Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-19
A WOMAN OF NERvE-HOW SHE GOT
OUT OF A ECRAPE


ing over the shoulders, and pale, resolutC
face, clad in long, flowing dressing-gown, and
holding light high above its head, and look.
ing steadily down at Inc, as ] ascended the
stairs-this was what saw as | went up Ia
my room in the Spread Eagle Inn, Grace
Church-strect, on the night Of the 18th oi
September, 184S, as am ChriStianl
stopped short and looked at the figure, as
it was looking at inc. had not been drink.
ing, was not walking in my sleep, and more
than all, knew the face and form-but what,
in the name Of common sense, was a young
lady doing in the passage Of an old inn at that
hour, alone, and in such dress She blushed
scarlet as drew near, and wrapped her dress
ing-gown more closely around her; but the
next moment she was pale as before, and
spoke to me eagerly and hurriedly, but in a
very low voice:
- Sir, arc you the landlord Of this imn?"
II atm not, madam"
"DO you know where he is?"
"Down stairs in the coffee-room, think.
But what is the matterr Are you ill2 Has
any thing gone wrong!"
She stamped her foot slightly with impa.
thence, and looked me full in the face. Fine
eyes she had-blue and soh in -goneFal-but
now they were blazing.
"Don't stop to ask questions, sir! Bring
him here at once, and come back with him
yourself. Bring pistols, if you have them
do you hear? And run for your Iifc-for
your lifc!" she added, leaning over the bales
tcrs, and speaking in the same low, hurried
tone.
was away in on instant, though knew
no more Of my errand than the man in the
moon. But should like to see the man who
would not have done the same. Apart from
the fact that she was claiming my aid and
protection, there was something in the ring Of
the voice, low as It was, the flash Of the eye,
that warned me she was not to be trihed with.
She would have made good General. had she
been q man, and, I wager my head, not a
soldier would have dared to retreat, had she
spoken rs she did to me that night. But be-
fore finish my story, l must begin it. am
n blundering fellow. NV wife always says, il
a mistake can be made. / am sure to make il
and ! believe was going to tell you about the
landlords coming, before said what he had
come for. Now, then, will commsAee the
thing rightly.
The Spread. Eagle Inn, which is still stand.
ing and may be seen any day by the curious
traveller, is clumsy, ill-lighted house, situa.
ted in the heart Of the city, yet keeping its
oddities, which were just in the fashion some
two or three hundred years ago. 1t is built
around courtyard, shut in by gates, across
which galleries are thrown, from one door to
the other, with paved yard below. II has
balustradeS and StaircasCs containing Sufficient
oak to build half modern house with; and
deep window seats, and big, queer-shaped,
gloomy rooms, and odd little closets, and land
ing-places and passages, carpets, chairs, and
pictures that Mrs. Noah might have kept house
with in the ark, to say nothing of the curious
old china on the side-bOards, and the wine
glasses and decanters TO match. To an Eng
lishman, it offers the snuggest Of homes, and
the roast beef and mutton they are unexcep.
tiOnable; while the waiter is as civil and a.
steady as If he had been breathing the atmos.
phere Of the old place for years. It makes one
feel "resPectable merely to live there for q
time; and !, who had been a wild enough col
lege lad, found myself SOLDERING. down day by
day, as | pored over my manuscripts, Ordined
quietly, by myself under the eyes Of ChxrieR,
the waiter, of my slice Of mutton and baked
potatoes, my pint of porter. and my apple OF
damson tart Quite like family man feltat
times-though my wife and children were
with my ship, that was to come home some
day, and bring me IN Immense fortune ! did
not know how long the voyage might take,
not knowing even from what port the vessel
was to start; aud so lived under the wings
Of the Spread.Eagle, and worked at my man.
uscript and waited
One day the room was taken, after It had
been standing empty fOv week, and heard
the VOtreS Of an old man, his wife, and the
fresh clear tones Ofa young girl. Ioitenj judge
people by their voices before zee them, and
! pictured the lady to myself quite correctly
There was a ring in her words, = buoyant
lark'likc tone, that gave me the idea Of hap