Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-13

"o' W ioPoa' ner 'isit, the door bell rang, and
we found a policeman waiting for admittance
He stated, that passing short time before, b,
observed one of the front windows hastil,
pened Something was thrown out, and ther
| IL was as quickly shut. After a short search
he found a very large and sharp Spanish knife
which, he presumed, was the article thrown
from the window. He also observed two fel
lows OF suspicious appearance lettering abou
| the place, and discovered them to be father and
son-men of bad character-who got good
living nobody knew how. He had warned
them away, and returned to see if anything
were amiss in the house.
On being Informed of my visitor and her tale
he expressed wish to see her, and at once re
cognised her as the daughter of elder and sis
ter to the younger, man he had dismissed
Instead Of liberating the woman, as we
thought of doing, we now deemed it prudent "a
| give her into custody. No one present at bel
examination entertained the slightest doubt
that, during the short time she was in Mrs.
Wingate house, after became an inmate of
it, she had remarked the materials used, and
that regular plan had been organized 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 unperceiyed
! had she chosen; and that the visit TO her was
paid against her will-she having no desire to
continue any acquaintance with person more
than suspected of dishonesty Still, we could
charge her with nothing but the concealment
and after being cautioned against placing her
self again In such situation, she was dis
| charged.
The story was much talked about and got
well quizzed by many ladies of my acauaint-
ance; but after all, the thing might have
proved no joke to me. remained some months
longer in the place. and before left it heard
many accounts of threats which the womap's $
lie rel twas had Hrrft G.
ing suspicion on innocent % people had
probably injured their business; for, fancy,
after what had occurred, few parties would have
been willing to employ my nocturnal visitor in
their house.
Three years elapsed from the date of nv ad-
venture, and had almost forgotten it, when
business again called me to the same town At
first l only thought of remaining a few days;
but finding l should be detained longer, l
sought out my former lsndlady, as-that one
night excepted had been particularly COM
Portable under her roof. Finding my old apart
ments vacant, gladly took possession of them
a second time
During my former stay, made many agree
able acquaintances, and nOw-it being near
Christmas-I received many invitations to sup
per parties, etc, which 1 fancy were not the
less numerous because | was still bachelor.
On Cbristmas-eve accepted one, to spend it
with a friend at his father s house, where there
was very large and charming family of sons
and daughters. The father was a fine, jovial
Old fellow, and the mother just the cheerful
but eyen-tempered, gentle soul, who alone
could bring mp such girls as hers. We had
glorious evening.
All sorts of glorious Chris tmas fun was car
ried on, and | kissed pretty girls under the
mistletoe, until either with that pleasa Mt exer-
else, or with quenching the thirst it excited,
became slightly elevated. was to dine there
next day, and my friends would fain have per
suaded Inc to stay all night; but / was deter
mined to return to my lodgings as knew Mrs
Wlngate would sit up for me- Ii was past mid
night when bade my kind entertainers good
night, and with hasty, but not too steady
step, set out on my homeward journey.
was soon at home and in bed Mrs Win
gate had more than once laughed about the odd
figure L cut on the occasion of MY old adyen-
ture. She had also informed me that the two
men who had played the street part had been
since detected whilst attempting to commit
burglary, and imprisoned for twelve months;
but were now at liberty. The good lady mani.
tested no small uneasness on nv account, and
cautioned me to be very careful not to give
them any opportunity Of executing their threats
OF vengeance against me.
Her evident timidity and anxiety only ex-
cited my mirth, but was, nevertheless, care
ful to examine the fastenings of my door, and
always both locked and bolted it,
When L reached my lodgings OF Christmas
eve was rs L said little elevated, and, con-
trary to my usual custom, on getting into bed
| could not sleep.
began to think over the amusements of the
evening, criticising the fair faces had been 80
close TO, wishing had such a cheerful home;
specula.ing as to my chance of success in the
event of my asking one of the said fair damseIs
to part with her name in favor of mine and
thanking my stars, that, at any rate, should
be guest at the same place on the morrow
The clock struck two, and found my thoughts
still busy; but a sudden check was given to the
| current of my ideas. / heard sort of grating
sound. and then felt certain some one was mo
wing stealthiiy up the kitchen stairs. At first
| was a little alarmed, imagining thieves were
in the house, and then-pshaw. thought /,
Mrs Wlngate has been sitting up latersfhan
usual, to finish her Christmas pudding. 1t is
| rather singular that my former adventure did
not then enter my mind though it had occur
red in that very spot. / listened again. The
footsteps were certainly audible, close to my
room doOr-a hand was on the lock-it turned
they were stealing along the floor of my
| apartment-I became sensible Of the presence
| Of two persons--and now l felt all the horrors
| of my situation. Every iOta of what had for
mcrly happened there, the menaces Of the two
fellows who had then, doubtless, been disap-
pointed of their prey, and the thought of my
own powerlessness nearly drove me mad.
| Fool, idiot, that was-I had in my tpsy
folly rushed upon my fate. e
had refused the cordial invitation which
| would have secured he from all danger, and
had neglected the precautiOn of securing the
door Of my room almost for the first time in
my life within my recollection. l became
aware Of a dim light; and, partially opening
my eyes, l perceived two rascals fumblng
about a lantern. l am not ashamed to own
was perfectly parsly ysed with terror, and utter
| ly incapable of doing anything-indeed whai
could l do! L saw them remove the candle
from the lantern. and convert my inkstan nd
into a candlestick. One proposed lighting tn,
gas. but the other objected, that. if disturbe 4
he might he hurried, and turn it the wronI
way. They then, with singular quickness ant
dexterity ransacke ed my desk and cases, which
they opened by means of skeleton keys. Thi
done, and the plumber tied in handkerchief
the younger Of the tive suggested, with an oath
that they should finish Mm.
lie approached my bed drew aside the eur
tains, and, though burst not look, felt wa
gazing in my face. Againhe turned aside an
fumbled in bis pocket, a. IL searching for some
l