Middletown transcript., 1873-07-05
Sclrtt Storp.
MRS. PERCY'S PERIL.

AEtHui ctcN t"ptai1 VI IicF Hblfsly
Dragons, is my husband, aud the advcu.
turs | am about to relate bcfell me abou,
eighteen months after our marriage, when
the regiment was quartered in ireland
a detachment was stationed in one oi
the most nhquiet parts OF that country.
which refrain, from obvious reasons,
from naming, Arthur was ordered to
accompanied him. with our baby. an in.
iant OF abou, FIVE months We thought
ourselves very fortunate in having secured
a small but extremely pretty cottage a, an
almost nominal rem. distau, about ono
mile from the barracks
cauuoi better describe the cottage
Than by telling YOU tina, it was called
The bungalow, and. like its uanesakc,
was long. onr-storicd building. with a
9eranda iu front OF the principal windows
4 small entrance hail in which were two
doors was the Il st thing observed on IN
tcrug; one led 10 the drawing room. dim
ing room. aud three bed edrooms. while the
other led directly 10 the kitchen, servants
roam, aud into passage leading 10 the
outer Offices
our establishment consisted Of two wo-
men servants and nuc man the lattcr, ho.
iug soldier. returned every night 10 the
barracks, which happened To he the near.
est habitaiinn 10 IL. uot even the hamhest
dwelling breaking the l9nelines, Of the
way bctwetn them aud the Bungalow
have already sail that the distance
from them was about mile, aud the rnal
which was partly rrass-gro@n. lay thrp'
a narrow snrt Of laue. enclosed on each
side hy very high hedges
Thn,c hedges wtrc a continual horror
to ms Scarcely over dill see Arthur
start in the morning without visions atis
ing Of aesparadpes concealed behind them,
dressed in the inevitable loug-tailed. rag-
ged coat The hirh,ernwued uarrow-rim-
med hat. aud the murderous weapon. all
Of which things inevitably associated
with an Irish rGfiian
The dragoons lad been scnt to quell
some risings. ard TO support the anthori-
ties. consequently they were not regarded
by the natives il any very friendly light
As the weeks went on and every after
noon brought Arthur safely back Ia me.
my fears were somewhat allayri, aud oc-
casionally walked through the lane u,
wards the torn 10 meet him-always
however, feeling glad when | got saf, |,
pas, any chance rasser-by whom might
encounter
Arthur used TO laugh at my fears am
as knew | was desperate coward.
tried to think they we're grouniless, ant
merely the result Of my own natural tim
iiiiy
The year was drawing to close. apt
on the 10th of January We vera To bi,
ajeu to the Bungalow. Ireland, and tb'
Irish. Tho regiment was under order
for England in the Spring aud till the,
Arthur was to 90 on leave.
was in rap,ures ut the prospect Of be
ing settled in my own part Of the worl,
again. and. best Of ALL leaving Ireland
against which entertained so profound
prejudice. 1t was Christmas Eve; Ar
thur was obliged. most unwillpgiy, t
spend it at the barracks. as the few Off
GERS there wished to have farewell din
ner. and, in addition. there was 10 be Al
entertainment for the soldiers at an earl,
hour.
It had been showing heavily all day
aud when Arthur left. about half-pas
three o'clock In the afternoon, darkness
was beginning to come on.
| begged him not TO return II the snos
continued. as | knew it might be yer,
late ere the party broke up. and | coul,
not bear the idea Of his coming hom
through that dark, narrow road. in ,b
middle Of a snowy December night.
be did come he was to tap at my window
which would enable me to let him in with
gu. disturbing the servants. who slept a
the other side Of the house.
After | had watched his figure disap
pear. l rc-entcred the cottage with disa
grecsblc sense Of solitude and wearincs
] which tried to dispel by ringing for th