Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-10-24

matters and things in general, and the
strategy Of the present war in particular /.
Well entertained by the conversation
and the music that followed, fingered in
Mrs. Gray's room till ten o'clock. Then,
after seeing that uncle was comfortably
settled for the night, l sought my own
room, and carefully locking the door lead
ing into the hall, commenced to undress
This done stood 10 my long night. wrap
per near the gas light, and began reading
once more the words of my absen, soldier
| had just come to the passage, By the
way dear Fanny when sudden, but
continuous, clicking startled me. 1t might
have been the sharp dropping Of rain.
drops on the roof OF the piazza beneath
my opened window, or the ticking of the
queer clock in Mr.. Fosters room; or it
might have oeen caused by some leakage
IN the Croton pipes, or the creaking of
the poor sick baby s cradle in the room
above. 1t might, in short, have arisen
from either of these or twenty other limo
cent causes, and so | tried to reason as.
hastily putting the letter away, l turned
the gas entirely off (uninten,onally for
that matter, but my hand was not steady
and sought my pillow, quite sure that
should not sleep "a wink that night But
youth add health are often proof agains,
more serious alarms than mine had been.
and soon sank into profound sumber.
Hours atterward | awoke with a start
from some troubled dream. What it had
been | could not precisely recall but |
was agi'ated, and my brow aud neck
seemed fairly dripping with perspira'ion.
In an instant the deep tones Of neigh.
boring church clock striking "two' reas.
sured ME, with its familiar everyday
sound, aud | soon floated off again into
! the land Of dreams. This time the sleep
was lar less sound and more than once,
without quite awakening, l ins,inctively
drew my n'ght'sieeve across my forehead
1t WAS strangely moist, though | could feel
the cool night air stealing through the
darkness from the open window opposite
After turning uneasily upon my pillow for
while, finally snnk into deepar slun.
ber once more, and must have remained
unconscious for nearly an hour, when sud.
denly | started up with a sense of acute
| pain and, wide awake in An instant, be.
came conscious that l ras not alone in
The room! Else why that heavy thump
upon the floor, and the quick rush that
followed? Al! was dark, but could feel
that the pillow, my face, neck, aud the
shoulder and sleeves Of my nightdress
were covered with strange, clammy
moisture. Seized with Il horrible suspi-
clon, and darling from the bed in an u.o.
ny Of terror, flew to the other side O.. the
room, and cropping for my unele's door,
| burst with cry into his room. Dimiy
| lighted as it was, | could zee every object
distinctly as | entered; and frs. of all.
because the long mirror hung directly op.
! posi;e the door, and the small gas e. threw
It's rays full upon me, saw my own rctiec.
! ton III its bright surface. Great Heavens.
! was covered with blood Nv hands
were wet with it, while my cheek and
| throat Were crimson with the streams
which flowed pro'usrly from my temples
What could do? NJ uncle still slept
soundly, under the effects of an opiate
which his physician had prescribed for
hlm Frantic with fear, tore into the
hall, flew up stairs, and would have gone
into Mrs. Gray's room, had not come
in collision with my landlad; a, the land.
ing-place.
"Goodress Miss Fanny; was it YOU
that screamed? What has happened? p
Hush and she drew me quickly into
her little room. "Whv, your shoulders
all wet! Gracious! child, what is the
matter? Here. you're safe enough now
-don't cry. Oh ! where are the matches?
haven't bad my room dark at night be
| fore. | don't know when-here they are
Hush ! you'll scare Mrs. Gray"
BY this time the room was lighted, and
apparently Mrs. Hone was as much alarm.
ed as myself when she saw my condition.
She was, however, woman Of strong
nerve, and in moment was coolly bath
ing my face and neck. and eudeavoriny to
staunch the blood still flowing from my
temples. When the bleeding ceased she
lost no time in changing my garments
and making me as comfortable as pos
sible
For some time staid in the landlaay's
room, aud We talked over the affair to
gether. There was but one solution of
the matter; and when, with shulder,
sugses ed it to her, she answered softly,
Just so, Miss Fanny, it WAS nothing
else, depend upon it. Poor child Did
you see him."
NO" l whispered, "the room was dark,
but heard him distinctly Obi Mrs.
hone, ! can never sleep in that room
again. ! must leave the house to morrow.
Dear, dear!' exclaimed Mrs Hone,
ITS always some trouble with me first one
thing and then another. But IN sure
can't blame you, Miss Fanny though if
you would stay, could get man here
tomorrow who told me he could put
stop TO all such troubles. But hated to
have him come before, because knew it
would make SO much talk ia the house.
and make the help sausy. Goodness
knws, they're unbearable enough a!rea-
dy"
felt sorry :or the landIady, but in my
own mind telt fully resolved to leave her
roof as soon MS possible. The clock
doomed out -four
"OL. Mrs Hone. I,xclaimel. struck