The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-06-11

| Il tell you TO- .> -.
But hcre interrupted the whis.
| p red col!oTny-,-
Il am not parlicular-I don't care
where you lodge mel only make
haste.
So. ! was conducted up to step
ladder that stood in the crrncr Of the
room, into nn apartment sealed with
sloping beams and vcn,ia,el by one
small window, where cot bed. toad
crowded clo>cl y against the board par
tition, and pine tabl with two
chairs, formed Tie atten PTS ut furni-
ture.
The woman set the lamp-an oil
lamp OH the table.
Anything more can I get sir p
Nothing, thank you.'
"I hope you will sleep well, sir.
When shall l call you 2
81 four O'CLOCK in the morning, if
>Jou plc.se. l must walk to d
station in time for the 7 o'clock en-
press" a., >, ....r
sL,%ill:bo sure to. GAIL you sir.
She withdrew leaving me alone in
the gloomy little apartmcnt.. l sat
down and looked around mo with
no very agreeable sensations.
Il will set down and write to Alice,
\, shoUght ! that will sooth my nerves
a.d Guict mo, perhaps.
| descended the ladder. The fire
still glowcd redly on the stone
hearth !; my companior and. the
womaT sat beside il: talking IN allow
tone, and third person sat at the
table, cating--a short, stout, villain
ous-looktIg man, in q rcd flannel
shirt and very muddy pantaloons.
| asked for writing materials, and
returned to my room to write to my
'My. darling ALICE
l paused, laid down my pen as. 1
concluded the words, half omiliug to
think what she would say, could she
know of my strange quarters.
N OF until both sheets were covered
did l. lay asido> my pen and prepare
for slumber. AS I folded my paper,
[ happened to glance toward my
couch.
=. Was,it the CLEAN of human eye
observing me through the board par
tition, or was it my own fancy There
was crack there, ,biit only blackness
beyond. Yet l could have sworn that
something had sparklod bancfully at
inc.
:. 1 took out my witch, twas only
cnc O'Clock. 1t was scarcely. worth
while for me to undrcss for three hours
sleep l would lay down in my
clothes and snatch what slumber I
could. So, placing my valise close to
the head of my bed, and barricading
tho lockless door, with two chairs.
! ,extinguishcd the light and lay
At drst I was. a very wakcfui, but
gradually a soft drowsinoss seemed to
steal over. inc like misty mantle, until
all of sudden some startling elcctrio
thrill coursed through my veins, and
| sat up, oxcited. and trembling. i.,.
A,,lpminous softness seemed to glow
through the room-no light of tho
moon or stals was ever so penetrating
and by the, little window ] cav
Alice, my. Wife, dressed in floating
garments of white, with her long gol.
den hair kpotted back. with a blue
ribbon. Apparently she. was beck,
oning to me with outstrotchod hands
and eyes full! Of wild, anxious tender.
ness.
lsprang to my feet and rushed to.
ward her, but as | reaolied the win.
dow the fair apparition seemed to
vanish in tho stormy darkness, and l
was left alone. In the self.same in
slant tho sharp report of a pistol
sounded Il could see tho Jagged
streams Of fro above the pillow,
straight toward tho very spot whero
ten second since my head had lain. :. l..
!. With an instantaneous realization
Of my danger, l swung .mysclf over
the edge Of the window, jumped down
oight or ton fcot into tangled bushes
below, and, ~ as ! c:ouched thero re,
covering ,E!yt breath, | heard tho
tramp'of footsteps in.my room. :. :.
j. is he doad?' cried a, VOICE up tho t
laddcr-the smooth, decoitful yoico of
the. woman. =. :.
'Of cou.sc he is,' growled the voice
back, tthat 6bGrSc would havo .JSillod
ten mon. a. light there, quick, and
tell Tom to be ready -,
a cold, agonizod shuddcr ran over
mo. What den of midnight murder.
ers had l fallen into And how fear.
fully narrow had been my escape
With. the speed that only mortal
terror and deadly peril can givo,
rushed through tho woods, now illu.
minated by faint glimmer of star.
light. I knew not, what impulses
guided my footsteps---I shall meyer.
know how many times I crossed my
own track, or how many timos / stood
at the brink Of the deadly favine, but:
mcrciful Providence ,cncom p passed
me with guiding and protecting care,
s.. St,I,n I.> 4