Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-08-13
From the Home JOuTnalJ
An Hour of Excitement.

in the little village of B, during the
month of May of the present year. For
a week had been suffering much from
an infammatory disease, which would al
low me to eat nothidg, and, consequently 4
left me quite feeble and week. One ey-
ening feeling more than unusually un-
well, and anxious to divert my attention
from myself in some way, ] found an at
tentive audience in the little family cir
Gle, and read aloud to them strange, sad 4
story, in the Hone .Jo,raqL, that was weird 1
enough to have come from the pen of Ed |
gar \. Poe. The story, as you know, re
lated to nobleman, who, becoming Jeal- |
Gus of his wife, murdered her; and after |
ward, finding that she was innocent, I'M
agined that a single drop of blood which
oOzed from her lips as he strangled her,
had burned into his hand. He suffered
the intensest agony. Twice within few
weeks the spot in his hand was cut out
by skillful surgeon; but each time the
terrible pain came again as soon as the
wound healed, and finally unable to en-
dure it longer, the unhappy victim shot
himself.
At first we all laughed at the utter ex-
travagance of this story. But from ridi-
culing, we were led to quite long dis
cussiOn, and, finally, come 10 the conclu-
sion that, Judging from our limited
knowledge of the power of imagination,
it was not only possible, but probable,
founded on fact.
At ten o'clock, babe my friends good
night, and retired; but, tortured by Sc
we're pain, it was two hours before sank
into a troubled and uneasy sleep. As the
clock was striking three | seemed 10
awake very suddenly, and heard some one
step from the stairs at the top OF the en-
/ try into which my room opened. pass by
my open door On tip-toe, and 60 down
stairs into the dining-rOOm beneath me.
| The Youngest daughter of my host, to
whom was much attached, slept over
me in the third story. And this must he
she.
wondered if she were sick. When |
/ left her in the evening, she seemed per-
fectly well. listened, and heard her
step lightly across the floor, take match
/ from the box on the shelf, and light a
candle. Then | heard her 20 down into
the cellar and return, and then she open
/ ed the back door and went out. Here !
began to be anxious. ] had made up my
mind that it was s.. that she was i'll,
and that she was seeking for medicine;or,
possibly, being too i'll to sleep, had deter
mined to sit up until morning. But what
possible reason could there be for her go
ing out of doors at this hour of the night?
was alarmed. ! listened attentively to
hear her return. but everything was ter
ribly still. Presently heard footsteps in
the door-yard-up and down. now near,
now far. heard every step distinctly.
t L. a, I
my friend for years, but never as a SOM
] nambulist Was it possible that she had
been stricken by that fearful disease? !
listened still more intently, with every
sense strained 10 its utmost, my head rais-
ed from my pillow. my eyes wide open,
and still heard the light step under my
window, seeming to move up and down
with mechanical precision.
] sprang from my bed, unable to en-
dure the anxiety longer. Itwas not dark,
and | could see anything in the yard very
plainly from my window but the foot
steps were heard no more; no human be
ing was in sight; there was not the slight
est sound to break the stiffness The 81
lence was terribly oppressive. | trembled
violently. What had become of 8!
For five minutes, | think, | supported
: myself by the window-sill, and kept my
eyes riveted upon the yard; but my
: watch was in vain, and too weak to stand
a moment longer, I'crept into bed again
At this stage | began to analyze my
sensations carefully and thoroughly, and
: : to ask myself if were not giving too free
rein to my imagination. ! tried TO think
: calmly. and decided that my Imagination
was not unwarrantably active | could
swear that had heard some person &C
down stars. light lamp, descend to the
! cellar, return, and go out of doors.
was absolutely positive that had heard
steps in the yard. knew that | coulo
, not fail to hear the person come back IN
to the house, for the door rubbed agains
: its casing. and opened hard. Finally,
was morally certain that | was wide awake
: that had not been dreaming, and a.
my friend s. was the only occupant o
: the third story, had everENreason TO be
lieve that she it was who had passed my
door as the clock was striking three
i, Where was she now? | decided that she
, must be in somnambulistic state, anC
e feared some dreadful accident had befal
o len her. There was deep pond only
It few steps from the house; what If Sh
G had uneonsciously gone there and ha'
: been drowned! | forgot my pain IN m,
- anxiety, and sprang from my bed again
Is fully determined TO dress myself and g
:, in pursuit of her Hardly had touche,
/ the floor. when | heard the footsteps i
n the ward again, and, exhausted both b
If the excitement and the reaction, ha
l. lust strength enough left to throw myse
n on the bed, supposing that | should hea
st the door open and the wanderer come
/; at once. Again was disappointed, an
7, instantly Il new and mere terrible tea
Il took possession of me. By the back doc
E. step a large hogshead was sunk in I'll
/, ground for a cistern. ! had heard tn
g cover of this cistern open-a splash as
d some one falling ina sort of bubblin
e groan-a violent struggle in the water
lie Nv heart stood still for u moment, an
as then began beating with suffocating vi
lie lence. ! could but just breathe, an
VI trembled so that | had no control ov'
lie my limbs Once more / sprang off th
h bed, snatched a heavy cloak from a cha
ID and wrapped il about me, and had reacl
in ed the top of the stairway, when at tn;
l. moment the clock struck four, the -bac
w door opened, and some one came in
lie With a thrill of the most exquisite rele
lie l halted and listened, and distinctly hea'
st nly host making preparations 10 build a IRE!
ID | felt inclined TO laugh aloud. III
rs truth-or, at least, enough to satisfy n
re flashed upon my mind at once. and
O. crept back to bed for the last time, thanl
IS ing all my good angels most heartily th'
i, there had been no witnesses to my gem
- inc terror and excitement.
or Ny charming friend S-apPeared I
Id the breakfast table next morning tres
ne and rosy, and waited impatiently for I'll
n explanation which l was sure would con
IS. as it did, so soon as the morning salut
IL tions were over.
tn Ny genial host is passionately fond
- gardening, and awaking at three 9, o,cloc
ay on this particular morning, he decided
Y, 20 out to work. He happened to be e.
at Gagged in fixing a little plat of ground Ju
ly around the corner of the house, whel
Id every sound he made could be east
ed heard. but where he was invisible. tt