Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-10
nv MIDNIGHT PERIL.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

| lonely forest, and the incessant dtEn-poul
of the rain? l had heard of lonely way
farers being lost in the woods before; had
pitied them but now [ fully realized the
vague terror, the underlined danger which
broods over the lost
"This comes of short cuts" [ muttered
pettulently to myself, as [ plodded along,
keeping close to the trunks of the trees tc
avoid the deep ravine through which !
could just hear the roar of the turbulent
stream some forty or fifty feet below My
blood ran cold as thought what might be
the possible consequence of mis-step or
a move in the wrong direction Why had
L not been cOntented to keep in the high
road?
'Ishould have reached the railroad station
an hour ago if [ had not foolishly imag-
ined the wood path would be more direct
now L have wandered off, nobody knows
how many miles out of civilization, and if I
escape with whole skin and sound bones,
[ shall consider myself particularly lucky.
Hold on--was that light, or are my eyes
playing me as false as did my common
sense %
stopped, holding on to the low, resin
Gus boughs of hemlock that grew on the
if the wind would seize me bodily and hurl
1t was light-thank Providence, it was
light. and no ignus futuuS or corpse CLEAN
to lure me on to destruction and death.
HalloO-o-o-o y
My voice rang through the woods like a
clarion, strengthened by the energy of des-
peration ; the light hesitated, oscillated
back and forth, and finally stood still. [
plunged onward through tangled vines,
dense briars and rocky banks until, gradu-
ally nearing, could perceive bent figure
wrapped in an old oil-cloth cape or cloak,
carrying lantern AS the dim light fell
upon his face, almost recoiled Would
not so!1t,ade and the woods be preferable
to the companionship of this withered,
wrinkled, hideous old man ? But it was
too late to recede now.
"What's wanting ?" he snarled, with a
peculiar motion of the lips that seemed to
leave his yellow stumps all bare.
& l am lost in the woods can you direct
me to RI station ?"
Eyes R- station is twelve miles from
here ?"
"Twelve miles ?"
stood aghast.
eyes"
"Can you tell me of any shelter could
obtain for the night ?"
"No -
y w mere are you gong
"To DreW's, down by the maple swamp"
sis it a tavern @
"No.''
"Would they take me for the night ? [
could pay them WE'LL
His eyes glef med the yellow stumps
stood revealed Orce more.
"l guess so. 'Ialnt a tavern, but folks
do stop there once IN a while"
''Is it far from here ?"
"Not very; about half a mile"
"Then let us make haste and reach it. [
am drenched to the skim
We plodded on, my companion more
than keeping pace with me, though he
must have been nearly seventy five years of
age, and bent with infrmity. Presently
we left the edge of the ravine, entering
what seemed like trackless woods, and
keeping straight On until the lights Of some
habitation cleaned fitfully through the wet
foliage.
It was ruinous old place, with the win
dows all down to one side as if the founda-
ton had settled, and the pillars of rude
porch nearly rotted away, yet Aladdin s
castle could scarcely have looked pleasant
er or more welcome to me, Wayworn and
weary as [ was.
A woman answered my fellow traveller s
knOck-a woman apparently about thirty
five years of age, with reddish brown hair,
wound in thick hraids about her head, and
curious, half-shut eyes. My companion
whispered word to her, and she turned
to me with smooth volubIe words of vel
come.
"She regretted the poverty of their ac-
commodations; but was welcome to them,
such as they WERE"
"Where is Isaac?" demanded my guide.
'' He has not come yet
| sat down on wooden bench beside
the fire, with my valise close to me, while
the woman threw on fresh logs, drew out 8
| round pine table, and produced bread
| cold meat, and bottle of some spirituOus
compound. [ ate few mouthfuls of the
| bread, but did not touch the other articles
''I should like to retire as soon as pos
sible, said, for my weariness was eXces
| sive.
Certainly" The woman started VI
with alacrity.
"Where are you going to put him p
asked my guide.
Cup chamber.
"Put him in Isaac's ROOM"
"No."
cts the most comfortable"
60 [ tell you no :.
| But here [ interrupted the whispered
colloquy.
"I am not particular-I don't care where
you lodge me, only make haste"
The woman's smooth apologies were pro
fuse. "She only wished to make me com
Portable, and Isaac's room always leaked il
wet SPELLS" So was conducted up steer
ladder that stood in the corner of the room
into an apartment ceiled with sloping beam
and ventilated by one small window, wher
a cot bedstead, crowded close against th
board partition, and pine table, with on
or two chairs, formed the sole attempts a
furniture.
The wol'on set the light-an oil lamp
on the table
Anything can get for you, sir ?"
Nothing, I thank you"
81 hope you'll sleep well, sir-when shal
call you ?"
cat four o'clock in the morning, if yo7
please. I must walk over to R. sta
tion in time for the seven o'clock express.
She withdrew, leaving me alone in th
gloomy little apartment. [ sat down an
looked around me with no very agreeabl
sensation.
Wearied as / had become | felt nc lncli
nation to sleep-in fact, it seemed as If
had never been more wakeful in all my life
J. walked up and down the narrow room
~rt,w