The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-04-21
SELcEGTEDaa STORY.
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A Midnight Adventure.

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H9srQ III t-4-S2 shf sazf haf y
A Midnight Adventure. l0l Eil
Some years sgo,'while journeyirg through
the central part, of Ohie, q, terrible Snow
storm occurred, which SO obstructed the road
that several passengers, including myself,
were obliged to- find Recommendations in
small wooden tavern, situated dneaf by. Af-
ter satisfying ours inner man nwtli a warm
suppers We ali eongregated around the bar-
room fire, and soon were engaged in smok-
ing, telling stories, and enjoying ourselves
generally.
AmtSno usi was a. middle-aged gentleman,
apparently "a merchant, who remained a
silent listener to the conversation the first
part ofthseEening; But soon our yocabula=
ry of stories was exhausted, and the gentle
man was politely invited to revive the drop
ing conversation by telling story. He
readily accepted the Invitation, and told the
following which 1 give tile reader as near as
my memory will permit: s22apo ~ tLi2.9"
About twenty years ago, he began, ! was.
connected with a wealthy firm in st, Louis,
and, desiring to visit New Orleans, was en-
trusted with a considerable. sum of money
BY my employers to be conveyed with all
possible haste 60 a New Orleans merchant.
Early in the morning ! got on Board the
boat, and leaned iistlessly over the railing,
watching the inhabitants as they went forth
to their various occupations. ! had not, re-,
mained in that position long before the
steamer moved Slowly away from the pier,
and soon the city was entirely lost to view.
during the day nothing transpired to rem
der the voyage disagreeable, and as the
shades of night, began to hover over the
water, repaired to the saloon, where several
gentlemen were engaged in a rather stormy
discussion on politics. Soon / became en-
tangled along with the rest, and gave my
particular views on political subjects ol'l3i
While .conversing, 1 thoughtlessly men
toned the fact of my having a large sum of
money in my possession. Northing further
was said about it at the time, however, but
the thought flashed upon my mind that in a
crowded. desperate and unprincipled men
as were my associates, it was noe the right
place to tell such a secret, which kept me
rather backward in my conversation during
the remainder of the evening. Iretired soon
after, fully resolved to be more prudent in;
the future,
The next day T made the acquaintance of
SCuOtCLIuH pEOtccStu " DC d ulStlOQlSGl
Clergyman. He gave me several tracts, ard
soon We entered into conversation that re-
suited in quite friendly intimacy. He ap-
peared to be well yersed in his profession,
and altogether very agreeable companion.
After eonversing on the various topics OF the
day, the conversation naturally turned to the
previous evenings discussion Not being
very well pleased with what had occurred at
that time,s % attempted to change rile-snb..
ject, but was prevented ilyl mySfriend's res
marking u,r !.
revealing the fsct that ydu had money in
your possession. There are men on this
boat who would not hesitate to rob you, if
"a opportunity presented therefore 1 ad-
wise yen 70 be more careful hereafter =. I'll.
thanked hin, for his kind advice, and
assured him thai ], intended to keep ,aloof
from all suspicious individuals.
Totfns Cbei made no reply, but rose from
his seat, and with cane in hand. walked
leisuFeiy away to- his foom,a leaving melto
my own reflections, which were, that / had
agood companion and valuable friend in
the preacher. 10 b9tHosg1g r'lbHfT's 5,9'h6
Oh Journey I made the acquaintance
OF several gentlenen, but none that valued
so much as the clergyman Nothing oe-
curIed of note pot after this and; we arrived late
in The, afternopn at New Orleans. Not be-
ing very well acquainted in, the city, my
frlcnd offered to conduct me to 4 hotel
where my expenses would not be very heavy.
and as wished to spend as little money money as
possjhlegI thaBktnAysecepte hiseompanv,
misunderstanding the street several blocks, !
"neashe. gave me itbenproper direction to,
take while he was ohHgedto go another
way. aar - = - .
After parting with him, wended my way
to the hotel, which was Situated a little off
Irom the busy thoroughfare. 1t was a large
puilddInng, AM and had very old and s1ingy a1- !
peafance, and, id fact, did not look yery in Z
Vitiug to the traveller; but as l did not g
expect 10 stay only a short time, II concluded
10 accept the accommodations, as they were
m1eh cheaper than could be 4haos elsewhere.
enlered the barroom. and after register
ing my name and eating light supper J.,
asKed' TO pc shown to my room, and was
CONDUCTED qp fight Of rieketvoid stairs 10
snialI, Square roo,n, where nv guide Ieftn.
me: si Eoceeding TO examine z Il the apartment
L found 1t contained one small window 2
whlch looked out on dark back alIey. The
Iurnisure consisted of al bed ia couple of :
cbaHs, alstand, and a heavy oakeri cupboard n
somnttzeeafeet high and about sig feet lono =,
WitAastrongIside doors. The appearance Of +,
.ne room did not disperse the gloomy feel.
nngs ssq Of q distrust that ! experienced when
hrst saw the building However, I deter- ;
INNS m,nsq to @pakasl lal the s Best of now was
Noticed, dbsif before e5ciini 5cidinming Ii fe room N
thick masses of clouds were gradually patL.q
ering over the city, and tile distant T1,m.r
ping OF thunder, with sharp, quick fiasIi,s \
OF llghtnihgsthatq quivesetl across the Ivestern
hori.ee aenoteu an approaching storm. ,f,e I,
Being very tired, Immediately disrobed
and jumped into bed, and was fast fall;na .
ante OF sdreamless oslumber. when a jo,S
scratsfa2g soHnd attracted nv attention h
seenea 70 come from some place in the room Giit
'but 1 Gould as5 fell, exactly where MI
-nerYohsness Increased as tie sound conf;n
'ued, ill determined to ferret out thc camsa
81 cue disturbance ] jumped from the led
irtsokea si,s.' cautiously arouad the room for
some,tiine. but could discover nothing. The
sound hadsentireiy5 subsidad and potb;no
coula be heard save the wit.dy which yb;s',
tied ihioprnfally 10y the windows oy TN. d..
faat fnintling ofthetbunder which deuoted
fheafepsQae aehing storm!E madg p ID .r'-iT-'r :.
AZ tsast Ta0nciuded it must be the wiudov !.
oiiAds or-same such object driven by the
iorce of the wind against the house'o,A =.
''''"s at thls conclusion, I again. jumped