The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-04-16
GBe 4ailg Jpnraal,
AN ADVENTURE.


disturbed scene of peace and quietness. No
quarrel or dispute ever rendered it necessary
for me to cali fourth my moral or physical
strength, both of which am now inclined to
think possess at least the reader will bear
me out when / have related the following adj
venture. ts% -t ae 8, a-se3 cftf
was on my way to p, in the fall of
18-; it was towards tie cold esenings in the
first fall month, when my horse stopped sud
denly before a respectable house, about four
miles from ~ There was something
strange and remarkable in this action of NJ V
horse, nor did he move q step in, spits of all
my excrtions to move him on. determined
to crafty his whim, and at the same time
strange prcsentiment which came over me-
kind of supernatural feeling indiscribable,
seemed to urge me to enter. Having knocked
and requested to be conducted to the lady of
the house, | was ushered in neat sitting room
where sat q beautiful girl of about twenty
years of age. She rose at my entrance and
seemed little surprised at the appearance of
a perfect stranger. In a few words related
to her the strange conduct Of my horse and
his stubborn opposition to my mind.
Il am not" observed, "superstitious nor
inclined on the side of the metaphysical doc
trines of those who support them; but the
me in attemption to pass yoar house, induced
me to solicit lodgings foi the night.p- @.E
I'VE are not" she replied, well guarded.
tits true; but in this part of the country we
have never heard of any being near us; we are
surrounded by good neighbors, and | fatter
myselfwe are at peace with them all. But
this evening, in consequence of my fathers
absence | feel unusually lonesome, and if it
were not bordering on the superstitious,
might reason as you have, and say consent
to your staying, for similar feelings had been
mine ere you arrived; from what cause can
notimasine."
The evening passed delightfully."- away my
young hostoss was intelligent and lovely; the
hours few SO quick, that on looking at my
watch, l was surprised to find that it was
eleven o'clock. This was signal for retiring
and by twelve every inmate of the house was
probably asleep save myself. Icould not sleep /
strange visions foated across my mind and
Llay twisting and turning on the bed. in all |
the agony of sleepless suspense. The old
clock struck one, its last vibrating sounds had |
scarcely died away, when the opening of a !
shutter, and the raising of sash in one Of the |
lower apartments convinced me some one was |
catering the house. A noise followed as of |
person jumping from the window sill to the |
floor then followed the light and almost nois-
less step, of one ascending the stairway. II
slept in the room adjoining the one &C up ed
by the lady-mine was next the Staircase
the step came along the gallery slow and eau
tious. / seized my pistol, and slipped on part
of my clothes determined to watch or listen to |
the movements seemingly mysterious or sus-
pcious. The sound Of the step stopped at my
door, then followed one Gs of applying the ear
to the key no g, and low breathing convinced |
me the villain was listening. stood motion |
less, the pistol firmly grasped. Not mucle |
moved nor a nerve slackened, for felt as i'll
heaven had selected me for its purpose.
The person now slowly passed on. I heard
a door open softly, also opened mine, and
caught glimpse of tall man entering the
lighted chamber Of the young lady. softly !
stepped along the entry, and approached the
chamber; through the.half opened door glanc-
ed my eyes into the room. No object was
visible save the curtained bed, within whose
sheets lay the intended victim to midnight
assissin, and he-gracious heaven! a negro!-l
For at that moment tall, fierce looking black |
approached the bed; and never were Othsllo |
and Desdamona moro naturally represented.
was now all suspense; my heart sweiled into
my throat almost to Sufocation, as bounded
into the reom.
The black villain had ruthlessiy dragged
part of the covering off the led, when the
sound of my foot caused him to tura. Hell
started and thus confronted, we stood gazing
on each other few seconds, his eyes shot fire;
fury was depicted in his conference.-the made
a spring towards me, IN / the next momeI I
lay corpse at my feet. The noise of the pis-
tol aroused the lady. and the first thing that
presented itself to her view was myself stand
ing near her, with pistol in my hand
"Oh do not kill me! take all; you cannot,
will not kill me- sr!"
The servants now rushed in; all was ex-
planned. The wretch turned out to be vaga-
bond, supposed to be runaway slave from
Virginia. had the proyidential opportunity
of rescuing one from the worst of deaths,
who in after years called me husband, and re-
lated to our children her miraculous escape
from the bold attack of the midnight assassin
ABOUT HANGINa.-Hanging although an
awkward position, is, it is said, the easiest
method of taking life. writer in one of the
English quarterGes prove it to be quite pleas
ant operation. He says-:An acquaintance
of Lord Bacon, who meant to hang bimself
only partially lost his footing, and was cut
down at the last extremity, having nearly paid
for his curiosity with his life. He declared
that he felt no pain, and his only sensation
was of fire before his eyes, which changed brst
to black and then to sky-blue. These colors
arc even source of pleasure. A Captain
Montagnac, who was hanged in France during
| the religious wars, and rescued from the glib
Ibat at the inercession Of Viscount Turenne,
complained that, having lost all pain in an in
istant, he had been Ia ken from light of which
4 the charm defied description. Another Grim
nal, who escaped by the breaking of the cord,
said hat, after second of suffering a fire ap-
lpearetL, and across it the most beautiful av-