Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-07-15

u SOuuu steep. uSteneU dttentlVely, ly
ing perfectly still, and, in moment, dis
tinctly felt something move below my bed
| knew no one could have entered after
laid bown, as l am light sleeper, and th'
door was too well secured to be opened
without a noise therefore felt sure tha
they had been under my bed before l com
menced working, and, having fallen asleep
and been awakened by the boistrous laugh
ter which had dispelled my own dream. b
What was to do? l feared the mo-
ment | set foot on the floor l should be
seized, and what could la little fellow,
almost naked, unarmed-do against one
or perhaps more, doubtless prepared for 8
struggle?
Oddly enough, the remembrance of my
dream gave me courage. had loaded
pistols in the room, and once out of bed,
should be able TO seize them in a moment
| resolved TO leap out and secure the wea-
pons before lighting the gas, since /, being,
as | presumed, better acquainted with the
arrangement of the furniture, might man.
age in the dark to elude my antagonist
These thoughts occupied but few seconds.
In as many more, the pistols were in my
hand and the gas lighted. The intruder
did not venture to appear, and the delay
gave me courage. L boldly commanded
that individual to advance and take the
chance of bullet. Something immedi-
ately began to move, and | soon saw the
cause of my alrrm. What was it, think
you? You cannot guess. l will tellyou
it was woman! l see you are all begin
ming to laugh; and suppose you think
there is some long story in the case; and
that damsel, beautiful rs Houri, or a
heroine-which is all the same-whom l
had wooed only to betray, had concealed
herself there to reproach me with broken
VOWS, etc. @
All wrong. The deuce bit of romance
is there in the whole affair. Had you seen
the course, sullen, ill-favored woman who
stood before Inc, wrapped in dingy plaid
shawl, you would not suspect such thing,
especially as you have seen a specimen of
my taste in the shape of lady who bears
my name.
After all, the scene was droll enough
There stood l, shivering- in my night ha-
biliments, pistol in hand, ready to interro-
gate my visitor. She looked carving knives
in return; but not seeming in the least
shocked at my scanty garment, though
evidently desirous of turning her back both
on them and the wearer. On looking, l
thought her features seemed familiar, and
recollected she had lived as servant in
the house; but my landlady suspecting her
of dishonesty, discharged her shortly after
my arrival.
l was about to question her, but think
ing it advisable to have witness, | COM
manded her to remain where she was. and
insured her obedience by locking the door.
l reused the family, as | was returning to
my prisoner, heard my bedroom window
hastily closed. "Ahr' thought |, "you
are all right there for staying where you
are; for the window is strongly barred" y
On being interrogated, she said my land
lady had forbidden her coming into the
house, but being friendly with the other
servant, she ventured to visit her.
While talking in the kitchen, she heard
the mistress approaching, and fearing dis
covery, stole up stairs, crept into my room,
and hid herself below the bed, intending to
leave the house when all was quiet. Ny
early entrance cut off her escape, and she
supposed she had fallen asleep, as she re-
menbered nothing more till aroused by
loud fit of laughter. This seemed plausi-
bic enough, and but for the sequel would
have passed off very well. AS we were
about to dismiss her, with caution not to
repeat her visit, the door-bell rang, and we
found policeman waiting for admittance.
He stated that passing short time before,
he observed one of the front windows has
tily opened. Something was thrown out,
and then it was quickly shut. After a
short search, he found very large and
sharp Spanish knife, which, he presumed,
was tie article thrown from the window.
He also observed two fellows of suspicious
appearance, lettering about the place, and
discovered them to be the father and son
men of bad character, who got a living
knew how. He had warned
them away, and returned to see if anything
was amiss in the house.
On being informed of my visitor and
her tale, he expressed wish to see her,
and at once recognized her as the daughter
of the elder, and sister to the younger man
he had dismissed.
Instead of liberating the woman, as we
thought of doing, we deemed it prudent to
give her into custody. No one present at
her examination entertained doubt that,
during the short time she was in Mrs.
Wingate's house, after became an inmate
of it, he had remarked the materials had
used, and that regular plan had been or
ganized to rob, and perhaps murder me.
The other servant also deposed, on oath,
that her hiding in my room was needless,
as she had abundant time to leave the
house unperceived, had she chosen; and
that the visit to her was against her will
she having no desire to continue any ac-
quaintance with person more than sus-
pected of dishonesty. Still, we could
charge her with nothing but the conceal
ment, and after being cautioned against
placing herself again in such situation,
she was discharged.
The story was much talked about, and
l got well quizzed by many ladies of my
but after all, the thing might
have proved no joke to me. l remained
some months longer in the place, and be-
fore | left it heard many accounts OF threats
which the woman's male relatives had ut
tered against me, for casting suspicion on
innocent q people. | had probably in