The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-12-19


charges for its safety and punctual deliv>
cry at Hyatt's next morning, at my ex-
pense, set forth. Eight miles ia triae,
and just as my watch marked the quarter
after midnight, / went up the lane that
led to the house. They were early to bed
and early up. l walked round the house
trying each entrance, but each and every
one was fastened. 1t was of no conse-
quence; my bedroom window looked out
upon the roof of the piazza; I would not
disturb the house by knocking; bit of
climbing would do the business, and
should it be fastened, would tap and
awaken Horace, who was my roommate
and bed-fellow. The thing was executed
as soon as thought of, and my hand on
the window which yielded, and I stood in
my own room. By the moonlight which
streamed in, I saw that the bed was occu.
pied, and by the heavy breathing I knew
that Horace was in a heavy sleep. /
would not. therefore, awaken him, but
save the story of my mishap for the fol-
lowing day. With this resolution / slip
ped quietly into bed, and in three minutes
was oblivious What ought l to have
dreamed that night? But 1 shall not an
ticipate. / lay facing the windows as the
sun peeped up above the distant hills,
and scattered the gray mists of the morn
ing. Ny bed-fellow was breathing heay
lily, but it was broad daylight, and there
was no more sleep for me, so I was deter
mined Horace should wake up and hear
the story of the railroad break down. /
turned quickly, and gavo the sleeper
sudden shake. As rapidly as my own
motion, my bed fellow. who had lain with
his ba:k towards me, sprang to sitting
position. There are such surprises as are
without terror, which deprive US of speech,
until the brain has had time to act and
reason. Such surprises do not generate
screams and .faints, They are expressed
by open mouthed and silent WONDER
This was the case with myself and bed
fellow, as we sat upright and stared. =
Right by my side, with her face within
two feet of my own, sat young woman,
not more than seventeen, with great dark
hazel eyes, and such great masses OF
brown curls, tucked away under the neat,
est little night-cap that ever was. She
had gathered the bed clothes with spas
modic jerk up about her throat, and with
the most rigid astonishment looked as
though doubling whether she was sleeping
or waking, gazed steadily ia my eyes.
Memory serves man but little in such
cases, bat if my memory serves me right,
it was I who frst spoke. I blurted out
with rta
"How came you here?'
The figure stared, still in speechless as
tonishment, but in q moment, as though
awakening from its stupefaction, spoke;
| care you Charles Morgan?
! I answered in the affirmative.
| "Well, then, Mr., Morgan" said the
figure, by this time calm, and with quits
as much dignity as though in the draw
ling room, 'I am May Stevens, md was
Eput in this room after On unexpected ar
rival Horace had gone over to neigh
boris few miles of, before got here
and was net to return till to day. Tha
lis how was put in this room"
SO here ! wss sitting cis a vis to thi
May Stevens, that mythical lady, for th'
frst meeting with whom I intended to ge
up such superlative toilet. A mic
style of introduction, and q nice style 0
toiletl And she--she by this time wa
as cool as the 3lst of December, and SO
looking me right in the eyes as / mad
some rambling explanation of my being
in that extraordinary position. 1t was
lame explanation, wonderfully mixed ul
/ with irrelevant matter, and stammere'
aud suffered through in a way tina
shoald have disgusted any sensible per
son. She seemed to be seriously ponder
4 ing during the recital and at its end
q looking st me as though ssking the mos
simple question in the world, said:
u "What's to be done?" li.F1t' @
j 'Let me jump out of the window as
came in" said I, in sickly tone Q
. voice, for the thought came to me that t.
achieve this end, must make some des
perate display of myself in a style Q
costume which / deprecated. She re
lieved me instantly.
q "No, that will not do; there are peopl
moving about. and you will be seen.'
u 1t is now my turp to stammer out:
whats to be done?" For say the
the little hazel eyed girl was superior
5 me In presence of mind and energy {
, action. She did not wait long to answe
my question. ar
! "Yon must lie still here until / get u.
3 When I have left the room you can ris
4 dress and go away at the first opportun
ty," was her response delivered in quiz
. and business like manner.
Il And so / did Under May Steven
4 command | buried my head under Il
n bed clothes, and kept well covered till
G heard the retreating footsteps on Il
t stairs, which was but a few moment
s though it seemed an age; then with de
a perate bound spraug frem the bed. tur