The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-17
MY HOUR OF PERIL.

and few decidedly handsome Whether
or not | could lay just claim to beauty ]
am unable to say, but certain it was, al
eighteen, the honor and pleasure Of my
alliance was solicited bytwo individuals
whose birth, education and position in
life might hav. secured for them hand
IN pecuniary point of view, far more de-
sirable than mine Herbert Stanley was
a young man, handsome, rich, accom-
pl;shed, talented and in every way a
most eligible match. George Morgan
my second sutton, was lawyer from til :
thriving town of g. He wa
neither brilliant nor particularly prepos-
sessing in his personal appearance, but
he stood well in his profession, and had
established for himself one Of the finest
and most uncxceptionab characters, and
to him my heart inclined.
We were married, and [ returned with
| him TO his pleasant home in O..
Twelve years of conjugal happiness, such
us seldom falls TO the lot of mortals, had
passed oven our heads, and two little
ones had De, II given To us, to unite our
hearts more closely, and to bring fresh
Joy and sunlight TO our happy, cheerful
home. 1t was ON an August afternoon,
unusually warm and sultry, that I was
sitting by the open window of nv little
parior, busily engaged with my needle.
My children were away, passing the day
with a friend, and Mr.. Morgan was at his
office. He had Informed me in the morn
ing 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, 10 get che last stitches
set in some clothes he was to take with
him
had been sitting for some time wholly
engaged in my work, when | heard the
cracking of the front door upon its
hinges and it slowly opened and closed
again. then stealthy steps in the hall
fell distinctly upon my ear. [ caught
glimpse of shadow on the floor. Hasti-
~ throwing aside my sewing, arose to
ascertain by whom and for what was
thus unexpectedly visited, but before I
had time to advance a step, the tall, pow
trful figure OF Il man stood in the door
way.
One glance Of the new comers face was
enough to drive all the color from my
lips and cheeks, and make the very blood
freeze in my veins, and my knees smite
one against the other
It was Herbert Stanley. had not seen
him since the night of his rejection,
twelve years before But I had heard
from time, that life had gone variously
with him; that he had met with heavy
losses in business, which had brought on
mental arrangement, and for some months
he had been regarded as hOpelessly in
sane He had now escaped from the asy-
tlum where he had been confined, and had
come to pay a visit to me, the object of
his early love. His head and his feet
were bare A pair OF coarse blue pants
and plaid calico shirt were his only at
tire His long, disheveled hair fell far
down upon his shoulders, and in the red
leather hunting belt which tancitully en-
c1rcled his waists pistol and 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
brandished il over his head, and with
laugh, loud and diabolical, he drew it
several times across his throat ard fore
head, and l was in momentary expecta
tion Of seeing frighttul wound inflicted.
| uG tHlOOIC
was my maiden name), when you were
young and handsome loved you, adored
you as no man ever before adored w0
man; but you scorned my love, you
spurned me from you you smiled gra-
ciously upon my hated rival and you gave
him the prec; Gus treasure of your heart,
but Pve got you now You refused to
be my bride on earth; you shall be mine
in Heaven! We'll consummate our VOWS
here, and to the celestial abodeS OF Para,
disc we'll go together. Here is the in
strument that will take us there =
| Saying this, he advanced with rapid
strides toward me, secured me by the arm,
Fl Nurlshel the deadly weapon dextrously
o,cr my head, brought the blunt edge d.
rectly across my throat, and fell back to
the door, and stood gazing upon me with
those wild, glaring eyes of his till the
blood troze in my veilss.
essayed to rise, but terror rendered
me powerless. 1t seemed as if every
muscle denied me. glanced toward the
door Herbert StanleJ must have inter
peted that glance.
"You cannot escape" lie exclaimed,
exultingly; II have taken care to pre-
vent that have fastened the east door
and there is the key to the 'front.'
And he took from his pocket q large
brass key, and held it up triumphantly
before me.
All possibility of escape was thus cut
off. was in the power of a desperate,
mercilcss mailman, uent "n my destruc-
ton, as he had avowed it, and that paral-
4 wed every nerve and muscle.
"God help me in this hour of peril p
was the prayer tn at arose in my soul, for
| knew no human aid was near. J9Da %95D