The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-03-17

argue, could hit but one, and might,
and very probably would, miss even him,
if they made simultaneous rush upon
Inc. However, that remained to be seen.
waited quietly some minutes; and
still no sound. So profound was the
silence aud so sharpened were my senses
ly anxiety, that could hear the very
ticking of the watch in my vest-pocket.
began to feel feverish anxiety to
brave the worst.
am, and have always been, peculiarly
sensitive to the depressing influence
which an ill-lighted room exercises on the
mind, even under the most favorable cir
cumstances, and, in my present situation,
l did not fail to be affected by the SOM
Lreness of the apartment, which increased
as the wick of the solitary candle grew
longer and longer. There were no
shutters, and feared to attempt to inn
prove the light by any other means, lest
| should extinguish it. AS l gazed at
it, new apprehension seized me. But
small piece of the candle remained I'M
consumed. In twenty minutes, there
fore, or half an hour, should be left in
total darkness. l turned pale at the
thought. All men, alike the timid and
the brave, have an instructive dread of
an unseen danger. Ajax, the very incar.
nation of physical courage, when Il sud
den darkness covers both the contending
armies, concludes his prayer with
-. The light OF heaven restore,
Give me to see, and Ajax asks no more
And the vain-glorious coward PAROLES
expresses the same idea when, after he
has fallen into the ambuscadc and been
blindlolded, be exclaims a:
&c i've INC to live or let Inc look upon the death ~
To remain where was, in the dark, was
out of the question. To endeavor to
force my way down stairs, an idea had
previously rejected, was now my altcrna-
tive. Still! l woald not, l thought, I'M
necessarily precipitate the catastrophe.
l would wait, as patiently as might be,
until as near as | could guess the light
had but a few minutes to burn, and then
at all hazards, to try to make my way
out. ] waited ten. or fifteen minutes,
and glanced at the light, and then was
about to carry my resolution into effect
when heard a slow, heavy step ascend
ing the stairs; it stopped at the door
there was a short pause and then the key
turned in the lock and the door opened,
and man entered the room, followed by
the woman who had conducted me into
the house.
If had entertained any doubts as to
what the issue of the affair would be, one
glance at the powerful sinister looking
ruf1ian before he would have dissipated
them. lie carried in his right hand a
stout cudgel, or rather bludgeon, and on
the whole, presented the appearance OF
being pretty formidable antagonist
Still felt u very considerable degree of
satisfaction at the thought that, after all,
had but one man to oppose me. Why
the woman had accompanied him was
at a loss to conjecture, but from SUISSE
quent events | arrived at the conclusion
that her presence was due to the fact
that she proposed it should serve as
check to any unnecessary display of vio
lence On the part of her companion
though from her satisfaction, when she
learned that l was stranger in England,
1T was evident that she had anticipated
and was prepared to embrace the alter
native of carrying matters to extremity
should l by resistance render it neccs-
sary.
The man at once, as though any pre-
tence at Disgusting his purpose were per-
fectly useless, said, "Hand me over your
watch and what money you have about
you, and," he added, seeing showed no
disposition to comply with his request,
but remained rnotionless by the e-placc,
"bc quick about it or it will be the
worse for YOU"
As he spoke he advanced toward me
with his arm appraised. At the same mo-
ment the woman, who had hitherto re-
manned passive spectator of the scene,
threw herself between US, and exclaimed
in a tone which thrilled me "Oh no
blood, Tim. And you," she added, turn
ting to me, "give up, without resistance
whatever he requires, and no harm shall
befall YOU"
As she spoke sudden idea struck me.
In one moment l was at her side, and
grasping her arm with one hand, with the
other l drew Il pistol from my breast and
presented it within few inches of her
head.
"Advance one step and fire." cried
to her confederate, who, SO rapid had
been my movement, stood gazing at us
with an expression of stupid bewilder-
ment on his coarse features. Rufiian as
he was, the wretch paused irresolute.-
Whatever might be the nature of the tie
which bound him to the woman | held in
my grasp, it was at least such as render
ed him not indifferent to her safety, and
the energy Of my language and manner
left him 10 reason to doubt that would
execute my threat if driven to it. Now
mark me-" continued, addressing my
self to the woman, "you will take that
light in one hand, we will proceed together
down stairs, and when We reach the Street
door | will release you. But remember,
should you attempt to play me false, at
the first sign of treachery on your part
or that of your confederate, your life
shall pay the forfeit! You," / said to
the man, "will remain here; if you at
tempt to follow US, you know the conse-
ouences -