Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-16
AN ADVENTURE.

o morse StOppeu suuSAJ
1t table house. about four miles from N
?, There was something strange and rema
t kable in this action of my horse, nj
i would he move step in spite of all m
d exertions to move him on. determiI
ed to crafty his whim, and at the sam
y time strange presentiment which cam
over me, a kind of supernatural feeling
: indescribable, seemed to urge me to er
S ter. Having knocked, and requested
t be conducted to the gentleman or the Ia
dy of the house, I was ushered into
neat sitting-room, where sat a beautifr
girl of about twenty years of age. Sh
rose at my entrance and seemed a littl
surprised at the appearance of perfec
. stranger. In a few words, I related t
her the conduct of my horse, and hi
stubborn opposition to my mind. Il an
not" observed, "superstitious, nor in
clined to the side of the metaphysical
doctrines of those who support them -
but the strange, unaccountable feeling
that crept over me attempting to pas
your house induced me to solicit lodging
for the night"
"We are not" shereplied, swell guard
ed, tits true; but in this part ofthe coun.
try we have little to fear from robbers
for we never heard of any being near
US. We are surrounded by good neigh.
bors, and I fatter myselfwe are at peace
with them all. But this evening, in con-
sequence of my fathers absence, I feel
unusually lonesome, and if it were not
bordering on the superstitious, I might
reason as you have, and say I consent to
your staying; for similar feelings have
been mine ere you arrived; for what
cause | cannot imagine"
The evening passed away delightfully."- /;
my young hostess was intelligent and
lovely; the hours flew quickly, and on
looking at my watch was surprised to
find it was eleven o'clock. This was the
signal for retiring; and by twelve every
inmate of the house was probably asleep
save myself. Icould not sleep. Strange
visions foated across my brain, and l Law
twisting and turning on the bed, in all
the agony of sleepless suspense. The
clock struck one. Its last vibrating
sound had scarcely died away, when the
opening of shutter and the raising of a
sash in one of the lower apartments, con-
Vlnced me some one was entering the
the house. A noise followed, as of per-
son jumping from the wiudow-sill to the
floor, and then followed the light and al
most noiseless step of one ascending the
stairway. I slept in the room adjoining
the one occupied by the lady, and mine
was next the staircase. The step came
along the gallery slow and cautious. L
had seized my pistol, and had also slipped
on some of my clothes, determined to
watch, or listen rather, to the movements
seemingly mysterious or suspicious. The
sound of the steps ceased at nv door
Then followed a slight noise as of some
one applying the ear to the key-hole. and
low breathing convinced me the villain
was listening. l stood motionless. the
pistol firmly grasped. Not a muscle
moved, nor nerve was slackened; for
felt as if heaven had selected me out
IS an instrument to effect its purpose.
Inc person soon passed on, and as
cautiously approached the door of nv
'ed-chamber. Inow went by instinct.
Or rather by the conveyance of sound 1
or as soon as heard him grasp the latch
II one door, mine seized the other. A
ieep silence followed this movement
de seemed as if he heard the sound and
awaited the repetition. 1t came NOT II
All was still! He might have consider
ID 1t the echo ofhis own noise. heard
he door open softly. l also opened
nlne; and the instant stepped into the
ntry L caught the glimpse of a tall man
nterlng the lighted chamber of the
Dung lady. I softly stepped along the
ntry, and approached her chamber
trough the half open door, 1 glanced NV
yes into the room. No object was v;si-
lie save the curtained bed, within whose
heets lay the intended victim of a mid
lght assassin; and he a burly, savage
'oklng negro for at that moment a tall
epulslve featured black approached the
ed; and never was Othello and BESIDE
iona more naturally represented at
asst that particular scene of the immor-
Il oards conception. l was now all sus-
ense; my heart swelled into my throat
most to suffocation-my eyes to crack
g. as l made bound into the room
1he black villain had ruthlessly dragged !;
part OF the covering off the bed, when
e sound of my feet caused him to turn
e started. and tbus cone.o..1