Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-16
fFrom Reynolds London Miscellany.l
Am AMERICAN HEROINE.

ing over the shoulders, and pale, resolute face
clad in long flowing dressing gown and hold
ing, light high above its head, and looking
steadily down on me, as / ascended the stairs
this was what saw as went up to my
room in the Spread Eagle Inn, Grace church
ST., on the night of the eighteen Of September
l84S. as am Christian
l stopped short and looked at the figure, as
it was looking at me. l had not been drink
ing | was not walking in my sleep, and more
| than all, knew the face and form-but what
! in the name of common sense, was young la
dy doing in the passage of On old Inn at that
hour, alone, and in such dress She blushed
scarlet as | drew near. and wrapped her dress
! ing gown more closely around her but the
next moment she was as pale as before, and
spoke to me eagerly and hurriedly, but in
very low voice.
Sir, are you the landlord Of this Inn 2"
/ am not, madam"
Do you know where he is ?"
Down stairs in the coffee room, think.
But what is the matter ? Are you i'll ? Has
anything gone wrong 2"
She stamped her foot slightly with impatience
and looked me full in the face. Fine eyes she
had-blue and soft, in general-but now they
were blazing.
Don't stop to ask such questions, ,sr Bring
him here at once and come back with him
yourself. Bring pistols, if you have them, do
you hear? And run for your life-for your
life !" she added, leaning over the bannisters,
and speaking in the very same low, hurried
tones
was away in an instant, though | knew
no more of my errand than the man in the
| RutI I cho 10 RI hp p1an "
would not have done the same. Apart from
the fact that she was claiming my aid and pro-
lection, there was something in the ring of that
voice, low as it was, and the fash of the eye,
that warned me she was not to be trifed with.
She would have made good general, had she
been man and, wager my head, not SOL
dier would have dared to retreat, had she spo-
ken Us she did to me that night But before
finish nv story, | must begin it. | am not a
laundering fellow My wife always says, if q
mistake can be made, am sure to make it !;
and believe was going to tell you about the
landlords coming, before said what he was
coming for Now, then, / will commence the
thing rightly.
asked the landlord about the party in the
evening. He looked at the book, and read
the names-Rev Edward Williams, and lady,
Mrs Arnold, New York city.
"Thcy are Americans, then p | eXclaim
ed
$50 it seems. They came here three weeks
ago by the packet, and are going to Paris next
month Very nice people they seem, but they
have queer ways. All Americans have, l am
told"
Yes-they seem odd to us, no doubt" l
said musingly, scarcely knowing what had
answered And then started for my room
which was No. 40.
must now proceed to state that Mrs. Ar
nOld's room was on the second floor, just above
No 40, and looking out upon Grace church
street itself. To it she went on quietly on that
eventful evening, at the hour OF ten. Some
thing made her wakeful She sat down at her
toilet table, and talked while to the house
keeper, who had come up with clean pillow ca
Ses, and asked many questions about the house
and family How they broached the topic, |
do not know-but after time they began to
think land to speak about that strange pheno-
menon, called spiritual rapping." The Cock
Lane ghost was brought upon the carpet, and
various other stories told, till Mrs. Arnold grew
nervous, and laughingly declared she would
hear no more. Then the hOusekeeper bade
her good night, and she locked her door and be-
gan to prepare for bed
The room was large, rather dark, and full Of
corners and receSses The light of the two
wax candles on the toilet table only served to
make these corners visible in their shadowy
gloom. The bed was high, and hung about
with dark crimson curtains the furniture OF
the room was dark, too and the cushions of
. the chairs and the covers of the tables red al
so. 1t is color which needs much light to set
it off to advantage it looked dismal enough to
her Just then At one end of the room door
led into kind of large closet, which was un-
furnished, and looked out into the courtyard;
but this door opened oat into Mrs. Arnold's
room and looked on that side. Sometime linen
!; was kept there and the housekeeper had eVi.
IDENTIFY been there that night, for the key was in
the lock and the door a little njar. Mrs Ar
mold would have preferred it shut, but she Was
t too timid to cross the room just then.
She undressed slowly. singing in q low voice
, AS she bent down to unlacc her boot, she hap
5 pened to cast her eye towards the cost, (She
had vision like an eagle, } and to her surprise
and terror, she saw the door move distinctly
only the lower part of it, for she had presence
3 of mind enough not to start, and the bed con-
| ceaIed the upper part as she was STOPPING The
9 legend of that woman who saw the great boot
of man under the bed, yet had the courage
' to stay in the room all the evening, going on
with her ordinary household duties within
: reach of the assassn's knife, till her husband
r came and she was safe, flashed across her mind
+; and taught her how to act She yawned luxu
riously, interruptng her singing one moment
n and then went on with steady voice. After
s she had prepared for bed, she folded her dress
9 ing gown around her, and brushed her hair be
y fore the glass In that mirror she could SEE
!, the door move now aud then, as if her visitor
b was getting impatient and once it creaked
She started, naturally, and threw her slippe
t against the wall, ss IL 10 frighten away tn,
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