Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-07-16

VlQual TO ADVANCE anu tdkc CAc CHdHCs
of a bullet. Something Immediately
began to move, and soon saw the
cause Of my alarm. What was it
think you? You cannot guess. lwll
tell YOU it was woman / see you
are all beginning to laugh; and sup.
pose YOU think there is some long story
lin the case ; and that damsel, beau
tiful as an Houri, or heroine-whicf
| is all the same-whom | had wooed only
to betray, had concealed herself there
to reproach me with broken vows, etc
All wrong. The deuce bit of 70.
nance is there in the whole affair. Hao
you seen the course, sullen, ill-favoreo
woman who stood before me, wrapped
in diugy plaid shawl, you would moi
suspect such a thing, especially as you
have seen specimen of my taste in the
shape of lady who bears my nome.
After all the scene was droll enough.
There stood 1, shivering in my night
habiliments, pistol in hand, ready te
interrogate my visitor. She looked
carving knives in return; but not seem
ing in the least shocked at my scanty
garments, though evidently DESTROYS Of
turning her back both on them and OF
the wearer. On looking, I thought hel
features seemed familiar, and recollec'
ted she had lived as servant in thu
house but my landlady suspecting hel
of dishonesty, discharged her shortly
after my arrival.
( | was about to question her, bu
thinking it advisable to have a witness
| commanded her to remain where she
was, and insured her obedience by lock
ing the door. Iroused the family, anC
as was returning to nay prisoner,
heard my bed room window hastily
closed. "Ah :" thought I, "you arc
all right there for staying where you
are, for the window is strongly bar
rcd" On being interrogated, she sait
my landlady had forbidden her coming
into the house, but being friendly with
the other servants, she ventured to visit
her.
Whilst talking in the kitchen, she
heard the mistress approaching, and
fearing discovery, 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
she had fallen asleep, as she remembered
nothing more till aroused by loud fl
Of laughter This seemed plausible
enough, and but for the sequel woulG
have passed off very we'll. AS We were
about to dismiss her, with caution moi
to repeat her visit, the door-b Ii rang
and we found a policeman waiting fol-
admittance. He stated that passing .
short time before, he observed one Of
the front windows hastily opened
Something was thrown out, and then il
was as quickly shut. After a short
search, he found avery large and sharp
knife, which, he presumed, was the
article thrown from the window. He
also observed two fellows Of suspicious
appearance, lettering about the place,
and discovered them to be father and
son-men of bad character, who got q
good living-nobody knew how. He
had warned them away, and returned to
see if anything were ,mlss in the house.
:. On being informed of my visitor and
her tale, he expressed wish to see her,
and at once recognized her as the
daughter of the elder, and sister to the
younger man he had dismissed.
Instead Of liberating the woman, as
we thought of doing, We deemed il
prudent to give her into custody. Nc
one present at her examination enter
tanned doubt that, during the short
time she was in Mrs. Wingate's house,
after | became an inmate Of it, she had
remarked the materials ! had used, and
that a regular plan had beensorganized
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 unperceived, 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
herself again in such situation, she
was discharged.
The story was much talked about,
and got well quizzed by many ladies
Of my acquaintance 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 woman's
male relatives had uttered against me,
for casting suspicion on innocent CD
people. Ihad probably injured their
business for I fancy after what had
occurred, few parties would be willing
to employ any nocturnal visitor in their
houses.
Three years elapsed from the date of
my adventure, and had almost forgot
ten it, when business called me to the
same town. At first | only thought Of
remaining few days, but finding that
l should be detained longer, I sought
out my former landlady as--that one
night excepted had been particular
ly comfortable under her roof. Find
ing my old apartments vacant, | gladly
took possession Of them second time.
During my former stay, | made
many agreeable acquaintances, and
now, it being near Christmas, I.receiv-
ed many invitations to supper parties,
&C., which l fancy Were not the less
numerous because | was still bache-
lor.