The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-19
MY HOUR OF PERIL.
A THRILtING skETCHI,
BY MARY A. OSGO0D.

ole, anu lew decldeulV nanuSOme.-
Whether or not 1 could lay any just
claims to personal beauty, I am unable
to say, but certain it was, at eighteen,
the honor and pleasure of my alliance
were solicited by two individuals, whose
birth, education and position in life
might have secured for them a hand. ir
a pecuniary point of view, more desira
BILE than mirie. Herbert Stanley was {
young man, handsome, rich, accomplish
ed, and every way most eligible match
Scarcely had l recovered from the sur
prise the unexpected offer of his hant
and heart occasioned me before another
similar proposition was made me-
George Morgan, my second suitor, wa.
a lawyer from the thriving town o
Glendale. He was neither brilliant mol
particularly prepossessing in his per
sonal appearance, but be stood we'll ir
his profession. had acquired some prop
erty, and had established for himself
one of the finest and most exceptionablt
characters, and to him my heart inclined
We were married, and l returiled witt
him to his pleasant home in Glendale =
Twelve years Of conjugal happiness, such
as seldom falls to the lot of mortals, ,haC
passed over our heads, and two little
ones had been given us to unite oul
hearts more closely, and to bring fresh
joy and sunlight into our happy. cheer
full home. 1t was an August afternoon
unusually warm and sultry, and wa:
sitting by the open window Of my little
.parlor, busily plying my needle. My
children were both away, passing the day
with friend, aud Mr. Morgan was al
bis office. He had informed me in the
morning that important business called
him to New York, and that it was his
intention to leave on the evening boat
and my fingers were flying to get the
last stitches set in some clothes he wa:
to take with him.
/ had been sitting some time wholly
engaged in my work, when heard the
creaking of the front door upon its hin
ges, and it slowly opened and closed
again; then stealthy steps in the hall fell
distinctly on my ear: l caught glimpse
Of shsdow on the floor. Hastily
throwing aside my sewing, i arose to as
certain by whom and for what wa,
thus unexpectedly visited, but before
had time to advances step, the ta!lpow
erful figure of man stood in the door
way.
One glance into the new comer's face
was enough to drive all the color from
my lips and cheeks, to make the very
blood freeze in my veins, and my knees
smite one against the other.
1t was Herbert Stanley. I had not
seen him since the evening of his rejec-
ton, twelve years before. But l had
hearl, from time to time, that life had
gone variously with him; that he had
met with heavy losses.in Lusiness,w which
had brought on mental arrangement, land
for some months he had been regarded
as hopelessly insane. He had now es-
capped from the asylum where he was
confined, and had come to pay me, the
object of his early love, visit. His
head and feet were bare. A pair of
coarse blue pants and plaid calico shirt
were his only attire, His long, dishev-
eled : black locks fell down upon his
shoulders, and in the red leather hunting
belt, which fancifully encircled his waist,
a pistol and the bright steel blade of a
bowie-knife were distinctly visible. A
fierce CLEAN of wild delight shot from
his dark eyes as they fell upon me-
Selling the knife in one hand he BRAN
dished 1t over his head, and, with a
laugh long and diabolical, drew itiseve.
raj times 50 nearly across his throat and
forehead that was in momentary ex.
pectation of seeing frightful wonnd in
flicted.
Laura More,' she exclaimed, (More
was my maiden name "when you were
young and handsome, / loved you, ador-
ed you, as no man ever before adored
woman; but yoa scorned my love, you
spurned me from you, you..smiled gra-
ciously upon my hated rival, and you
gave him the precious; treasure of your
heart; but I've got you now! You re.
fused to be my bride on earth--you
shall be my bride in heaven! Thither
am going, and you shall accompany me.
Well consummate our vows here. e.and in
the celestial abodes of Paradise we'll
dwell together. Here is the instrument
that will take us there!"
Saying this he advanced with rapid
strides towards me, secured me by the
arm, fiourisling the deadly,weapdn dex-
terously over my head, brought the
blunt edge directly across my throat, then
fell back again to the door, and stood
gazing upon me with those wild glaring
eyes of his, til. the very blood froze in
my veins.
1 essayed 20 rise, bat terror rendered
me powerless. 1t seemed as if every
muscle had become rigid, and all power
of motion denied me l glanced towards
the door. Herbert Stanley must have
that glance.
"You cannot escape" he exclaimed.
eAultingly, "I've taken care to prevent
that I've fastened the east door and
the back door upon the outside, ,and here
is the key to the 'front.'"
And he took from his pocket 4 large
brass key, and held it up triumphantly
before me.
All possibility of escape was thus cut
off. was in the power of desperate,
madman, bent on my destruc-
ton as he had expressly avowed, and
that paralyzed every nerve and muscle.
"God help me in this, my hour Of
peril" was the despairng prayer which
arose in my soul, for l knew no human
aid was near.
Again the hadman advanced with the
steel quiyering in his hand. l
felt the iron grasp of his hand upon my
shoulder, saw the bright blade of the
boSie-knife pointed directly to my heart,
and powerless and motionless as a stat
ue.
Bnt with this hour Of peril came
strength adequate to the emergency. The
courage which for moment had desert
ed Inc, revived and triumphed over fear.
| knew that to plead for mercy, to sne
for life, would be in vain. My entreat