The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-07
RAVENNA, THURSDAY, JAN. 7, 1858.

hands upon the curtains, and, for few mo.
ments, fumbIed to find the opening. These
moments were all in all to Ellen Sterling.
Despair sharpaned her senses; she found
that the other side OF the bed was not set so
close against the wall but that she could pass
between. Into the narrow Space betw en-
she contrved TO slip noselessIy.
She hud hardly accomplished the difficult
feat, and sheltered herseI behind the cur.
tains, when the creature flung itself on the
bed, and drawing the bed clothes round
him, uttered sound more like the winnying
ot.p horse than the laugh of human being.
For some little time Miss Sterling stood
in her narrow hiding place, trembling with
cold and terror, fearful lest some unguarded
movement should betray her, and bring down
upon her fate she dare not contemplate -
She lifted up her heart in prayer for courage;
and when her composure had in some degree
returned, it occurred to her that if she could
but reach the window, she might from that
position, possibly. attract the attention of
some passer by, and DO released from her
terrible durance.
Very cautiously she attempted the perilous
experiment; her bare feet moved noiselessly
across the fJor, and friendly ray of moon.
light guided her sofely towards the window.
AS she put out her hand towards the cur
tains, her heart gave fresh bound of terror,
for it came in contact with something soft
and warm. At length she remembered that
she had flung down her cloak in that spot,
when she was. chilled to the bone. She
wrapped it round her and reached the win
dow without further adventure, or any alarm
from the occupant of the bed; whose heavy
regular breathing gave assurance that he was
now sound asleep. The look. out from the
window was anything but inspiriting. The
stars still shone peacefully on the sleeping
Garth; the moon still showed her pallid Wis
age; not sight or sound presOged dawn; and
after long liatening in va jim for any sign of
life in the outer world, size heard the stable
clock strike four.
Only four /!
She felt as If it were impossible to sur.
wye even another hour of terror such as she
had just passed through. Was there no
hope! None.
She tried to support herself against the
window frame, but her fr,t touch caused it
to shake and cfeak in manner that seemed
to her stnrtlngIy loud; she fencied thqt the
creature moved uneGsily on its bed at the
sound. Drops Of naony fell from her brow
as minute af'er minute wore heavily on; ev-
er and anon rustic of the bed cl)thes, or q
slight clank of the m9naacled hands, sent a
renewed CHI to her heart.
The clock struck FIVE.
Still all without was silent. Suddenly, a
mans whistle, was heard in the court, and
the driver Of the nail coach, lantern in hand
crossed towards the pavilion. Would to G cd
she could call to him, or in any way attract
his attention! but she dared not make the
slightest sound. Ile looked up at the win
dow, against which he almost brushed in
passing; and the light he held, flashed on
Hiss Stering's crouching figure. He paus-
ed, Looked again, and seemed about to speak,
when she hastily made signs that he should
be silent, but seek assistance at the house
He gave her glance of intelligence, and
hestened away.
How long his absence seemed! Could he
have understood her! The occupant of the
bed was growing every instant more nnc
more restless; he was rising from the bed
he was cropping round the room. They would
come too late, too late
But no steps in the courtyard the Rey
turning--the door opens--then, with vel
that rang in Ellen Sterline's ear until hel
dying day, the creature rushed to her hiding
place, dashed the slight window. frame te
pieces, and finding himself banked o: hi:
purposed escape by the strength of the iror
bars outside, turned, like wild beast, on hi.
pursuers. She was the first on whom hi
glance FELL He clasped her throat; his fac;
was close to hers; his glittering eyes were
glaring at her in frenzy--,when blow from
behind felled him.
She awoke from long swoon to find her
self safe in Mrs. Atherton's dressing-room
ard to heurr that no one was hurt but 'h
poor maniac, and that he was again in th
hands of his keepers from whom he had es
capped few hours Before. '...
ga few hours A lifetime, Marry =
| But Heaven, be thanked, it is passed like
wild dream"
1t was not all past. One enduring effet
remained, ever after, to imprint on Ellie
Sterling's memory, and on the memories {
all who knew her, the. event of that lon
night. Such had been her suffering, anxiet
and terror, that, in these few hours, her ha
had turned as white as snow.--Househol
Words.