The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-01

worse, was eight miles from my desti-
nation, thong as it afterwards appeared,
not mile from the next village, where l
heard it canvassed tavern, supper and
beds could be had. 10 ssssg a1g 2
"Iwas disposed to make myself agree
able and accordingly rendered all the as
sistanee in my power to the unprotected
females, for whom / got my reward on ar
irving at the haven of refuge tho prom
isel tayern-by being informed that such
a thing as bed for the night was an im-
possible idea, and that with some twenty
more of the male gender, l must be con-
tent with chairs, while the beds were ap,
propriated to the gentler sex. Slightly
disguised, [ swallowed my supper and
looked out upon the night l was beau
tiful moonlight, and vergiDg on to ten
o'clock. BY Jove | would walk over to
Uyatt's No sooner said than done. Civ
ing my carpet. bag into the hands of the
landlord for punctual delivery at Hyatt's
next morning, at my expense, set forth
Eight miles is but q triflc, and just as my
watch marked the quarter after midnight
went up the lane that led to the house
They were eaily to bed and early up. l
walked around the house trying the doors;
each and every one was fastened. 1t was
no consequence, my bedroom window
opened on the roof of the piazza; | would
not disturbed the house knocking: bit
of climbing would do the business, and
should it be fastened | would tap and
awaken Horace, who was my room mate
and bedfellow The thing 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 occu-
pied, and by heavy breathing | knew that
Horace was in sleep | would not
therefore awake him, 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 that
night? But shall not anticipate. lay
facing the window as the sun peeped up
above the distant hills, and scattered the
gray mists of the morning. My bcdfellow
was breathing heavily, but it was broad
daylight, and there was no more sleep In
me, SO l determined Horace should wake
up and hear the story Of the railroad
break down. l turned quickly and gave
the sleeper a sudden shake. AS rapidly
as my own motion my bedfellow, who
had lain with his back towards me, sprang
to sitting position.
There are such surprises as are without
terror, which deprives US of our speech,
until the brain has time to act and reason.
Such surprises do not generate screams
aud faints. They are expressed by open
mouthed and silent wonder. This was
the case with myself and bedle,low, as we
sat upright aud stared. Right by my side
with her face not two feet from my own,
sat Young woman, not more than seven
teen, with great, dark hazel eyes, and such
great masses of brown curls, tucked away
under the neatest night cap that ever was
She had gathered the bed-clothes with a
spasmodic jerk about her throat, and with
the most rigid astonishment looked as tho
doubling whether she was sleeping OF
waking, gazed steadily in my eyes. But
if my memory serves me right, it was
who first spoke. l blurted out with:
How came you here z" .... --.
The figure stared still in speechless as
tonishment, but in moment, as though
awakened from its stupefaction spoke:
"Are you Charles Morgan ?" -.
ancwaraI in he affirmative
well then, Mr.. Morgan" said the fs
ure, by this time, calm, and with quite as
much dignity as though in toe drawing
room, | am May Stephens, aud | was pu
in this room after an unexpected arrival
Horace has gone over to a neighbors /;
few miles off before | got here, and wa.
not to return till to-day. That is how
was put in this room." .....
So here | was sitting Uis u vis to thi,
May Stevens, that mythical lady, for th,
first meeting with whom l intended to ge
up such superlative toilet. A nice style
of introduction and nice style of toilet
And she-she by this time was as cool a:
the thirty. first of December-sat looking
me right iE the eyes as made some ram
bling explanation of my being in that ex
traorIinary position. 1t was lame ex
planation, wonderfully mixed up with ir
relevant matter, and stammered and slut
tered through in way that should have
disgusted any sensible person. She seem
ed to be seriously pondering during th'
recital, and at its end, looking at me a
though asking the most simple question
in the world, said
What's to be doIe?'
:" Let me jump out of the window as
came in" said |, in sickly tone of voice
for the thought came to me that to achiev'
this end, must make some desperate dis
play in a style of costume which deprc
Gated. She relieved me instantly.
4" No, that will not do there are people
moving about and you will be seen"
1t was now my turn to stammer out:
What's to b4 done." For | saw tha
the little hazel-eyed girl was superior t.
me in presence of mind and energy G
action. She did not wait long to auswe
my question.
/ . You must lie still here until get ur
When have left the room YOU can rise
dress and go away at the first epportuni
ty,' was Eer response, delivered in quie
and business-like manner.
And sa dit Hinder Nav Stay.n-