The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-02-05


tho room, into an apartment ccilcd
with sloping beams and ventilated
by ono small window, whero cot
bcdstoad, crowded closely against
the board partition, and II Pine ia
bic, with two chairs, formed tho
solo attempts at furniture.
The woman set tho light-nn
oil lamp--on tho table.
"Anything more can got you,
sir ?" said sho.
"Nothing, thank you"
81 hope you'll sleep well, sir.
When shall call you p
"At four o'clock in tho morning,
if you please. l must walk to
Il station in time for the seven
o'clock express"
'l'll be sure to call you, sir"
She withdrew, leaving me alone
in the gloomy little apartment. |
sat down and looked around me
with no very Agreeable sensations.
81 will sit down and write to
Alicc,' | thought; "that will
sootho my nerves and quiet mo,
perhaps"
| descended tho ladder. The
fro still glowed rodIy on the stone
hearth; my companion and tho
woman sat beside it, talking in a
low tone, and u third person sat
ut the table, eating-a short, stout,
villainous, looking man, in q rcd
flannel shirt and very muddy pant.
aloOns.
[ asked for writing materials,
and returned to my room to write
to my wife.
"My darling Alice"
l paused, and laid down my pen
rs | concluded tho words, half
smiling to think what she would
say, could she know Of my strange
quarters.
Not until both sheets wero GOV.
cred did | lay aside my pcu and
prepare for slumbcr As | folded
my paper, l happened to glance
toward my couch.
Was it tho CLEAN Of human
oyo observing mo through the
board partition, or was it but my
own fancy? There was crack
there, but only black darkness be-
yond; yet l could havo sworn
that something had sparklcd bale
fully ut me.
| took out my watch-it was
only l o'clock. 1t was scarcely
worth while for me to undrcss for
three hours sleep; l would lie
down in my clothes and snatch
what slumber 1 could. So, placing
my valiso close to tho head of my
bed, and barricading tho loclsless
doors with two chairs, I Icxtin-
guishcd the light and lay down.
AT first l was very wakeful, but
gradually soft drowsincss seem
cd to steal over me, like \ misty
mantle, until all of II sudden somo
startling electric thrill courscd
through my veins, and | sat up,
excited and trembling.
A luminous softnoss seemed to
glow through the room-no light
Of tho moon or stars was ever so
penetrating-and by the little
window l saw Alice, my wife,
dressed in floating garments of
white, with hor long golden hair
knotted back by blue ribbon.
Apparently she was bcckoning to
me with outstretchod hands and
eyes full Of wild, anxious tondcr.
ness.
sprang to my feet and rushed
toward her, but as | reached the
window, the fair apparition seem
od to vanish into the stormy dark.
ness, and | was left alone. In the
self same instant the sharp report
Of n pistol sounded-I could SEQ
the Jagged stream Of fire above
tho pillow, straight through tho
very spot whero ten seconds since
my head had lain.
With an instantaneous rcaIiza.
ton of my danger, l swung my
self over tho edge of the window,
jumped some eight or ten feet into
tangled bushes below, and, as |
crouched there recov cring nv
breath, heard tho tramp Of foot.
steps into my room.
"ls ho dead ?" cried q voice up
tho ladder--the smooth, deceitful
voice Of the woman.
"Of course he is," growled
voice back. "that charge would
havo killed ten men. A light
there, quick, and tell Tom to be
ready"
A cold, agonized shuddcr ran
through me. What don Of mid.
night murdorers had | fallen into?
And how fearfully narrow had
been my escape!
With the speed that only NOR
tai terror and deadly peril can
give, | rushed through tho woods,
now illuminated by faint gIim.
n, f,f ofoNli,rl,t