Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-13
EVENING STAR.
WRITTEN FOR TIE STAR.
A MOMENT OF HORROR.

1t is not proposed to tell a story either of 70.
nance or of sentiment. but simply to narrate
an incident which happened to myself in the
fall Of lS5-. l was bound westward to nv
regiment, and stopped for the night in the
city of-New York.
The city was crowded with strangers. After
unsuccessful applications at several hotels, at
last l obtained lodging at -'s, kept on
the European plan. Here 1 was obliged to
content myself with q chamber on the fourth
floor, oddly enough arranged in some respects,
as, upon going to it, after suppipg, for the
purpose of changing my travel.stained dress,
noticed the room had no windows, with the
exception Of square opening in the wall
through which air and light were admitted
from the adjoining room. To the opening,
too, was attached a shutter in that room /
dressed and attended the Broadway Theatre,
reaching my apartment, on returning, about
half past twelve clock at night.
When about stepping into bed L observed
TIE wicket open, and a thought struck me to
take look into the adjoining apartment; why
II was know not ; perhaps a sense Of my odd
Insecurity actuated me.
L got upon a chair and gazed through the
window into the chamber. No one was there; il
was furnished like my own. lamp was
burning upon the table, and on the latter were
lying holster, a aohet-sfone and a pair of
large false ,chiskers
Well, thought |, these are rather queer ar
tcles of soardrObe. After a glance at the
premises, felt anything but easy L finally
got into bed, first placing the lamp upon the
hoor at the foot; and examining my pistol,
laid it carefully under my head At FIRST,
though quite fatigued, could not sleep, and
when did dose, my dreams were uneasy and
troubled Macbeth had been the play at the
theatre, and witches and black whiskers,
BaDquo's ghost with pistol, holsters, and the
like interesting visitors, were the companions
CT my dreamy thoughts About clock, it
might have been, | was aroused by a some
what singular noise. On listening, it evident
ly proceeded from the next room Itcould be |
hkened to nothing 1 had ever heard it was |
low but regular, and metallic in its sound, so
to express it; such a sound for instance, as
might be made in cutting glass with dia.
mOnd. Suddenly thought Of the lchet- stone
on the to Bile, and at the same moment became
convinced the noise was that of 8 knife being
sharpened. The whetting now ceased. Ny
bed was placed in the diagonal corner of the
roOm from the wicket, and had been lying
with my back TO the latter. L turned in the
bed as noiselessly as possible, SO as to face the
wicket, grasping my pistol The lamp was
burning dimly, and all was still as death.
AS my eye fell upon the window it encoun.
tered first hand placed upon the sill, then
rose by degrees head, with q pair of glitter
ing black eyes, great heavy whiskers, and a
l possess the ordinary courage of a man, but
l must confess the blood in my veins seemed
to curdle as viewed the apparition. Quick
as lightning sprang up in bed pointing my
pistol, cried out, If you move a muscle from
your position, you re dead man +" The eyes
glared, the head remaining, however as de-
scribed, the man not uttering q syllable. I
got out of bed and with pistol still presented,
and eyes fixed on his, / backed to the bell
rope and pulled it violently. In a few
moments servant cane up. ! called to
him TO bring police oficer-there is some
thing serious going on here. In a moment
the passage was filed with the inmates of the
house. In shert time a q STAR made his
appearance and took the man into custody
The landlord said he had arrived that even
ing without baggage.
l was summoned the next day before the
Police Court. While in the room a gentleman
entered and claimed the supposed burglar as
his brother, nidnidc, whom he had been
conducting to the Insane Asylum in Philadel-
phia, and who had escaped from him while
in that city. He had made his way to New
York, and with the we'll known cunning of a
madman, had managed to avoid detection L
suppose the Power Of the Eye, - for kept
mine fixed on his, had restrained him, other
wise he could easily have mastered me in a
moment. Since then, whilst in a strange
place, / have been careful to examine ana
secure my chamber before retiring.
AN ARMY OFFICER