Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-04-28
Elterarp Mttstellanp
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
BY COUSIN EMMA.


5lng without. 1t was not the most
comfortable situation in the world, and
yet, sitting by their blazing hearth, with
their knitting-needles cheerfully snap
ping in their busy fingers, Mrs. Blake
and her daughter Dorothea seemed
quite unmindful of their loneliness
Each was evidently occupied with her
own thoughts, for certainly more than
an hour, by the old clock in the corner,
passed away in total silence. Mrs.
Blake knit with closed eyes, her lips oc-
casionally moving, and her brow con-
tract ng, while Dorothea sat with her
dark eyes fixed on the fire, and smile
on her clear, honest, and by no means
plain face, that told of pleasant reverie,
such as young women love to indulge
in, when practical household duties are
over for the day.
On the hearth rug between the two
law huge dun-colored mastif, quietly
doing, his fore paws resting on the hem
of Dorothea's gown, in such a manner
that her slightest movement aroused
him, when he would lift his head mo-
m mt, look gravely up in her face, and
then settle quietly back in his place.
1t was nearly nine O'Clock, when Mrs
Blake having knit to the middle of her
seam needle, rolled up her SOCK and de-
posted it in the drawer of the table,
Then she united the strings of her apron
and proceeded to fold it carefully in the
creaSes, remarking:
cts about time to go to bed, Doro-
thea; you'd better put up your work"
"Pretty soon," said Dorothea. slowly
without drawing her eyes from the fire.
81 will bind off this heel first | don't
like to 90 to bed and to sleep, when !
know father and Robert are out in the
Storm"
eve can't do them any good by keep
ing awake, and besides, they must be
near about to Markham by this time
They've been gone over two hours"
II wish they could have gone this
morning." said Dorothea, with a sigh.--
"G don't think it was quite safe for 'em
to go with so much money about 'em so
late at night"
"Pshaw, child, don't get nervous !"
cried Mrs. Blake, drawing on her night
cap. ''Father and Robert amt afraid
of nothing, and nothing will hurt 'em
You had better come to bed, only be
sure and rake up the fire.
Dorothea bowed her head, and re-
sumed her knitting, while her mothers
hard regular breathing, in an incredibly
short space of time, showed that she
had forgotten her husband and son, and
her own lonely condition,in sound slum-
Der.
An hour longer Dorothea sat by the
fire, which had nearly died away, when
the dog lifted his head with short low
growl.
CHAD bad dream, old fellow? there,
there, lay DOWN. coaxed Dorothea,
laying her hand on his thick, silky hair.
But the animal refused to obey. He
arose and shook himself, then walked to
the window, where he stood moment
in silence, and then came back to the
fire.
Lay down, Bruno-lay down, sir!
But for all Dorothea's commands,
Bruno still kept his position, his ears
bent as if listening, and his keen eyes
fixed on the window. Dorothea,in spite
of her steady nerves, began to grow a
little uneasy at the restlessness Of the
dog. She glanced toward the window,
over which the snow was rapidly drift
ing, with an anxious face, but seeing
nothing to alarm her, turned again to
the fire, and commenced slowly drawing
the em6ers together just as she was
crossing the shovel and tongs over the
ashes, there came a low tap at the door.
Bruno sprang toward it with a hoarse
gro@l and flashing eyes, while Doro-
thea followed, slowly, and with slightly
paled cheeks.
"Who is there p, she called, striving
to steady her voice, which. in spite Of
her efforts, trembled.
GA triend-a traveller overtaken by
this storm-will you let me come in, land
sleep by your fire till morning? ?"
A moments hesitation, while Doro-
thea revolved in her mind the loneliness
Of her situation, and the possibilities
which might ensue should she open the
door to a stranger. She had heard two
orthree stories Of frightful murders com
mitted years ago on this very moor, in
the dead of night, and her blood ran
cold at the recollection of them. But,
on the other hand, should she refuse adj
mlttance to one who must inevitably
perish In the wild storm that ragged each
moment with greater violence, the blood
OF a fellow being would rest upon her
head. This was enough to decide the
simple hearted girl-far rather run the
risk of being murdered; than refuse the
shelter of her humble roof to one who
needed it sofely.
She drew back the bolt of the door,
and opened it wide, while Bruno stood
still beside her, as the traveller came
slowly in, shaking the snow from his
cloak; and stamping his feet on the
threshold of the door. The light which
she held in her hand was too faint to
show her his face, and it was not until
he was fairly seated before the hearth,
and she had drawn open the Goals, and
put on more wood, that she could dis
tinguish his features. He was a tall,
strongly built man, with profusion of
black hair, and heavy beard that COM
pletely covered both mouth and chin
His eyes were dark and piercing, his
eyebrows overhanging them, and giving
a stern, severe cast to his face. On the
whole, Dorothea was not pleased with
the appearance of her guest; and Bru-
no, crouching in his accustomed place,
watched every motion without once clo-
sing his eyes.
sit is cold, dreary night" said the
stranger, when he had warmed his feet
and hands at the blazing fire. II have
had tough work facing the storm this
half hour, and had given up all hope of
findinn shelter for the hiUhf when 7 Saw