Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-17
EVENING STAR.
THRILLING INCIDENT.
Midnight Adventure of q Bride Elect-Ex-
trnordinary Revel.

K
trnordinary Revel. $50
Women often possess presence of mind, and
the power Of self control under circumstances
of imminent peril, which seem almost foreign
to their nature and beyond the endurance Of q
delicate physical organization. A striking in
stance Of self command, by lady whose fears
must have been powerfully excited, and whose
life OF afiuence had probably never before
given her nerves any severer test than Is incl
dent to the vexatiOns of domestic cares, Is
given in Chambers Journal for October. We
copy the adventure, promising by way OF ex-
PLANTATION that the lady was the daughter OF q
rector residing in a quiet English country vii
lage, and was upon the eve of marriage:
The wedding-day was to be on the morrow
of that on which our adventure happened.
Grand preparations were made for the we'd
ding: and the rector's fine old plate and the
costly gifts of the bride, were discussed with
pride and pleasure at the Hare and Hounds,
In the presence Of some strangers who had come
down to a prize-fght which had taken place in
the neighborho0d
That night, Adelaide, who occupied a sepa-
rate room from her sister, sat up late-lOng
after all the household had retired TO rest. She
had had long interview with her father and
had been reading chapter to which he had
directed her attention and had packed up her
jewels, &c. She was, consequently, still dressed
when the church clock tolled midnight As il
ceased, she fsncied she heard a noise like that
of file; she listened, but could distinguish
nothing clearly. 1t might have been made by
some Of the servants still about, or perhaps it
was only the creaking of the old trees. She
heard nothing but the signing of the winter
winds for many minutes afterwards. House
breakers were mere myths in primitive Thyn-
don; and the bride elect, without a thought OF
fear, resumed her occupation. She was gazing
on glittering set of diamonds, destined to be
At the nod Nh ha1
softly opened. She turned, looked up, and be-
held man with a black mask, holding pis-
toll in his hand, standing before her.
She did not scream; for her thought was for
her father, who slept in the next room, and to
whom any sudden alarm might be death, for he
was old, feeble, and suffering from heart CON-
plant. She confronted the robber boldly. and
addressed him in a whisper: "You are come, ~
said she, I" to rob US. Spare your soul the awful
guilt Of murder. My father sleeps next to nv
room; and to be startled from his sleep would
kill him. Make no noise, 1 beg of you"
The fellow was astonished and cowed.
"We WON'T make any noise" he replied sud
denly, if you give us everything quietly
Adelaide drew back and let him take her
jewels-not without pang, for they were pre-
cious love gifts, remarkiDg at the same time
that two more masked rufians stood at the half
opened door. As he took the jewel case and
watch from the table, and demanded her purse,
A.
Tiers room. She received a surIy affirmative:
he wasn't agOing to run all risk and leave
half the tin behindn' She proposed instantly
that she should 60 herself, saying; Il will
bring you whatever you wish, and you may
guard me thither, and kill me if 1 play false TO
you" he fellow consulted his comrades and
after short parley they agreed to the propo-
sal and with pistol pointed at her head, the
dauntles girl crossed the passage and entered
the old rector's room Very gently she stole
across the chamber, and removing his purse,
watch, keys and desk, she gave them I'D TO the
robbers who stood at the door. The old man
slept peacefully AID calmly, thus guarded by
his child, who softly shut the door, and de-
mandsd if the robbers were yet satisfied
The leader replied that they should be when
they had got the show of plate spread out be-
low, and that they couldn' let her out of sight,
and that she must go with them. In compli.
snce with this mandate she followed them down
stairs 70 the dining-roou, where a splendid
wedding breakfast had been laid to save hurry
and trouble on the morrow. To her surprise.
the feliows-eight in number when assembled
seated themselves and prepared to make n
good meal. They ordered her to get the wine.
and to cut up her own wedding cake for them :
and then, seated at the head of the table. she
was compelled to preside at this extraordinary
revel.
They ate, drank, laughed and joked; and
Adelaide, quick of ear and eye, had thus time
10 study, IN her quiet way, the figures and
voices Of the whole set
When the repast was ended and the Mate
transferred TO q sack, they prepared to depart.
whispering together and CHANGING at the young
lady. For the first time Adelside's couraye
gave way, and she trembled; but it was not a
consultation against her, as it proved. The
iesder approaching her, told her that they did
not wish 10 harm her-that she was ga ioIIv
Sench, reg lar game, y and they wouldn't b urt
her, but that she must swear not to give the
alarm till nine or ten the next day, when they
should be of all safe To this, Of course sbe
was obliged TO assent, and then they all insist
cd on shaking hands with her. She noticed
during this parting ceremony, that one Of the
ruins had only three fingers on the left hand,
Alone, and In the despOIled room, Adelaide,
faint and exhausted, awaited tho frst CLEAN of
daylight, then, as the robbers did not return,
she stole up TO her room, undressed and fell
into disturbed slumber The CONSERVATION
oil the family next morning may be imagined;
ana Adelaide story was still more astonishing
tnan the tact Of the robbery itself. Police
were sent for from London. and they, guided
by Adelaide's lucid description Of her mid
nisnt guests, actually succeeded in Capturing
every one OF the gang, whom the Young LADY,
had no difficulty in identifying and swearing
to-tne "three-fngered Jack" being the guild.
Ing clue to the discovery The stolen nro6ertv
was nearly all recovered, and the old rector
always declared-and with truth-that he owed
ms me 70 the self-pOssession and judgment of
his eldest daughter -
Inc only Ill effect of the great trial IN her
nerves was disposition, on the mart of Tho
young heroine to listen to midnight sounds
and start uneasily from troubled dreams. hui
time and change of residence soon effected its
cure. '''
IL The Brooklyn (N.Y) Unitarian, are rap
Idly turning Puseyites the perfoTuarcs ~ ssv.Ff