Delaware Democrat. (Wilmington, Del.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-10

in attempting to pass your house, induced
ME to solicit lodgings for the night"
awe are not" she replied, "well guard
cd, It's truc; but in this part OF the coun-
try we have little to fear from robbers, for
we have never heard of any being near ds;
we are surrounded by good neighbors, and
hattcr myself We are at peace with thers.
But this evening, in consequence Of my
fathers absence, felt unusually lone
some, and if it was not bordering on tho
supersttious, | might reason as you have,
and say l consent to your staying; for sim.
liar feelings had been mine ere you srri-
we'd; from what cause cannot imagine"
The evening passed delightfully."- away
my young hostess was intelligent and love-
lyi the hours flew so quickly, that on look
ing at my watch was surprised to ind
that it was eleven o'clock. This wss tho
signal for retiring; and by twelve every
inmate of the house was probably asleep
save myself | could not sleep-strango
visions tloatcd across my brain, aud Hay
twisting on my bed, in all the agony Of
sleeplcss suspense. The clock struck ohsf
its last vibrating sound had scarcely
died away, when the opening of shutter
and the raising Of sash in one Of the
lower apartments, convinced me soure ote
was eutcring the house. A noise follow
ed as of person jumping from the win.
dow sill 10 tho floor, and then followed n
light aud almost noiseless step, Of one as;
cending 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 pis-
tol and slipped on parto my clothes, de-
tcrmiDing to watch or listen to the mote
ments seemingly mysterious or suspicious;
the sound of steps stopped at my door
then followed one as if applying the cat',o
the kcyholc, aud low breathing convinc.
cd me the villain was listening lstood'
motiouless, the pistol firmly grasped. Not
a muscle moved, nor nerve was slack
ened, for felt as if Heaven had selected
me out as the instrument to eilcc. its puf-
pose.
The person now slowly passed on, and I
as cautisusly approached the door Of my
bedchambcr.
l now went by instinct, or ratherby the
conveyance Of sound, for as soon as I'hesrd
". hand s...I- The latch of one door mihs
seized the of6ef-T deop slIsuuc rbfiSwxuf
this movement; il seemed as il ho had
heard the sound, and waited the repctitIbtF
it came not = all was still; he might baso
considered it the echo Of his OWE noise. I
heard the door open softly-I also opened
mine, and the very moment stepped intb
the entry, | caught a glimpse ofa tall NAB
entering the lighted chamber through the
half'opened door. | glanced my eyes ih.'
to the room. No object was visible save
the curtaircd bed, within whose sheets lay
the intended victim to a midnight assassin
and he, gracious heaven, a negro
For at that moment, tall fierce looking,
black approached the bed; and never werS
Othello and Desdemona more naturally
at least, that particular sceu6
of the immortal bard's conceptions;
| was now all suspense; my heart swelll
cd into my throat almost to sutibtation,'
my eyes to cracking, as | made a bouhd
into the room.
The black villain had ruthlessly dragged
part Of the covering off the bed, when the
sound Of my foot caused him to turn: hs
started, and thus confronted. we stood
gazing on each other few seconds; bis
eyes shot fre-fury was depicted in' bis
countenance. He made spring towards
me, and the next moment lay a cofp4s oh
the floor!
The noise of the pistol aroused the fhir
sleeper; she started in the bed, and sdcrt.
ed an angel of the whitg clouds eriiergiH,
FROM her downy bed to soar up to tho
skies.
Tho first thing that presented its6lf to-
her view was myself standing near her,
with pistol in my hand. .-,
"Ob, do not murder inc take all
you cannot, will not kill me, sir 7"
The servants now rushed in-ail was
now explained.
The wretch turned out tobe q vagabend,
supposed to be runaway slave from Viz
giuia. ] had the proyidential opportunity
Of rescuing one from the worst Of fates,
who, in after years, called die husband,
and related to our children her miracu-
lous escape from the bold attack Of mid
night assassin.