Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-09-14
AlisteIlaneolls.
THE INTREPID sIOFHRR.

tQnfay TO set 40 Engsh lady and her child af lone,
roadside Auberge Mrs. Martin expected % fnd cas-
rage ready 70 takeher % Chateau de Senzft dstane
Of some leagues NhLer she Nas repairing 90 Ei,. lu
vas told had not arrived. The lAndady, tall. coars
looking ROman who showed her into the ball that serve,
at once as sitting room and Kitchen observed that IN,
roads were 80 muddy and difficult at night there was liz
tie chance Of her friend arriving before morning.
You bad better, therefore, said she, make up you
mindto sleep here. We have good room % Offer yOU
dyou viii be much moro comfortable between q pal
Of clean warm Sheets than knocking about in our rouqi
country, especially as your dear child seems sickly
Ms, Martin, though much hlgued By her iOurney
hesitated A good nights rest was certainly . tempt
Ing prospect but she felt so cunfdent lhat her friend,
would not neglect her, that after moment she replied
Thank yOu madam viii sit up for an hour or so Il Il
not late, and the carriage may come after ALL Should
itnot shall be glad Of your room, which you may pre-
pare for me at any atei 'F1i p eIr '1s
The hostess, who seemed anxious her guest should
not remain in the great ROOM suggested that Ere might
be made above but Mrs. n. found herself so comfort
able where she wasa pile Of faggots was blazing on
the hearth that che declined at first 70 move Her
daughter about five years OF age to sleep in her
lap; and she herseff0d that while her ears were ahx
iousy listening for the roll of carriage wheels her eyes
occasonly closed aud slumber began 10 make its nsd.
Gus approaches. s- @E# II .I
In order to prevent herself from giving way, she en-.
deaVored to direct her attention to the objects around
her. The apartment was vast, and lighted more by
the glare of the 6re than by the dirty candle stuck
into filthy tin candlestick, that stood on one Of the
long tables Two three huge beams stretched across
bali way up the walls. leaving space filed with fit.
ting shadows above, From these depended ru sly gun
or two sword, several bags, hanks of onions cook
ing utensils, &c There were very few signs that the
house visited though pile Of wine bottles Lay in
one corner The landlady sat at some distance hOm
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 resort Of robbers
and the words 'Cest elle it is She which was all she
heard Of the whispered conversation contributed to her
alarm The door leading into the road was left aiar;
and for moment she felt al inclination to start up
and efcape on foot But she was far from any other
habitaOn and if the people Of the house entertained
any evil designs, her attempt would only precpitate
the catastrophe So she resolved patience, but lis
tened attentivey for the approach Of her friends An
she heard the whistng of the wind and the edash
ing Of the rain, which had begun to a just after her
arrival. ~ ~
About two hours passed in this uncomfcrt-
able way. At length the door was throw open,
and man dripping wet came in. She breath
ed more freely; this new coner might frustrate
the evil designs Of her hostess if she entertain
ed any. He was red-haired, iovial-faced look
ing man, and inspired her with confidence BY
the frankness and ease Of his manners.
"A fine night for walking! cried he, shaking
himselflike dog who was scrambling out of a
pond. What have you to give me +? Salute
Messieare Ell Mesdames. l am wet to the skin.
Give me bottle Divine. .
The hostess, in a surley, sleepy tone, told
her eldest son to serve the gentlemen ; and
then addressing Mrs. Martin, said. !. M. M.
You see your friends will not come, and
you are keeping up to no purpose. Yop had
better go to bed,
L will wait little longer was !ue replv
which elected kind Of shruS of contempt.
The red-haired man finished his bottle of
zine, and lien said. sslv2 S. a5lEae1es.
Show me room, good woman--I shall
sleep here tonight e ~-a--7QasY H SOB
Mrs, Martin thought, as he pronounced
these words, be cast a protecting glance to-
wards her, and she felt less repugnance at the
idea of passing the night in that house. When.
therefore, the red-haired man, after polite
bow, went up stairs, she said, that her friends
had not arrived, they might as well show her
to her bedroom. 2aE tbas Das .....
i thought it would come to that at last, said
the landlady. Pierre, take the lady's trunk
up stairs.
In few minutes, Mrs. Martin found herself
alone in spacious room, with large fire bur-
ming on the hearth. Her first care, after putting
the child to bed, was to examine the door. 1t
closed only by latch. There was no bolt in
side. She looked around for somsthing to bar
ricsde it with, and perceived heavy chest of
drawers. Fear gave strength. She half lifted,
half pushed it against the door, Not content
with this, she seized table to increase the
strength of her defence. The leg was broken
and when she touched it, it fell with 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 fragment of the table upon the
chest of drawers. Tolerably well satisfied in
this direction, she proceeded to examine the
walls They we're all papered, and after ex-
animation, seemed to contain no secret door,
Mrs. Martin now sank down into chair Ia
think on her position. As was natural after
taking all these precautions. the idea suggested
itself that it might be superfuous, and she smi-
ledat the thought of what her friends would
say when she related to them the terrors of the
night. Her child was sleeping TRANQUILITY, its
rosy cheeks half buried in the pillow. The fire
had blazed up into white flame, while the un.
snuffed candle burned timidly. The room was
full of pale. trembling shadows, but she had nc
supsrstitious fears. Something positive could
alone raise alarm, She listened attentively
but could hear nothing but the bowling of The
wind over the roof, and the pattering of the rair
against the window panes. As her excitemsn
diminished; thefatigue--whiph had been forgot
tenr-began again 10 pake itselffelt, and sbt
resolved to undress and go to bed. tqas5
Her heart lesped into her throat. For 9
moment she seemed perfectly paralysed. Sht