Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-18
00lortester Daily Spp.
a EInNIGHT AnYENrnRr

IelDaicS Oiten possess presence OF mind, and
the power Of selfcontrol, under circumstances
Of imminent peril, which seems almost foreign
to their nature and beyond the endurance of a
delicate physical organization. a striking in
stance Of selfcommand, by lady whose fears
must have been powerfully excited, and whose
life Of af1uence had never before given her
nerves any severer test than is incident to the
yeXations of domestic cares, is given in Cham
bers' journal for October. We copy the ad-
venture, promising by way of explanation,
that the lady was the daughter of a rector re-
siding in a quiet English country village, 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 wedding
and the rectors 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 prize fight which had taken place
in the neighborhood.
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 lad
directed her attention, and since, had packed
up her jewels, etc. She was, consequently,
still dressed, when the church clock tolled mid
night. As it ceased, she fancied she heard a
low noise, like that of a file. She listened but
could distinguish nothing clearly; it 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 sigh
ing of the winter winGs for many minutes
afterwards. Uousebreakers were mere myths
In primitive Thyndon, and the bride elect,
without a thought of fear, resumed her occu-
patton She was gazing on glittering set of
diamonds, destined to be worn at the wedding,
when her bedroom door softly opened She
turned, looked, and beheld man with black
mask, holding pistol in his hand, standing
before her.
She did not scream, for her first 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
complaint She confronted the robber boldly,
and addressed him in whisper: "You are
come, she said, "to rob us. Spare your soul
the awful guilt of murder. My father sleeps
next to my room, and to be startled from his
sleep would kill him. Make no noise, | beg of
you"
The fellow was astonished and cowed owe
won't make no noise" he replied, sullenly, ''it
yon give us everything quietly"
Adelaide drew back and let him take her
Jewels-not without pang, for they were pre-
clous ve-glttS-remarking at the same time,
that two more masked ruffians stood at the
halfopened door. AS he took the Jewel case
and watch from the table, and demanded her
purse, she asked if he intended to go into her
fathers room. She received surly affirma-
tive: "Ile wasn't going to run all the risk,
and leave half the tin behind !" She proposed
instantly that she should go herself, saying: 81
VIII bring you whatever you wish, and you
may guard me thither and kill me if ! play
false to you" The fellow consulted his com
rades, and, after short parley, they agreed to
the proposal; and, with pistol pointed at her
head, the dauntless girl crossed the passage,
and entered the old rector room. Very gently
she stole across the chamber and removing his
purse, watch, keys, and DESK she gave them
to the robbers, who stood at the door. The
old man slept peacefully and calmly, thus
guarded by his child, who softly shut the door,
and demanded 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't let her out Of sight
that she must go with them. In compliance
with this mandate, she followed them down
stairs TO the dining-room, where a splendid
wedding breakfast had been laid, to save trou-
bic and hurry on the morrow To her sur
prise, the tellows-eight in number, when as
sembled-seated themselves and prepared to
make good meal. They ordered her to get
them out wine, and to cut 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
TO study, in her quiet way, the figures and
voices Of the whole set.
When the repast was ended, and the plate
transferred to sack, they prepared to depart,
whispering together and CHANGING at the young
lady. For the first time, Adeaide's courage
gave way, and she trembled but it was not a
consultation against her, as it proved. The
leader, approaching her, told her that they did
not wish to harm her-that she was ga Jolly
wench, regular game, and they wouldn't hurt
her, but that she must swear not to give the
alarm till the next day, when they should be
all oil safe. To this, of course, she was obliged
to assent, and then they all insisted on shaking
hands with her. She noticed, during this
parting ceremony, that one Of the rufhans had
only three fingers of the left hand
Alone, and in the despoiled room, Adelaide
faint and exhausted, awaited the first CLEAN OF
daylight then, as the robbers did not return
she stole up to her room, undressed, and fell
into a disturbed slumber. The CONSERVATION
of the family, next morning, may be imagined,
and Adelade's story was still more astounding
than the fact OF the robbery itself Police were
sent for from London, and they aided by AIDE
ladies lucid description of her midnight guests,
actually succeeded in capturing every one OF
the gang, whom the young lady had no diff
Guilty in identifying and swearing to-the
'three fingered Jack" being the guiding clue
to the discovery. The old rector always de-
claree, and with truth, that he owed his life to
the self-poseession and judgment of his eldest
daughter.
The only i'll effect of the great trial to her
nerves, was disposition, on the part of the
young heroine, to listen for midnight sounds
and start uneasily from troubled dreams; but
time, and change Of residence, soon effected
its cure.
CoAL.-lt is said that when coal was first
used in EngIand. the prejudice AGAINST il was