The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-02

OF the door, but once on the other side
OF it, l rushed across the hall aud gain
ed the kitchen, where I found my two
doEnestics seated at their tea,
Ihrieny told them Of the fright I had
got, and was not much r0assured on
finding that both were, II possible,
greater towards than I was myself.
The sound OF whistle at no great
distance from the cottage reused me to
the necessity OF instantly making every
place Us secure as possible. Accom-.
panied by the two trembling servants,
and with baby in my arms, 1 began my
tour Of inspection. At last every bolt
was drawn, every shutter closed, and
nothing more remained TO be done. I
found, on looking at the clock, that ii
was little past fiYe, SO that long even.
ing was before me,
Not a sound was to be heard moth.
ing fresh occurred to alarm us in the
least, and at last | grew almost ashamed
Of the panic had given way to, merely
from having seen a man glance through
the window. Very probably ho was
some strolling yagrnnt who had been at.
traeted by the bright light Of the fro to
look in, without doing US any harm.
So / reasoned with myself, and so !
tried to reassure the servants. Under
any circumstances, I was glad TO feel
that We were safely shut up for the
night, and determined 10 go soon to my
room, where 1 felt less lonely than in
the empty drawing.room.
Had there not been the chance OF
Arthur returning, I would have pro.
posed that the servants should sleep in
q bed there happened to be in his tlfess.
ing-room; but as they Assured me they
were not at oil afraid, now that nothing
more had been heard OF the man, and 1
knew 1t would be q great nuisance to
Arthur, II he did return, I concluded
that 1t was wiser to lot them sleep in
their own room, Though it was at some
distance from mine.
l went to my room at about half-past
nine, and proceeded to undress after
which put on my white flannel dress
ing-gown, placed my candles behind
me, aud seating myself in front Of the
fire began TO read.
In spite Of all my assurances to my.
self and my servants, felt strangely
nervous and restless. My book was a
very interesting one, but 1t failed to
obliterate from my mind the horrible
remembrance Of the face ut the window.
Perhaps he was there still-perhaps he
was watching for Arthur's return to
trn ntsIay mud ,ourdar b.r.,f All .a.I. -
wild visions presented themselves to
my mind. Once baby moved slightly
and it madc me start nearly to my e
with terror. ~.
I was thoroughly upset, and that Sa !
thought that consoled me wa 'naS aa,,
had begged Arthur not to rethMa ,rocts oc ne
was, no doubt, safely at X ,o;nd UGria'A''
little dreaming of my sta stiil Epev
y was showing heay came @ steadily
It by the dropping tThs t'iy vs atmosnhers Ssv
down the chimneSo SON somsSow, And
seemed to choke ny solneHvM. sIs !. ..,si.i. anu
ever and anon / 1und myself listening
intentg.
stroke v;hating through me. Still
7 sSt m ay fire growing dim, and my.
self feeiag eramped, cold and almost
immovble.
set'a hundred times. I could not tell
! was n vague, shadowy terror that
seemed to be chaining me down. Ihad
heard Of peoples hair turning white In
4 night from fear. Surely mine would
be as snowy as the ground without II
had to spend the whole night thus.
Oh, for the sound Of Arthxrs voice.
Perhaps I should never hear 1t again
perhaps he would never know what q
night I had spent, as either he or ]
might be murdered before morning.
Half.past eleyen-only thirty minutes
since the clock struck. In eight hours
our servant from the barracks would
come, even II Arthur had settled not to
return till morning. Eight hours OF
thisl
Aquarter from twelve. By mighty |
effort I forced myself to get up.
CHANGING at the glass, my own ghostly |
terrified me. Ilaid my watch |
under my pillow, and was in the act Of
lying down beside baby-not to sleep,
as till two o'clock ] should hope for
Arthur-when sound, awful, wild, un-
earthly, broke the stiffness Of the dark
December night It was scream from
q woman's voice in dire distress; an
other followed, and it came from some.
where in tho house. Not moment did
I hesitate.
springing out Of bed and putting on
only my slippers-happily having kept
on my dressing-gown-I seized my
child, pausing only TO snatch up her lit
tie shawl that lay beside her on the
bed. I unbarred my shutter, opened the
window, and the next moment was on
the yeranda. II needed not q third
wild shrek to impel me to q speed be-
yond what / had ever dreamed Of as
possible.
In second or two / was beyond the
gate, flying for life, for my own and
another existence, dearer far, in my
arms, clasped tightly to me-aying
through the lanes, past the dreadful
hedges, on, stumbling now and then,
but recovering myself only to resume
my race for life with greater despera.
tion. Death was surely behind MS. II
the pale, piercing face Of the outside
watcher overlook me now, what would
be my fatop
God was merciful indeed to me, and
gave me the power to proceed in my
awful extremity.
Heavens portals could hardly have
been more rapturously reached than the
barrack gates, as I few inside Of them.
I saw a group Of men standing in the
doorway and towards them ! rushed,
,'s.1.,,,i.;nn, IN nv t,nutlnrnbla thanit