M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-20

was overstrained. 1t required but a
momeut to awaken me to the fact that
both presumptiOns were wrong. 1t
vast cur train 2:2G--that had run
off the track smashing things general |
Ily, and spilling the contents of several
baggage cars along the road, to say
nothing of frightening halfa hundred |
passengers into condition bordering
on lunacy. This was Il pretty state Of
things, and to make it still worse, |
was eight miles from my destination,
though, as it afterwards appeared, not
a mile from the next village where l
heard it canvassed, a tavern, supper
and beds could be had.
| was disposed to make myself
agreeable, and accordingly, rendered
all the assistance in my power to the
unprotected females, for which ! got
my reward on arriving at the haven Of
reiuge-the promised tavcrn-by be-
ing informed that such a thing as a
bed for the night was an impossible
idea, and that with some twenty more
of the male gender, must be content
with chairs, while the beds were ap-
propriated to the gentler sex. Slight.
ly disguised, | swallowed my supper
and looked out upon the night. 1t
was beautiful moonlight, and verg.;
ling OF to ten o'clock. BY Jove, |
would walk over to uyatt's. No
sooner said than done. Giving my
carpet bag into the hands Of the land
lord, with the most emphatic charges
for its safety and punctual delivery ut
Hyatt's next morning, at my expense
set forth. Eight miles is a triae, and
! just as my watch marked the quarter
after midnight | went mp the lane
that led to the house. They were
early to bed and early up. | walked
round the house trying each entrance
but each and every one was fastened.
1t was ofno consequence; my bedroom
window looFed out upon the roof Of
the piazzi; would not disturb the
house by knocking, II bit Of climbing
would DO the business, and should it
be fastened | would tap and awaken
Horace, who was my room mate and
bod-lellow. The thing was executed
as soon as thought OF, and my hand on
|. the window. which yielded, aud |
stood in my own room. BY the moon.
.llight, which streamed in, saw that
! the bed was occupied, and by the hea
n Wy breathing knew that Horace was
| in heavy sleep. would not, there.
fore, awaken him, but save the story
of my pishap for the following day,
With this resolution slipped quietly
+ into bed and in three minutes was OBJ
livious. What ought to have dream
, ed that night2 But | shall not artici-
, pate. | lay facing the windows as
the sun peeped up above the distant
, hills, and scattered the gray mists oI
the morning. Ely bed,feIlow was
breathing heavily, but it was broad
) daylight and there was no more eleeg
in mo, so was determined Horace
; should wake up and hear the story o.
! the railroad break down. | turneC
quickly and gave the sleeper asudder
. shake. AS rapidly as my ownlnotiol
) my bed fellow, who haG lam with hi'
r. back towards me, sprang to a sitting
o position. There are such surprises a
n are without terror, which deprive u
: of our speech, until the brain had tim
|. to act and reason. Such surprises dC
If not generate screams and iaints.-
They are expressed by open.mouthet
q and silent wonder. This was the cas-
:. with myself and bed.fellow, as we sa
e upright and stared. Right by m
ID side, with her face within two feet G
" my own, sat a young woman, not NOR
le than seventeen, with great, dark, Ina
Ii eel eyes, and such great passes
brown curls, tucked away under th
Q. neate8t little nigh,cap that ever was
: She had gathered the bed-clothes wit
at a spasmodic jerk up about her thros
Ne and with the most rigid astonishmel
as looked as though doubling wheth(
70 she was sleeping or waking, gaze
. steadily in my eyes. Memory serve
Il a man bat little in such cases, but
| my memory serves me right, 1t was
ID who first spoke. ] blurteG out with;
ID GLOW came you hereW
y. The figure stared, still in speeches
III astonishment, but in moment as tn
r. awakened from its stupetactiOn, ,spok
,d care you Charles Morgana"
10 answered in the affirmative.
Of "Well, then, Mr.. Morgan" said I'll
a figure, by this time calm, and wit
n, quite as mucn dignity as though in tt
Is drawing,room, 81 am May Steven
o and ! was put in this room after a
ID unexpected arrival. Horace had gon
= over to a neighbours few miles Of
n. before | got here, and was not to r.
y turn till to-day. That is how | We
e. put in this room."
j. So here ! was sitting 0iS q 0tS
tb;e Nov Stnvana that mythical lad,