The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-10-20

might be, I began breathing loud
{ and regularly, while watching him ear
| fully through my half eyelids.
! The Jew remained for while obsers
! ing me, if to make sure that my slice
was real but then, as if every dout
{ were removed. he crept quietly back t
the chimney, threw some brushwood o
) the glimmering charcoal, which began n t
glisten and crackle, and went to the or
posite end of the room, where the crock
sftery was kept. Anxionsly I watche,
him but must confess that my bloo
, appeared to stagnate, and an icy feelin;
q rap down my back, when saw him TAX
q up long cleaning knife, and while try
: ing it's edge with his thumb, seemed t,
measure the distance between hiplsel
aud his s'victim.
Z. AS | have told you before, believt
| am anything but a coward have
stood before four foot barricade and
looked up into the gaping muzzlas Of
the cannon as they poured a shower Of
bullets on our slight defences, but L am
4 bound to say that the present was the
! most uncomfortable moment in my life.
The calculating villainy of the old scouu-
drel, and the simplicity with which 1
had entered the snare, seemed to rendcr
escape almost impossible. Still mad e
up my mind to sell my life as dearly as
! possible. Fortunately 1 had in my
| pocket Spanish spring back stiletto,
generally employed in the peaceful du-
ties of cutting bread and cheese--Ger-
man and French knives being made, like
Peter Pindar's razors, to sell and not
to cut-and I cautiously moved my
,hand to my breast pocket, and noise,
lessly drew it out. When once held
itin my hand, my confidence Seturned
to me. [ opened it very quietly, and
then laying my left arm across my
breast, to parry the frs. blow, which
would probably be aimed there, l held
my knife FIRMLY elutchcd in my hand,
and awaited tho attack with ground
teeth but no failing determination. My
heart, though, would beat so loudly aud
so violently, that feared the Jew must
hear it; but when 1 saw him approach
ug, with the knife cautiously held be-
hind his back-when l felt his foot
against my own--when he bent over me,
and felt along the wall with his lie hand,
IA spot on which to rest it aud give his
blow with more certainty, my fears en-
tirely disappeared. It is we'll known
fact that danger reilly exists only so
long as it threatens US, and it is robbed
of more than half its terrers when it
breaks over US with undiminished force
This was just my case. had felt terri
fed, and could hardly struggle against
the feeling, SO. long as the danger was
drawing nearer ara nearer to me, but
every thought save that of self defence,
disappeared when knew that the knife
was directed against my heart. So soon
as he struck at me, determined to par
ry the blow by means of the left arm,
and the blanket lying over it would af
ford me great protection; but then l
would start up aud bury my kife in the
vil'aiu's ribs, before he could recover
from his surprise or summon the dog
should soon be able to overcome the
weak old man, aud, as for the brute,
once Oh my legs, I dare say could
keep him from doing me an injury.
Suct was my line of thought, and l
was quite prepared to carry it into effect. |
But why did the jew hesitate so long? |
He had advanced his left foot little, |
b arm was still supported against the
wall, yet he Gid not raise his other arm
to strike the blow. Was he afraid? I |
bit my teeth more close together, and
almost longed for the decisive moment |
to come, SO excited did feel-anythiug !
sooner than endure this horrible sus
pense. Suddenly the Jew drew back;
be did not strike at me--bis left arm |
Al lrll
hardly knew whether l was awake or
same loaf from which I |
had previously been eating. He walked
With it to the fire, cut off a hunch
with the fearful long knife, laid the re-
mainder on the chimney board, and,
after poking up the wood fire till it
threw brilliant light over the room,
ne began quietly eating, without troub
ing himself any further about my pres
,nce.
l drew deep breath-it was as if
arge stone had been rolled off my chest
land lay for long while i'll a sort of
lreamy condition, hardly able to realise
his state of perfect security following
closely on the danger which l had fam
lied 50 shortly before had menaced me.
really began to feel ashamed of the
,ruel injustice 1 had done though only
N thought, to man who had so hos
1itably entertained me; and l almost
'elt inclined to jump up and tell him of
ny foolish suspicious. But no-that
would not do-he would laugh at me;
IT'LL felt must do something, if only
o reconcile my own conscience. l.,
herefore, shut up my knife IS quietly
Is possible, returned it to my pocket,
md then, pretending to wake from a
leep sleep. threw off the blanket, took
he sack, and put my feet quietly into
'Ahar chuckied my host, who on
,earing my movement, turned his head
quietly toward me; 'one's feet gets cold
# nights, if they have been wet during
he day. but the sack will keep them
yarm enough.
L think SO, too. 1 fancy it will be
,etter so,' replied; then fell back on
ny somewhat hard pillow, drew the blank
,tap to my chin; and ina few seconds had
ALLEN into deep and sweet sleep
When | woke the next morning found
hat the sun was high in the heavens,
Iud on the table a comfortable Breakfast
lad been laid. a pretty little girl was
id lying the room, and her presence real
y rendered it quite cheerful.
so sir, she said, good humoredlyn
you arc awake at last. Uncle did not
like to disturb you. | am sorry, though
you had no better bed than this, but
,nly came home last night from Stras-
1ourg, on visit, and we had ali gono to