Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-06-04
Select STORY.
Ny Midnight Peril.

ber-shall ever forget its pi,chy dark.
ness, the roar of the antumnal wind
through the lonely forest, and the inces.
SAINT downpour of the rain
This comes of short cuts" mu.ter
ed petulantly TO myself. as I plodded
along. keeping close to the trunks of the
trees to avoid the deep ravine, through
which could hear the roar of the tur.
bulens stream forty or fifty feet below.
Ny blood ran cold. as I thought what
might be the possible consequences of a
misstep or move in thu wrong direction.
Why had not been contented to Keep
in the right road
Hold on Was that light, or are my
eyes playing me false
stopped. holding on to the low. res
inous boughs Of hemlock that grew on
the edge Of the bank for it actually
seemed as If the wind would seize me
bodily and hurl me down the precipitous
descent ell
1t was q light-thank Providence-it
was q light, and no ignis fstnus to lure
me on to destruction ard death.
"Hallooo o y
My voice rang through the woods like
a clarion. I plunged onward through
tangled vines. dense briers and rocky
banks. until, gradually nearing. could
perceive figure wrapped in an oil cloth
cape. or cloak. carrying a lantern. As
the dim light fell upon his face, l almost
recoiled. Would not solitude in the
woods he preferable to the companion
chip Of this withered, wrinkled old man
But it was too late to recede now.
What's wanting Z lie .uarled. with a
peculiar motion Of the lips that seemed
to leave his yellow teeth all bare.
\ am lost in the woods can you d.
rect me to R-Station +
YES; R-station is twelve miles
from here
Twelve miles"
Istood ashast.
Yes
Can you tell me Of any shelter l
could obtain for the night +
NO.
Where are you goingi'
To Drew's, down by the maple swamp.
is it a tavern Z
No
Would they take me for the night : 1
could pay chem we'll.
HE eyes cleaned the yellow stumps
etood revealed once more. -.,
1 guess so; folks do stop there
'Is il far from here +
Not very about half mile
Then let US make haste and reach it.
I am drenched to the skim
We peddled on, my companion more
than keeping pace with me. Presently
We left the edge of the ravine, entering
what seemed like trackless woods, and
keeping straight on until the lights gleam-
ed 6tfully through the wet foliage.
1t was a ruinous old place, with the
windows all drawn to one side, as if the
foundation had settled, and the pillars Of
q rude porch nearly rotted away.
A woman answered my fellow travel
ler's knock. My companion whispered
word or two to her, and she turned to
me with emooth. volubIe words of vel
come.
She regretted the poverty Of their ac
conmodations but l was welcome to
them, euch as they were.
Where is Isaac + demanded my guide.
He has not come in yet
I sat down on wooden bench beside
the fire, and ate q few mouthfnls Of
bread.
Il should like to retire as soon a. poss |
ible,' for my weariness was excessive.
Certainly The women started up
with alacrity
Where are you going to put him !
asked my guide.
Up chamber
Put him in Isaac's room.
No
'It's the most comfortable
I tell you NO !
But here I interrupted the whispered
coiloquy.
Il am not particular-I don't care
where you lodge me. only make haste
So was conducted up steep ladder
tina. stood in corner Of the room. into
an apartment ceiled with sloping beams
and ventilated by one small window,
where a cot bedstead. crowded close
against the board partition. and . pine
table, with two or three chairs, formed
the sole attempts at furniture.
The women set the light-an oil lamp,
on the table. -:a.
Anything more can get you. sir :
Nothing. thank you. :
i hope you'll sleep we'll. sir. When
shall call you Z
AT four o'clock in the morning. if you
please. / must walk over to K-eta-