The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-02-25
SrIrrtrA Skrtrbr5.
A MOMENT OF HORRC1,
BY AN ARMY OFFICER.

Ct" Lot propose To tell story either
of romance or OF sentiment but s,m,Iv ,r
marraic an incident which Enrr.rcj ,n
rnN,"ii IN the fall oi 1856. va, bound
westward 10 my I"gucuI, and >'npprJ
!"r IT." lnGht IN the ciry Of New York.
The city WAS cr"wd"d with STRANGERS
After unsuccessful applications a, several
hotels, at ST obtained lodging at --'s
Kept "a ;ra EHr"p"nn plar Here WA,
Obliged 10 comtrn' myself with a cha,nhrr
"n tue fourth floor, oddly enough arraHr
"d III some RESPECTS rs. upon cuiur 10 II
a''"r Snrpng, for the pnpnsc "f changing
MY travel Staucl dress. rutirpd ,h.
room had M window, with the exception
oi square orcurg III the wall, through
Which ait aud light were u,lr.irtrd from
tic adjoining room To rl,r opening. too
was attached u >hrircr ~ THAI roam. |
dressed and attended the Buwcry :l..arre.
reaching my apartment. on returning.
about half past twelve o'clock at niyh,.
W hen about stepping in'o bed. Oh
served the wicket op"u, a,rl a rhuu.,h,
"''""k me 20 tax" Il I'ok INTO the a.!ioin
ing "pwtn"nt. Why t, WIS know nor;
perhaps "a se@sc Of my o!I Insecurity nc
;uat. Il :nc.
got int" ch.ir aud gaycL through
Ihc window into the chanhcr. NJ Que
MAS rh"rc nj II VAS furnished like m,
own. A lamp WAS burning upon the IA
3'e, aud nn ;ii. later wer. lv,ny a hol.,.r
u milestone aud pair Of large false wLis.
k,fs.
Wei, thought |. thes" nrc rather queer
articles o. wardrobe. Ai.-r Il rlaute q,
IL. premises | felt anvthn. hu, c,sy
finally got mt h,d, fist p!ac'ug the laup
upon rhc floor at ihe Too, and exIInnin
my ps."'. ! laid it carefully under my
bead Al tir~', though quite ratigurl, /
could not sleep, and when did dos.
nv dreauis were uneasy troublcd. Mac
beth had teen the play at tn" theatre.
ana vi che. and black whiskerS, Bnnuuu',
ghost, with pistol, holsters and the hk.
nat r"Hiiu2 'Is.t"rs, w-re ;ne .coupnuioE>
"t my dreamy thoughts. About three
"'r'""k 1t mrG.ht have been. | was aroused
10y somewhat 81, gn'ar noise. On listen.
ny, II r,rI"niiv proceeded from ia. n.xI
rnuiu. II would be hkru,d To uorhiny |
hai ever heard; it was. regular and
ncial!i" in It's sound Tor instance, as ~ uht
'r made ~ cutting glass with diamond
suddenly | Thought Of the milestone ON
rhr table, and at the moment bpc.r e con
wheel ia" nose WAS that "f knit. hriur
,N"rprn"d. Til" whct'ing now c.as-.l, =
Nv hrd was placed in the diag"nrl corner
1T the rnQm from the wicket, u,d | haI
been Icing with my back lu the latter. |
turned in my bed as uoiSicsslv as possible
=" as :" face the wicket. gra>ped m,
pistol Tie lamp Was burning drmly,
aud all WAS still AS death.
A. NV eye fell upon the window, it
encountered first u hand place.' upon the
sill: then rose 10y degrees head, with
pair "f gathering black ewes. g'ra, heavy
whskcrS. aud ~ ioug sharp kni. between
hi, teeth think possess the ordinary
courage Of "a man, but must confess the
blood III my VEINS srcn!cd To -curdlc as
viewed the nrpar'''on. Quick as liglr
ning sprung up IN my bee aud poin n :
my pistol. cried out:
IL YOU move muscle from your 20
sili"n you're dead man"
The ewes glatcd, tho head remaining
however, rs described, rhe man not utter
ing syllable. got out Of led, and with
piStn! still presented and ewes fixel on his
| backed t" tire bell rope and pulled it Vi
Gently. In n few moments servant
cisu" mp. ] called To him to bring "A pn
lice oil ey--there is something serious
going on here. L a moment the passage
was filed with the inmates Of the house
In u short time "stnr" made his appear
ance and took the man into custo,iy.-
he landlord saii he had rived that eve.
ming without baggage
The next dav n gentleman claimed The
suprDssd assassin NJ his brother, mani
nc, whom he had been conducting to- the
insane asylum in PuIadelphia, aud who
had escaped from him while IN that cit, .
lie had made his way To- New York, and
with the we'll known cunning of n mad
man, had managed to- avoid drIection.-
| suppose The "powvr IS The eye"-for
kept mine fixed on his-had restrained
him, otherwise he could easily have uas.
tered ine 10 u moment. Since then. when
in . strange place. have heen cnreiul lo
examine aud secure my chamber before
retlring.
A crapti,naf. l,y.n,, a., a., t....,