The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-08-15
Adventure at D Canadian Inn.
BY JOHN MORTIMER.

A storm had oVertak6n me, and nad
SO increased the darkness Of the cloud y
night that could proceed no further on
my way, and accordingly ] had put up
at this crazy inn, in which 1 now found
myself. While the landlord was gifted
with broad, round head, pale face. and
thin neck, the Ian lady had long, bony
neck and face, square jaw, and an angu-
lar head, very broad at the ears. Mine
host was an unscrupulous-looking man !;
and mine hostess dangerous looking
women.
l was treated to a fnesupper, for mine
hostess was q superb cock, and knew
how to awaken and satisfy yourappetite.
+ only thought that if my horse was en-
ioying his supper as well, / should feel
contented; for / had strong affection
for Roady, as | called him.
The fire was warm, and the rain beat
against the windows; SO settled myself
down at my meal something Of a con-
tented spirit. Not so when ] he'd locked
myself into my chamber. There I was
alone and had nothing to do but think,
while the rain poured down upon the
skylight, and the thunder shook the
house.
A man need not fear, but he may be
cautious. was cautious; and by the
dim Light Of the lamp / carefully exam
ined the walls, the door, the window and
skylight, the fireplace. and lastly the
bed. Ii was only two days before that
4 had read of an inn in France where it
had been discovered that missing trav-
elers were disposed Of by machinery con-
nected with the bed; 30 ] examined this
bed with critical eye. I could not
helpsmiling to myself during the whole
performance, and would have felt like a
sheep II my landlord had knocked atsthe
door, on some errand. But you know
how IL IT,; if man once gets his suspi-
cicns aroused under such circumstances,
he is very apt to do as I did.
I i had discovered nothing unusual in
the walls, door, window, skylight or bed
On the latter Of which i had thrown
myself without undressing land yet /
waa uueasy az tried to give myself into
she arms of Morpheus.
AT last from sheer fatigue, ! tell into
flsfal slumbar--- slumber which nearly
cost my life.
j, had slept an hour or more, troubled
continually by the most hideous dreams.
when I awoke as if by the touch of a
man. / had left my lightburning, but
when / awakened it was out. A vivid
flash of lighting lit up the room throuhh
the window, DO that I could have seen
man had he been at my bedside. +
coulii sae no one. Al shivsr ran through.
me as peeped into the darkness, and I
could feel the touch that walked me, as
though 1 hand lay On my body still
The thunder that followed the light
ming was terrific hut the beating of my
heart was louder to me than that. ! was
nnarmeds and there was q man in the
ehamhsr. 0f this not my mind but my
heart was certain, II was not thonght,
but feelinga. II was possiblefhat was
swaksnsd by simply 4 atwiehing Of my
body, which, IN my waking dream, would
seem like the touch of . hand and i'll
was possible that The lanp went out forI
YlYS lack of oil, or by she wind thatlsowled
IL the rfndow. Yet I knew that d man
was iii The chamber and. for . moment,
II held nv breath for fear Of bringing
hin upon ms By ayen The sound Of myl
breathing. 34
II that hrief moment ! bethought me
nf sonas means ef defence. The picture
I'D ~ nfaen drawn CO. myseh while
iyipe awake il, the night, was that, i'll