The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-04

Stevens. 1t wanted still several hours
to sunset Having got safely through
the great object of my visit thought it
would not be bad idea for me to take
the last train and return the same night
to Hyatt's instead of remaining over till
morning. No sooner said than done.
| packed my habiliments and away |
went. Whizzing and putting over an un-
interested road is provocative of sleep.
So found it when the shades of even
ing fell f; for to the best of my recolec-
ton, was in the very midst of dream,
in which May Stevens, attired in book
muslin and pale blue satin, appeared on
purple cloud and admiringly inquired
who my tailor was =? Just as was
about to inform her there came crash,
and for a moment | was not entirely
certain whether it was the cloud that ex-
ploded, or myself had torn some portion
of my apparel that was overstrained. 1t
required but moment to awaken me to
the fact that both presumptions were
wrong. 1t was our train-the 6:26-
that had run off the track smashing
things generally, and spilling the con-
tents of several baggage cars along the
road, to say nothing of frightening half
hundred passengers into condition
bordering on lunacy. This was pret-
ty state of things, and to make it worse,
| was eight miles from my destination,
though as it afterwards appeared, not a
mile from the next village where, l
heard it canvassed, tavern, supper and
beds could be had
was disposed to make myselfagreea-
bic, and, accordingly, rendered all the
assistance in my power TO the unprotect-
ed females, for which got my reward
on arriving at the haven of retuge-the
promised tavern-by being informed
that such thing as a bed for the night
was impossible idea, and that with some
twenty more Of the malegender, | must
be content with chairs, while the beds
were appropriated to the gentler sex.
Slightly disgusted, swallowed my sup
per and looked out upon the night. 1t
was bea autful monlisht, and verglng
on to ten o'clock. BY Jove, would
walk over to Hyatt's. No sooner said
than done. Giving my carpet bag into
the hands Of the landlord with the most
emphatic charges for its safety and pune
tual delivery at Hyatt's next morning,
at my expense. set forth. Eight miles
is tritle, and just as my watch marked
the quarter after midnight | went up to
| the lane that lei 10 the house. They
were early folks at the farm-early 10
bed and early up. | walked around the
house trying each entrance, but each
and every one was fastened. Ii was OF
no consequence my bed room wIndo"
looked out upon the roof OF the piazza
would not disturb the house by knock
ing a bit of climbing would do the bus
mess, aud should the window be tasten-
ed | would tap and awaken Horace, who
was my room mate aud bed fellow. The
Ihng was executed as soon as thought
of, and my hand on the window, which
yielded, and | stood in my own room
BY the moonlight which streamed in
saw that the bed was occupied and by
the heavy breathing | knew that Hor-
ace was in a deep sleep. | would not,
therefore, awaken, but save the story OF
my mishap for the following day. With
this resolution | slipped quietly into bed
and in three minutes was oblivious.
What ought to have dreamed tha
night? But | shall not anticipate.
/ lay facing the windows as the sun peep
ed up above the distant hills and scat
/ tered the gray mists of the morning.
/ NY bed-iellow was breathing heavily
but it was broad daylight and there WAS
no more sleep in me, SO | WAS determiu
ed that Horace should wake up aud hear
/ the story of the railroad break down.
turned quickly and gave the sleeper {
sudden shake. As rapidly as my owr
motion my bed-tetlow, who had IAN
with his back towarks me, spgaug in,o a
sitting position. There are such sur
prises rs are without terror, which &c
tually deprive Us of speech, until the
brain has time t. act and reason. Such
surprises do not generate screams anC
falnts. They are expressed by opel
mouth and silent wonder. This was til,
case with myself and bed fellow, as W,
sat upright and stared. Right by m,
side, with hei face within two feet Of my
own, sat young woman, not more thar
seventeen, with great, dark, hazel eyes
aud such great masses Of brown curls
tucked away under the nea,est it'll
nightcap that ever was She had gath
cred the bed clothes with spasmodi
jerk. up about her throat, and with th
most rigid, astonished look, rs thougI
doubling whether she was sleeping o
waking. gazed steadily in my eyes
Memory serves man but little in sue
cases, but If my memory serves me rish
it was | who first spoke. | blurtcd on
with
" How came you here ?"
The figure stared still in speeches
Z astonishment, but in u moment Is thoug
awakening from its stupe'aetion, spoke +:
Are you Charles Morgan -
"Well. then, Mr. Morgan" said lh
figure, by this time speaking as cain
: aud with quite as much dignity /
I though in the drawing room. Il al
May Stevens, and | was put in this roo
after an unexpected arrival. Horace ha
, gone over TO a neighbor's, a few mil,
I of, before got here, and was pot to r.
I turn ill IN Iay That IL how | yyns N,