Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-10

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lyeius, as afash ofth expiring ere show
ed her this clearly-too clearly-and the
conviction seized upon her mind that sh'
was shut up with an, escaped convict
An inward invocation to Heaven for aid
rose from her heart, as. with the whole
force of her intellect she endeavored e
survey the danger of her position. and e
think of the most persuasive words she
could use to the man into whose power she
had fallen. For the present, however,
she must be still, very still-she must
make no movements to betray herself
and perhaps he might overlook her pre-
sence until daylight came, and with it.
possible help-the night must be far
spent-she must wait and hope.
She had not to wait long, The crea-
ture moved again-stood upright-stag-
gered towards the bed. For, cne mo.
ment-one dreadful moment -she. saw
his face, pinched features, his flashing
eyes, his brisaing hair; but, thank God
he did not see her. She shrunk behind
the curtains-he advanced toward the
bed, slowly-hesitatingly. and the clank-
ing sound of the broken chains fell me-
nacingly on her ear. He laid his hands
upon the curtain, and for few moments
fnmbled to find the opening. These mo.
ments were all in all to Ellen Stirling
H.. ~ lNo nd
that the other side of the bed was not SO
close against the walls but that she could
pass between. Into the marrow space
between, she contrived to slip noiselessly.
She had hardly accomplished the diff
cult feat, and sheltered herself behind the
curtains, when the creature flung itself on
the bed, and drawing the bed clothes
around it, uttered noise more like the
whining of horse than the laugh Of q
human being. -.s-.,.....
For some little time Miss Sterling stood
in her narrow hiding place. trembling
with cold and terror, fearful lest some uu-
guarded movement might betray her, and
bring down on her fate she dared not
contemplate. She lifted up her heart in
prayer for courage; and when her compo-
sure had in some degree returned, it oe'
Cured to her thatif she could but reach
the window. she might from that tposition
possibly attract the attention of some pas
ser by, aud be released from her terrible
endurance. -.rr.-r =.
Very cautiously she attempted the pc
rilous experiment, her bare feet moved
noiselessiy across the floor, aud a friend
ly ray OF moonlight guided her safely to-
wards the window. As she put her hand
toward the curtain her heart gave fresh
bound of terror, for it came in contact
with something soft and warm. At
length, however, she remembered that she
had flung down her fur cloak in thatspot,
and it was mercy to her that she fell
upon it now, when she was chilled to the
bone. She wrapped it round her. and
reached the window without further ad-
venture, or any alarm from the occupant
of the bed, whose heavy, regular breath
ing gave assurance that he was now sound
asleep. This was some comfort. and she
greatly needed it. The lookout from the
window was anything but inspiriting -
The stars still shone peacefully upon
the sleeping earth---the moon still show.
ed her pailid visage; not sight or sound
presagsd dawn aud after long listening
in vain for any sign of life in the outer
world, she heard the stable clock strike
four.
Only four
She felt as If it were impossible to sur
vive even another hour of terror, such as
she had just passed through. Was there
no hope?
She tried to support herself against the
window frame, but her first touch caused
it to shake and creak in manner that
seemed to her startlingly loud she fan
cied that the creature moved uneasily on
its bed at the sound. Drops ofagony fell
from her brow, as minute after minute
wore heavily on ever and anon rustic
of the bed clothes. or slight clank ol
the nanacled hands, sent renewed chill
to her heart.
The clock struck Eve.
Still all without was silent. Suddenly
"a mans whistle was heard in the court
and the driver of the mail coach, lantern
pavilion. Would to God she could call
him. or in any way attract his attention.
but she dared not make the slightest
sonnd. He looked up at the window
against which he almost brushed in pas.
sing; and the light he held flashed on
Miss Sterling's crouched figure. he
paused, looked again. and seemed about
to speak, when she hastily made signs to
him that he should be silent. but seek as
sistance at the house. He gave her a
glance of intelligence, and then hastened
! away.
How long his absence seemed Could
he have understood her? The occupant
of the bed was growing every instant
more and more restless he was rising
| from the bed-he was propinp round the