Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-07-11
9eletteo nlisteIIanp.
The Midnight Peril; or, Saved by a
Phantom.

The night of 18th of Octobor--shall l
ever forget its pitchy darkness, the roar
Of the autumnal wind through the forest,
and the incessant pour down of rain
"This comes of short cuts" | mutter-
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 turbulent stream
some forty feet below. Ny blood ran
cold as thought of thespossible conse-
quences of misstep or move in the
wrong direction. Why had | not been
contented to keep the right road ?
Hold on! was that light, or are my
eyes deceiving me?
stopped, holding on to the low resi-
nous 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 over the prccipitous
descent.
1t was light thank Providcnco--it
was light, and no agais fatatus to lure
me on to destruction and death
Holloo-o-o p
Ny voice rang through the woods like
clarion. / plunged onward through
the tangled vines, dense briars and rocky
banks, until gradually nearing, | could
perceive figure wrapped in an oil cloth
cape or cloak, carrying lantern. As
the dim light fell upon his face almost
recoiled Would not solitude in the
woods be almost preferable to the COM
panionship of tho wrinkled, withered old
man? But it was too late now.
whats wanting p he snarled forth,
with the peculiar motion Of the lips that
seemed to leave his yellow teeth all bare.
II am lost in the woods; can you d.
rect me to R station p
Eyes; RI station is twelve miles
from herc.'
Twelve miles p
stood aghast.
'Can you tell of any shelter ] could
obtain for the nightY'
"No."
"Where arc you going y
ITO Drew's, down here by the maple
swamp"
is it a tavern"
"No."
Would they take me for a night? /
could pay them we'll"
His eyes CLEANED; the yellow stumps
stood revealed once more.
Il guess so; folks do stop there some
times"
G Is it far from here p
Not very; about half mile"
"Then make haste and let us reach it;
am drenchcd to the skin"
We plodded on, my companion more
than keeping pace with me.
Presently we left the ravine, entering
what seemed like trackless woods, and
keeping straight onward until lights
CLEANED ftfully through the wet foliage.
It was a ruinous old place, with the
windows all on one side, and the pillars
Of a rude porch nearly rotted away.
A woman answered my companions
knocks. He whispered word or two
to her, and she turned to me with smooth,
volublc words of welcome.
She regretted the poverty of the ac-
commodation but | was welcome to
them, such as they were.
"Where is Isaac demanded my guide.
He has not come in yet"
sat down on wooden bench beside
the fire, and ate few mouthfuls of
bread
81 should like to retire as soon as
possible" said |, for my WEAKNESS was
excessive.
Certainly" the woman started up
with alacrity.
"Whcrc are you going to put him ?
asked my guide.
Sup chamber"
"Put him in Isaac's room"
'It's the most comfortable"
81 tell you no."
But here Uninterrupted the whispered
colloquy.
II am not PARTICULAR don't care
where you put me but make haste"
So | was conducted up steep ladder
that stood in corner of the room into
my apartment, ceiled with sloping beams
and ventilated by one small window,
where cot bcdstead, crowded closely
against board partition, and pine ia
bic, with two chairs, formed the sole at
tempt at furniture.
The woman sat the light, an oil lamp,
on the table.
Anything more I can get you, sir? y
said she,
Nofbin,s thanL Won -
II hope you'll sleep well, sir. When
shall | call you 2"
cat o'clock in the morning, if you
please. l must walk to R station
in time for the o'clock express
'sTll be sure to call you, sir"
She withdrew, leaving me alone in the
gloomy little apartment. sat down
and looked around me with no agreeable
sensations.
81 will SIT down and write to Alice"
/ thought; "that will soothe my nerves
and quiet me perhaps"
descended the ladder The fire glow
ed rcdly on the stone hearth, and my
companion and the woman sat beside it,
talking in low tone, and third person
sat at the table eating-a short, stout,
villainous looking man, in red flannel
shirt and very muddy pantaloons.
asked for writing materials and re-
turned to my room to write to my wife.
my darling Alice"
paused and laid down my pen as
concluded the .gorda baif an, I'm, 70 .b;,I1