Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-02-19

0
denly recollecting that any sort of attack
is lawful, and that one may be permitted
to waive ceremony with bear, seized
the creatures car between my teeth, and
bit the piece completely out. He drop
ped me like hot potato. The ludicrous-
ly pitiful howl, and the way in which he
applied the paw just taken from my
waist, to his wounded ear, was too much
/ burst into perfect roar Of daughters
and so much noise did | make that it
awoke me-
was still Laughing at. this whimsical
vision, and wondering if it had any re-
ference to an apprentice who was to come
under my care on the morrow, and who
was, truly, as uncouth looking cub as
any gentleman need have to lick into
shape, when | heard, not ghost--they
make no noise-but a sort of uneasy
grunt, then a yawn, such as person
cmits when disturbed from a sound sleep.
Listened attentively, lying perfectly still,
and, in a moment, distinctly felt some
thing move below my bed. l knew no
one could have entered after | lay down,
as | am light sleeper, and the door was
too well secured to be opened without
noise. I therefore felt sure they had
been under the bed before commenced
working, and, having fallen asleep, been
awakened by the boisterous laughter
which had also dispelled my own dream.
What was / to do? | feared the mo-
ment | set foot on the floor | should be
seized, and what could Ia little fellow,
almost naked and unarmed-do against
one or perhaps more, doubtless prepared
for a struggle ?
Oddly enough, the remembrance Of
my dream gave me courage. Ihad load
ed pistols in the room, and, once out Of
bed, should be able to seize them in a
moment. l resolved to leap out and Sc
cure the weapons before lighting the gas,
since !, being, as | presumed better ac-
quainted with the arrangement of the
furniture, might manage in the dark to
eludc my antagonist. These thoughts
occupied but few seconds. In as many
more, the pistols were in my hand and
the gas lighted The intruder did not
venture to appear, and the delay gave
me courage. l boldly commanded that
individual to advance, or take the chance
of bullet. Something Immediately be-
gan to move, and | soon saw the cause
of my alarm. What was it, think you?
You cannot guess. ] will tell you it
was a woman see you are all begin
ming to laugh, and suppose you think
there is long story in the case; and
that damsel, beautiful as Houri, or a
heroine-which is all the same-whom |
had woood only to botray, had concealed
herself there to reproach me with my
broken vows, etc, etc.
All wrong The deuce a bit of ro-
nance is there in the whole affair. Had
you seen the coarse, sullen, ill-favored
woman who stood before me, wrapped in
a dingy plaid shawl, you would not sus-
pect such thing; especially as you have
seen a specimen Of my taste in the shape
of the lady who bears my name.
After all, the scene was droll enough
There stood /, shivering in my night
habiliments, pistol in hand, ready to in
interfogate my visitor She looked cary
ing-kniyes in return; but not seeming
the least shocked at my scanty garments,
though evidently DESTROYS of turning her
back both on them and on the wearer. -
On looking, | thought her features SEEM
ed familiar, and / recollected she had
lived as servant in the house but my
landlady, suspecting her of dishonesty,
discharged her shortly after my arrival.
| was about to question her, but think
ing it advisable to have a witness | com
manded her to remain where she was,
and insured her obedience by locking the
door. / reused the family, and as | was
returning to my prisoner, ] heard my
bedroom window hastily closed. "Ah !"
thought /, "you are all right there for
staying where you are; for the window
is strongly barred" On being interro-
gated, she said my'landlady, Mrs. Win
gate, had forbidden her coming to the
house; but being friendly with the other
servant she yentured to yisither. Whilst
talking in the kitchen, she heard the
mistress approaching, and fearing discoy-
cry, stole up stairs crept into my room,
and hid herself below the bed, intending
to leave the house when all was quiet. -
My early entrance cut off her escape, and
she supposed sheshad fallen asleep, as
she remembered nothing more till arous-
ed by u loud ft Of laughter.
This seemed plausible enough, and
but for the sequel, would have passed off
very well. But as we were about TO dis
miss her, with caution not to repeat
her visit, the door-bell rang. and we
found policeman waiting for admittance
lie stated that, passing a short time be-
fore, he observed one Of the front win
dows hastily opened. Something was
thrown out, and then it was as quickly
shut. After a short search, he found a
very large and sharp Spanish knife,
I which, be presumed, was the article
thrown from the window lie also OBJ
served two fellows Of suspicious appear
anco lettering about the place, and dis
covered them to be father and son-mon
Of bad character-wh got a good living
nobody knew how. lie 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 sec her,
and at once recognized her as the daugh-
ter ofthc elder, and sister to the younger
man he had dismissed.
Al a.,