The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-09-28
~ A FLIGHT In THE DARK.
From Chambers journal.

On alighting from the vehicle, had only
time to take one glance round, and to observe
that we had bceti driven into a small court
or enclosed yard, overlooked by high,
gloomy buildings on, every side, when a
door in front Of us was silently opened, and
we all went in. The door seemed to close
of itself-behind U.S. and the next moment
light appeared at the further end Of the
long passage in which we were standing,
carried bySone of the most siugular-looking
beings these eyes have ever beheld. He
seemed, at the first glance, more like re-
suscitateda corpse than anything else;
he was very old, and very withered, with a
wicked shriveled- up little face-the face of
century-old ape, lighted up with two eyes,
so restless, cunnlngI and suspicious, that
they seemed to distrast everybody, himself
included; lie was dressed in an old red
flannel dressing-robe, which fell in voIuni-
nous folds to his slippered feet, while his
cadaverous jaws were bound up in dirty
white handkerchief, fastened in a large knot
on the top of his head, on which few spiky
hairs were still sparsely shattered Holding
the lamp above his lead with a shaking
hand, he grinned hideous welcome to as
and addressed the stout man with the fnnil-
iarity of an old friend = a. 80
''Welcome home again, Mr.. William
welcome home," he mumbIed, '|What luck
have you had, eh-what luck? But who
are these! Strangers, Ell? Friends of yours,
did you says3 But are they safe, Mr. Will
liam-are they sate?" J.
Chattering thus, the old man led the way
into large but plainly furnished room,
where table was laid ready for supper,
showing that the arrival Of one or more had
been expected. Another plate was quickly
brought, and the slatternly-looking middle
aged woman who waited upon us served up
plain, substantial supper, to which we all
did ample justice The slim man seemed, if
such thing were possible, to grow more
moody and respondent with every mouth
full that he ate. Behind his chair stood
Black Care, the terrible the unbidden, and
poisoned the cup and plate with a touch of
its skeleton finger. AS for the old man, he
mumbled and jabbered away in his apish,
insane fashion, unheeded by everybody, Mr..
William beingiust then to much preoccupied
with his own thoughts to pay the least at
tention to him.
When supper was over, Mr.. William and
the old.lnan left the room together; but in
few minutes, the former came to the door
and beckoned me to follow him. | accord
ingly stumbled after him up flight of long
dark stairs, and was finally ushered into
. room having small camp sbedstead in one
corner, while close to the brightly blazing
fire stood large easy chair and small ia
BILE, in the former of which the old man was
already seated aro-2
''You will have to make yourself comfor-
table here for the night, said the stout man.
turning to me- 'sIhat bed is at your SER
vice; and here, patting the old man on the
shoulder, is one who will attend to your re-
quirements. Good night and pleasant
dreams" -rsssrs..H..- rf-sF
I SO saying, he quilted the room, locking
the door behind him; andI was left alone
with the old man, who grinned and nodded
his withered head at me, and pointing to a
chair i'll the opposite corner, invited me, in
a shrill quivering voice, to come and sit
down by the fire, unless felt disposed to
60 to bed at once. AS | never felt less in
clned to sleepin my life, drew the chair
up to the lire, and sat down opposite the old
boy who was busy connecting a basin of
Cruel for himself, be having taken no part
Ill the supper down stairs. | tried bin
with q few questions, being especially de-
p siIous 10 KNOW now long III was probable
that should be detained there against my
will; but at each Of my queries, the old ras-
cal put on vacant puzzled look, and replied
with something altogether irrelevant to my
question, so that, after one or two futile eff
forts to get "a sensible answer l gave up the
task in despair, and watched him in gloomy
silence while he took his cruel, seasoned
largely with cognac. ..,t- -.-rr
Sitting thus, heard from some ifar-otf
steeple the faint tones of clock tell the
hour of three, and | remembered for the
first time that it was sunday morning. 1t
would not be daylight yet for three hours.
Following close upon the striking of the
clock came the distant rumble of a cab OF
mail-cart rafting over the paved streets;
there was pleasant sense of companion.
ship in the sound that spoke warmly to my
heart, and Brought with it an intense long
ing to escape.
To escape! was such thing possible
My heart throbbed and the blood rushed tc
my face when first asked myself the ques
ton; so that when | looked up, and saw the
old mans suspicious eyes fixed intently or
me, felt as if my hidden thoughts were
discovered. But l sat very still, and strov,
to'leok as unconcerned as possible; anC
when the old man was again busy with BIZ
cruel, | set to work to evolve quietly out o
my brain some plan of deliverance. TIL,
door as have already said, was locked Oh
the outside, TO venture down through tn,
lower parts of the house would nave been ;
most dangerous proceeding The window
then, was the point to be considered Thi
was secured inside by stout shutters, bu
there would be no difficulty in openin,
them; the only real obstacle lay in the fact q