Oroville daily Butte record., 1856-07-15
The Midnight Assassin.

|
rs,n':S>o9!e lssn S@' house, "'q0'''y miles
There was something strange and
remarkable in this action Of my horse,
nor would he stir a step in spite OF all
my excrticns to move him OH. | de-
tcrmincd to CRAFTY this whim, and at
the same time a strange proscntlment
which came over me, a Kind Of super
natural feeling, iudescribable, seemed
to URGE Inc to enter. Having knocked,
and requested to be conducted to the
lady or gentleman Of the house, | waS
ushcrcd into neat sitting room.
where sat Il beautiful girl Of about
twenty years Of age. She rose at my
entrance, and seemed little surp-
riscd at the appearance Of a perfect
stranger. L. few words | related
to her the strange conduct Of my
horse, AMI his stubborn opposition to
my mind. am not | observed,
"supcrstitio1>, nor inclined on the
side Of the mctaphyical doctrines Of
those who support them; but the
range, unaccoGntablc feeling that
crcpt over me in attempting to pa,,
;our house induced me to solicit lodg-
ings for the night. "
I'VE are not," she replied, swell
guarded, It's true; but in this part
Of the country we have little to fear
from robbers, for We have never
heard of any being near us; we are
surrounded with good neighbors, and
| tlattcr myself we are at peace with
them. But this evening, in consC-
quence of my fathers absence, | felt
unusually Lonesome, and if it was not
bordering on the >uperstitlouS, | might
reason as you have, and -ay | consent
to your staying; for similar feeling
had been mine ere you arrived from
what cause | cannot imagine"
The evening passed delightfully."-
away. My young hostess was ntell
gent and lovely; the hours flew so
quickly that on looking at my watch |
was surprised to find that it was elev-
en- o'clock. This was the signal for
retiring, and by twelve every inmate
Of the house was probably asleep,
save myself. | could not sleep
strange visions fitted across my brain,
and | lay twisting on my bed in all
the agony of sleeple's suspense. The
clock struck onc-its last vibrating
sound had scarcely died away, when
the opening Of shutter and the raj
sing Of a sash in one Of the lower
apartments convinced me that some
one was entering the house. A noise
followed as of IL person jumping from
the window sill to the floor, and then
followed a light and almost nolseIe>>
step, Of one ascending the stairway.
/ slept in the room adjoining the
one occupied by the lady; mine was
next to the staircase; the step came
along the gallery slow and cautious.
| had seized my pistol and slipped on
part Of my clothes, determined to
watch or listen to the movements
seemingly my stcrious or suspicious.
The sound Of steps stopped at my
door-then followed one as if apply
ing thc ear to the keyhole, and a low
breathing convinced me the villain
was listening. Istood motionless, the
pistol firmly grasped. Not a muscle
moved, nor nerve was slackened,
for | felt as if heaven bad selected
me out as the instrument to effect its
purpose.
The person now slowly passed on,
and | as cautiously approached the
door Of my bed chamber. NOW went
by instinct, or rather by the convey
ance of sound, for as soon as | heard
his hand grasp the latch of one door,
mine seized the other. A deep silence
followed this movement; it seemed as
if he had heard the sound and waited
the repetition; it came not-all was
still; he might have considered 1t the
echo of his own noise. heard the
... -oc,lr. oIeo onaned mina