndperceivcda heav,
chest of drawers. Fear gave strength
She half lifted, half pushed it against TIN
door. Not content with this. she seizct
a table to increase the strength of her dc
fence. The legs were broken and v hel
she touched it, it fell with crash to tn,
floor. A long echo went souaCi e thro
the house; and she felt her heart sinl
within her. But the echo died away, ant
no one came; she piled the fragments o
the table upon the walls. They were al
papcred, and after examination, seemed
] to contain no secret door.
Mrs Martin now sank down into
chair to think on her position. AS wa
natural after taking all these precautions
the idea suggested itself that it nigh
be superiluouS, and she smiled at tn,
thought of what her friends would sal
when she related to them the terrors 0
she night. Her child was sleeping tran
gully, its rosy cheeks half buried in tn,
pillow. The fire had blazcd intoa whit,
flame, while the unsnuiIed candle burned
3imly. The room was fal. of pale trcm
bling shadows, but she had no supersti
tious feeling. Something positive coult
alone raise the alarm. She listened at
I tentiyely, but cOuld,hear nothing but tht
bowling of the wind over the roof. anC
the pattering of the rain against the win
dow pancs. As her excitement diminish
ed, the fatigue-which had been forgot
ten-began again co make Itself felt ant
she resolved to undresS and go to bed.
Her heart leaped into her throat Fol
moment she seemed perfectly paralyzed
She had addressed and put out the can.
die, when she accidentally dropped her
watch. STOPPING to pick it up, her eyes
voluntary glanced toward the bed. A
great mass of red hair, a hand and glcam-
! ing knife were revealed by the light 0!
| the fire. After the fist moment of ter
/ rible alarm. herpresence IS mind returned
She felt that she had herself Gus off all
means of escape by the door, and was en-
urely left TO her own resources.
And without uttcring cry, trembling
+ in every limb, the poor woman got into
her BED by the side of her child. 1t flash
cd through her brain like Lightning. 1t
was the only chance left.
The bed was so disposed that the rob
her could get beneath it by a small aper-
ture at the heal without making any
noise; and it was probable that he would
choose from prudence, this means Of exit.
During this time Mrs Martin, to make
sure of her victim and save herself and
child, took her scarf made a slip moose in
it. and placed it i'll front of the opening
where the robbcr had concealed himself
In this way she could possibly secure
him.
The child breathed steadily in its un-
conscious repose. The mother cndeav-
orcd to initiate slurnber, but the man un-
der the bed, uneasy in his position, could
not help occasionally making a slight
noise.
Mrs. Martin was occupied with only
two ideas. First she reflected on the OK
traordinary delusion by which she had
been led to see enemies in the people of
the house. and friend in the red-haired