The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-02-22
SATURDAY MORNING., FEBRUARY %, 1878

where are you going to put him 4
asked my guied.
up el::;mbsr,' q. issr., d, na
Put him in Isaac's room
No 'f tSfftyt
It's the most comfortable Shno,
But here J Interrupted the whispered
colloquy. r"l ul srj'ef-s sgutsas- ..r.-..
II am not particular--I don't care
where you lodge me; only make haste,
please &"'
So | was conducted up steep ladder
that stood in corner IF the room, into
an apartment ceiled with slipping beams
and ventilated by one small window,
where cot bcdstead, crowded closely
against the boatd partition, and a pine
table, with two chairs, formed the sole
attempts at furniture. noItaoa-s
The woman set the alight--an oil
lanp-+ou the table. age@ ,.,,,
Anything more | can get you sir 2"
said she. p 7'
'N"thng, thank you '','
Il hope you'll sleep well, sir. Whed
shall | cali you?" loms
AT four O'Clock in the morning if you
please ;ii;:st walk to b station
IN time tor the seven o'clock express
+ "'Ill be sure to call you, SIR
She withdrew, leaving me alone in
the gloomy little apartment I sat down
and loisk ed around me with no very
agreeable SENSATIONS. ,,,.. -.
Il will sit down and write to Alice L
thought; that will soothc my nerves
aud quiet me, perhaps 'a
l descended tie loddcr. o Pic fire still
glowcd redly on tic stone hearth; my
companion aud tlre' woman sat beside it,
talking ina lew tone, a third psrson sat
at the table, eatips--a, short, stout, vii
lalnous looking man, in red flannel
shirt aud very muddy pantalophs. '''
asked for writing materials, aud re :
turned to MY room to write to uyrwife.
pc My darling Alice. al e, i~
i paused, and laid down my pen as 1
copcluied tue words, half smiling to-
! think hi pl what slie would say, eoGld she
know Of my strange quarters. ssS1
Not unit fSStiir AsiiTeets@ efas- e,vs. "a
did I lay aside my pen and prepare for
sluu'ber. AS | folded my paper, hap
pened to, glance toward my couch.
Vas it the CLEAN of human eye
observing me through nc L.,atl7 'p.rii.
'i"n, or was it but my own rantye? there
was cr'ick there, hut ouly black dark
ness beyond yet L could have sworn
ihat'sonlethipss had sparkled balefully
,ah me- 10 .esasgF, v
r took out my, watch-it was only L
o'clock. 1t was scarce'y worth while for
me to undress FOR three hours sleep; |
would lie down in my clothes aud snatch
what slumber could. So placing my
Valife cl"Fe to the head of my bed, and
barrieading the lock less doors with two
chairs, | cxti!guished the light aud lay
down ~"'sias~ As~ais
At first l was very wakcful, but
gradually a soft drowsness seemed to
stealaover me, like y misty mantle, until
all of a sudden some startling electric
thrill courscd, through my veins, aud 1.
sat up, excited and trembling. e
A luminous softtiess seemed to glow
through the room-ho light Of the moon
or stars was ever SO penetrating and
by the little widow | saw Alice, my
wlie, dressed 1r in floating garments Of
white, with her long goI'lcn hair knott.d
back by blue ribbon Apparently she
was bcckoning to me with outstrctched
hands and eyes full of Wild, anxious
tenderness .
sprang to my feet and rushed to
ward her,zbut us lreachcd the wind w
the fair apparition seemed to vanish in.
t. the stormy darkness, aud was left
alone. In the self same instant the
sharp report of II pistol sounded L
could see the Jagged stream of fire above
the pillow, straight through the very
spot where ten seconds siuce my head
had lain.
With an instantaneous realization of
my danger l swung myself over the
edge OF the window, jumped some eight
or ten feet .iuto tangled bushes below,
and, as | crouched there recovering nv
breath, heard the tramp ofioot tcp>
into my room.
lis he dead ? cried a voice up the
ladder-the, smooth, dcccitiul voice Of