Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-12
!, THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST /


of sons and daughters. The father was atine
jovial old fellew, and the mother lust tn
cheerful but even tempered gentle soul Who
alone could bring up such girls as hers. W.
had a glorious evening. ny /
All sorts of joyous Christmas fun was car.
ried en-, and I kissed the girls under the mis-.
%'tletoe, until, either with that pleasant eyer.
else, or with q~uenchtng the thirst it exoited
l became slightly elevated. I was to dins
there next day, and my friends would fair
have persuaded me to stay all night b,1t /
was determined to return to my lodgings. as
| knew Mrs. Wingats would sit an for ma
1t was past midnight when I bid nav kind an.
'tertalners good night, and with a hasty but
not TOO steady step, set out on my homeward
journey.
1 was soon at home and in bed. Mrs. Win.
gate had more than once laughed abont the
odd figure | cut on the occasion Of NV o1d
adventure. She also informed me that tbs
two men who had played the street part had
been since detected whilst attempting to com
NIT a burglary, and Imprisoned for twelvo
months, but were now at liberty. The good
lady manifested no small uueasiness on M,
account, and cautioned me to be yerv "a ref,l
NOT to give them any opportunity Of execu-
ing their threats of vengeance against me.
Her evident timidity and anxiety only ex-
cited my mifth, but | was, nevertheless. care.
ful to examine the fastening of nv door. and
always both lock aud bolt it. -,
When l reached my lodgings on Christina
eve, Twas, as l said, a little elevated and
contrary to nay usual custom, on getting into
bed, l could not sleep.
1 began to think over the anus ements of
the evening, criticising the fair faces I had
been so close to, wishing / had such d cheer
Jul home; speculating as to my chance Of
success IN the event of my asking one Of the
said damsels to part with her name in fayor
of mine, and thanking my stars, that, at anv
rate, | should be a guest at the same .ataoe
on the morrow. The ok struck twa and
found my thoughts still ~; but 1 Nudden
check was given to the IMrrent of nav idsss
| heard a sort Of grating sound, and then feIt
certain that some one was moving steaIthilv
up the kitchen stairs. at first | was a little
alarmed, imagining thieves were in the bouse,
and then-pshaw thought T, Mrs. Wingate
had been sitting up later than usual, to 6nisb
her Christmas pudding. 1t is rather singu.
lar that my former adventure did not then
enter my mind, Though it had occurred in.
that veryispot. / listened again. The foot
steps, certainly audible, close to nv room
doer-a hand was on the lock-it turned
they were stealing along the floor to my
apartment became sensible of the pre-
senee OF two persons-and now I felt all the
horrors of my situation. Every iota of what
had formerly happened there, the menases Of
the two fellows whe hadthen, doubtless, been
disappointed in their prey, and the thought:
nay W pewerlesSness nearly drove me
mad.
Fool IDIOT that I was-I had in nv tipsv
folly rushed upon my fate.
l had refused the cordial Invitation which
would have secured me from a l,danger. and
had even neglected the precaution Of secur-
ing my room, almost for the first time within
my recollection. / became aware of q dim
ilgnt' and partially opening my eyes, I per-
W. rascals fumbling about a lantern.
l am not ashamed to own / was perfectly
with terror, and utterly incapable
81 DONG aaything-indesd, what could lido?
l saw them remove the candle from the Ian
tern' ana convert my inkstand into::a candle
Ons proposed lighting the gas, butthe
Otner oeseeted' thatif disturbed he might be
and turned into the wrong way,-
lney tnsn' with singular quickness and dex-
terity' ransacked my desk and case, which
1ney opened by means Of skeleton keys
! nus aone, and the plumber tied in a hand
the younger of the two suggested,
Win an oath' that they should finish him.
He approached my bed. drew aside the
curtains ana though burst not look, Ifelt
Nc was gazing IN my face. Again he turned
asloe, and 1umbled In his pocket as ifin search
something. @Ss
nag nopeo all along that by feigningsleep
! laighI escape iorl should astruggle
l could not escape, since they were
powsIlus men, ana | quite ularmed. While
ne was leeling IN MS pocket, Icould not help
s.eaLng my hand up to my throat, thinking
~ .us sam Time how little chance there was
ohao = De useo as 9 vehicle for Christmas
queer. Uuess my horror, If you can, when
sne elaer scoundrel IN an impatient tone hade
ms son MAKE haste II no meant to do it, and
not Keep MN waiting there all night"
~ - me IT,. young man tum6ied ever the articles