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

Auuut eighteen months after our mar.
riage, when tho regiment was quartered
in Ireland.
A detachment was stationed in one OF
the most unquiet parts OF that country,
which | refrain, from obvious reasons,
from naming. Arthur was ordered to
take command Of II, and SO I, OF course,
accompanied him with our baby, nm In.
fant Of about five months. We Thought
ourselves very fortunate in having SO.
cured small but extremely pretty cot.
tage at an almost nominal rent, distant
about one mile from the barracks.
cannot better describe the cottacs
than by telling you TINT IL was .allsd
"The Bungalow" and like ia name
sake, was long, one.stOr,ed hn;ldins
with q veranda in front Of the nr;ncinsi
windows. A small entrance hall 'p ~
S, when were two .toorswas the first thing
observed on entering; ono led to The
arawlng.r,on, dining. and three
pearoons, while the other led directly
W Vie kitchen, servants room, and into
apassage leading to tho outer Offices,
Our establishment consisted OF two
women servants aud one man the Int.
ter, being soldier, returned eyerv nigbt
to the barracks, which happened 10 Ia
the nearest habitation to ma, MT svon
tho humblest dwelling breaking tho
i9neIiaess Of the way between them and
l have already said that the distance
from then, was about mile, and tbe
road, which was partly rrass. grown Ia,
through narrow sort Of lane, enclosed
on ,,, each side by very high hedges.
to me. scGrcely ever did I see Artbur Sr
stert IN tho morning without visions
arising OF desperadoes soncealed behind
tDsm. dressed in the inevitable long.
called, ragged coat, tho high.crowned.
narrow-rimmed Int, and the murderous
weapon, oil of which things I invariably
associated with an Irish rnflian.
The dragoons had been sent to ouell
some risings, and to support the au.
thorities, consequently they were not
regarded by the natives in any yery
friendly light.
As theweeks went on and every after.
noon brought Arthur safely back TO me-
my fears were somewhat allayed. and
occasionally walked through the lane
towards the town to meet him-alwaya.
however, feeling glad when got safely
pastany chance passer.by whom might
encounter.
Arthur used to laugh at my fears, and
as ! knew ! was desperate coward. /
tried TO think they were groundless
and merely the result OF my own natural
timidity.
The year was drawing to close, and
on the 10th OF January we were to biSl
alden to the Bungalow, ireland, and Ie |
Irish. The regiment was under ,..4ers
for England in the spring, and III then
Arthur was to go on leave.
was in raptures at tho prospect Of
being settled in my oSn part OF the
world again, and, beat OF all, leaving
ireland, against which I entertained so
profound a prejudice. It was Christmas
Eve Arthur was obliged, most unwil-
lingly, to spend it at the barracks, as
the few officers there wished to have
farewell dinner, and, in addition, there
was 70 be IN entertainment for the sol.
ders at an early hour. .1yI
It had been showing heavily all day,
and when Arthur left, about half-past
three o'clock in the afternoon, darkness
was beginning to come on.
begged him not to return II the
snow continued, as I knew II might be
very late ere the party broke up, and I
could not bear the idea OF his coming
home through that dark, narrow road,
In the middle Of q snowy December
night II lie did come he was to tap at
my window, which would enable me to
let him in without disturbing the SER
wants, who slept at the other side Of
tile house.
After 1 had watched his figure dis
appear l re-entered the cottage with
disagreeable sense OF solitude and
weariness, which 1 tried to dispel by
ringing for the nurse to bring my baby,
stirring the ireinto cheerful blaze, and
otherwise occupying myself. Though
almost quite dark, IL was now only
about four o'clock, and the blinds in
the little sitting room were still un-
drawn. I was sitting on the hearth
rug, with baby on my lap, amusing her
hltu lu1 WutSu hnu NO BnbttIluB up
pendages, which were an tinfailing
source Of pleasure TO her and as she
stretched out her little hands to grasp
them, I was suddenly attracted TO
the direction Of the window, through
which, 10 my unutterable horror, dis.
tinguished distinctly the face Of man
cleaning upon me. In that swift
momentary glance / could see that 1t
was q pale, sinister, malevolent conn
tenanee, with small, hungry eyes. My
heart beat wildly, but dissembled my
terror well, suppose, as had l done
otherwise baby and I might have Jared
differently. So rapidly had / compre.
hended the necessity for appearing net
to have observed him, that / hardly
stopped speaking to my baby, but q
thousand projects for escape from my
present position revolyed' themselves
through my whlrling brain. How could
Iescape from that little room, with It's
dark; unshaded window? Furtively I
looked again, and was infinitely re.
liOved to find that the apparation had
vanished, for the present, at least, from
ia late close proximity TO the window.
Igot up at last, still chattering to my
unconscious child, and moved slowly
towards the door, eyon pausing for an
instant at the table, partly TO gather
strength TO proceed, MS my limbs were