Butte record., 1856-07-19
The Midnight Assassin.

year 10; IL was IOWdruS lue COlu
evenings in the first fall month, when
my horse stopped suddenly before a
respectable house, about forty miles
from N.
There was something strange and
remarkable in this action of my horse,
nor would he stir a step in spite of all
my exertions to move him on. | de-
termined to crafty this whim, and at
the same time strange presentlment
which came over me, kind of super
natural feeling. indescribable, seemed
to urge me to enter. Having Knocked,
and requested to be conducted to the
lady or gentleman of the house, was
ushered into a neat sitting-room,
where sat a beautiful girl of about
twenty years of age. She rose at my
entrance, and seemed a little surp-
rised at the appearance of perfect
stranger. In a few words | related
to her the strange conduct of my
horse, and his stubborn opposition to
my mind. 81 am not" | observed,
"superstitious, nor inclined on the
side of the metaphysical doctrines Of
those who support them; but the
range, unaccountable feeling that
crept over me in attempting to pass
your house induced me to solicit lodg-
ings for the night
1'We are not," she replied, ''well
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
| fiattcr myself we are at peace with
them. But this evening, in conse-
quence of my fathers absence, | felt
unusually lonesome, and if it was 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 | cannot ina CINE"
The evening passed Delightfully."-
away. My young hostess was intelli-
gent and lovely; the hours flew so
quickly that on looking at my watch ]
was surprised to find that it was elcv-
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 sleepless suspense. The
clock struck one-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 a person jumping from
the window sill to the floor, and then
followed a light and almost noiseless
step, of one ascending the stairway.
l 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.
l had seized my pistol and slipped on
part of my clothes, determined to
watch or listen to the movements
seemingly my sterious or suspicious.
The sound of steps stopped at my
door-then followed one as if apply
ing the ear to the keyhole, and low
breathing convinced me the villain
was listening. ! stood motionless, the
pistol firmly grasped. Not a muscle
moved, nor nerve was slackcned,
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. lnow 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 it the
echo of his own noise. / heard the
door open softly; | also opened mine,
and the very moment | stepped into
the entry l caught glimpse Of tall
man entering the lighted chamber
through the half-opened door. ! CLAN
ced into the room-no object was
visible save the curtained bed, within
whose sheets lay the intended victim
to a midnight assassin, and he, gra-
cious heaven, negro! For at that
moment tall fierce looking black ap-
preached the bed; and never were
Othello and Desdemona more natu-
rally represented-at least that par
ticular scene of the immortal bard's
conception.
was now all suspense; my heart
swelled into my throat almost to suffo-
cation, my eyes to cracking, as | made
bound into the room.
The black villain had ruthlessly
dragged part of the covering off the
bed, when the sound of my foot caus-
ed him to turn. He started, and thus
confronted. we stood gazing on each