The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-12
Aatiunal gepnblitan.


OF one OF the mos thrilllng incidents we
have ever met with in romance or history;
aud acting upon the discretionary power
our feir friend has given us, we lay the
little drama before our readers, sup.
pressing the name ofitsinvoluntaryhero.
Capt. Il. Of the English Navy, had been
spending few days in London, on his re-
turn from the station. The crew OF his
vessel had been paid of at peptford,
and having spent with friend the pre-
ceding evening, the day hxed TOR his de-
parture for Plymouth, where his family
resided, he had started to return to his
lodgings at an advanced hour oil the night
The moon was beautifully clear, the air
sharp and bracing; and thinking over his
plans for the morrow, Captain H. was
walking briskly, when his attention was
attracted BY the sight OF female, elegant
ly dressed, standing at the door ola hand.
some house. He was passing on, how
ever,when she came hastily up TO him, and
addressing him as Captain" desired he
would step in for moment, as she had
something to communicate to him. The
woman was singularly beautiful, her
language refined and her dress extremely
elegant. Sailors are not apt to be over
scrupulous. and II. was not proof against
the temptation. He entered the house.
assembled the stairs and followed his fair
conductress into what appeared TO be
the light of the moon streaming in al
the window, large and well furnished
apartment. pray be seated" said she
II will return Immediately with light.
As she closed the door, Il. thought he
heard her turn the key. He took little
notice Of this seeming trifiing incident,
but ascribed it to her fear OF his leaving
the room before she returned, and
amused himself in the meanwhile by ex-
aiming the contents Of the apartment.
Facing the windows stood a French bed
stead. He approached it, and mecbani-
cally threw open the curtains that neat
Iy concealed It. The opera air he was
humming died on bis lips, and the warm
blood curdled in his veins, at the sight
that met his horror-struck gaze. The
bright beams Of the moon shone full on
the body Of an officer attired in his reg
imentals, and whose throat was cut from
ear to ear! The blood was fresh, and still
streaming from the hideols cash, and the
eyes wide open, and glazing upwards.
He stood petrifed for few moments; at
length, summoning resolution, he
stretched out his hand, touched the face
Of the corpse; the oody was still warm
The truth flashed on his mind-the girl had
locked him in, and was gone for officers
Of the police to arrest him, fof the deed
she had doubtless herself committed.
He rushed to the door and set all the
strength ofa desperate man to force it
open; but il resisted his efforts. What
should he do? Time was flying fast, and
the next moment might see him thrown
into prison, and awaiting the ignomin-
ious sentence which would doom him to
the death Of q felon. Appearances would
inevitably condemn him; and as these
thoughts rose up before him, though a
man Of noted intrepidity, his presence OF
mind seemed totally to fail him in this
great emergency. In state Of mind
bordering on distraction, be threw open
to the ground. The room was situated
in the second story, and death seemed
inevitable if he adopted that mode of
escape; still, death, and what was far
worse, disgrace awaited him if he remain.
ed, and goaded by this dreadful idea, he
sprung into the street below. Strange
to say he alighted on his feel unframed.
Scarce pausing to congratulate himself
on his good fortune, he dashed forward
with the speed of deer and never stop.
ped to take breath until he reached his
lodgings. On the following day he start
ed for Plymouth. yowing to observe moro
prudence in future, ere he accepted the In.
vitations of unknown women. Some
days after he read in the London papers
an account of the murder, and the testi.
mony Of the girl, accusing a man of doing
the deed, who had probably made his es.
cape during her absence. The seouel of
the affair never came to his ears. as he
again left England a short time after. but
he kept his own counsel, and never men.
toned his narrow escape for some vears
when he related it to a relation O; mine
from whom in turn had the story.
A CURIOUS MARRIAGE CUsroM.-Thc
following curious custom of the Nestor.
ian Christians, US related by the Rev
Arthur Boglian, is commended to the SC
and vonng ladies Of our conStr s wbo me-
pose To- Commit matrimonv. rter IN,
marriage ceremony has been nerformed
The wedding nartv il taken in WAGON.
from the cbnrcb To the house of the bride,
proom's parents. When the second