Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-03-27
looking at my watch, was surprised to

MS was the signal OF retiring, al
by twelve every inmate of the house W
asleep, save myself. l could not slee
Strange visions foated across my brail
and l lay turning and twisting on I'll
bed, in all the agony of slccpless su
pense. The clock struck one; its vibr;
ting sound had scarcely died away whe
the opening of shutter and the raisin
of sash, in one of the lower apart
ments, convinced me that some one wa
entering the house. A noise followed
as of person jumping from the window
sill to the floor, and then followed tn
light and noisclcss step of one ascendin,
the stairway.
l slept in the room adjoining the on
occupied by the lady !; mine was next t.
the staircase the step came along tn
gallery slow and cautious. l had seizet
my pistol and slipped on part of my
clothes, determined to watch or listen tt
the movements, seemingly mysterious OF
suspicious-thc sound of stops stopped
at my door-thcn followed one as apply.
ing the ear to the key-hole, and low
breathing convinced me that the villain
was listening. l stood motionless, the
pistol firmly grasped. Not a muscle
moved, not nerve was slackened, for |
felt as if Heaven had selected me out as
the instrument to effect its purpose.
The person passed lowly on. and I as
cautiously approached the door of my
bed chamber.
| now went by instinct, or rather by
conveyance of sound for as soon as |
heard his hand grasp the latch of one
door, mine seized on the other-a deep
silence followed this movement; it seem
ed as if he heard the sound, and waited
the repetition; it came not; all was still;
he might have considered it the echo of
his own noise. l heard the door opened
softly-I also opened mine; and the very
moment l stepped into the entry, I
caught the glimpse of tall man enter
ing the lighted chamber of the young
lady.
1 softly stepped in the entry, and ap-
preached the chamber. No object was
visible in the chamber, save the curtain
cd bed, within whose sheets lay the in
tended victim of midnight assassin,
and he, gracious heaven a NEGRO for
at that moment tall, fierce looking
black man approached the bed, and
never were Othcllo and Desdemona more
naturally represented--at least in that
scene of the immortal bard's conception.
I was now all suspense my heart
'welled into my throat almost to suffoca- /
ion, as l made bound into the room.
The black villain had ruthlessly dragged
part of the covering off the bed, when
he sound of my feet caused him to turn.
1e started, and, thus confronted, we
TODD gazing on each other few Sec
nds; his eyes shot fre-fury was de-
icted on his ceuntenancc. He made a
pring towards me, and the next moment
~ a corpse on the floor.
The noise of the pistol aroused the {
air sleeper; she started up in bed, and
eemed an angel of the white clouds G. !
Forging from her downy bed to soar |
pou the skies. I
'Oh, do not murder me-take all q
ou cannot, will not kill me, sir ? I
The servants now rushed in--all was J
zplained. The wretch turned out to G
C vagabond, supposed to be runa- t
ay slave from Virginia. /
l had the providcutial opportunity of r
'scuing one from the worst of fates, f
no in after years called Inc husband, G
I'D related to our children her miracu- n
us escape from the bold attack of a t
idnight assassin. IN