The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-02-05
THE: MIDNIGHT PERIL
OR,
Saved by a Phantom.

The night Of the 18th Of Octo.
bor-shaIl 1 over forget its pitchy
darknoss, tho roar Of tho autumn
nal wind through tho forest, and
the inccssant downpour Of ramp
"This comes Of short cuts,' !
muttored petulantly to myself, rs
l plodded along, keeping close to
the trunks Of tho trees to avoid
tho deep ravine through which l
could hear the roar OF II turbulent
stream forty or fifty feet bolow.-
My blood ran cold as | thought of
tho possible consequences of u mis-
step or move in the wrong direc-
ton. Why had 1 not been con-
tented to keep in the right road ?
Hold on! Was that n light, o.:
arc my eyes playing me false
stopped, holding on to the low
resinous boughs Of IL hemlocle that
grew on the edge Of the bank for
it actually seemed as if the wind
would seize mo bodil y and hurl me
down tho precipitous descent.
1t was light-thank Provi-
dcncc-it was a light, and no jgnus
fatuus to lure mo on to destruction
and death.
"Halloo.o.o p'
My voice rang through the
woods like II clarion. | plunged
onward through tangled vines,
dense briers and rocky banks, un-
til gradually nearing, could per-
ceive n figure wrapped in an oil
cloth cape, or cloak /; carrying a
lantern. AS the dim light fell up
on his face l almost recoiled.-
Would not solitude in tho woods
be preferable to the companions
ship Of the withcred, wrinkIed old
man? But it was too late to re-
code now.
"What's wanting" he snarled
forth, with n peculiar motion Of
the lips that seemed to leave his
yellow tooth all bare.
81 am lost in tho woods; can
you direct me to R. station?"
eyes R station is twelve
miles from here"
"Twelve miles p
l stood ughast.
"Can you tell mo Of any shelter
| could obtain for the night ?"
"No."
"Whero arc you going?"
"To Drcw's, down here by tho
maple swamp"
"ls it tavern ?"
"No."
"Would they tako me for q
night7 could pay them we'll"
His eyes cleaned tho yellow
stumps stood revealed once more.
81 guess 80; folks do stop there
sometimes"
els it far from here ?"
"Not very about half a mile" "
"Then lot us make haste and
reach 1T. l am drenched to tho
skin"
We ploddod on, my companion
moro than keeping pace with me.
Presently we left the edge Of the
ravinc, entering " hat seemed like
trackless DIS, and keeping
straight on until lights gleamcd
fitfully through tho wot foliage.
1t was resinous old place, with
the windows all drawn to one side,
rs if tho foundation had settled,
and the pillars Of q rude porch
nearly rottod away.
A woman answered my fellow
travellers knock. My companion
whispered n word or two to her,
and she turned to mo with smooth,
volublo words Of welcome.
She regretted tho poverty of
their accommodations but 1 was
welcome to them, such as they
were.
"Whore is Isaac ?" demanded
my guide.
"He has not come in yet"
l sat down on q wooden bench
beside tho fire, and ate q few
mouthfuls Of broad.
81 should like to retire as soon
rs possible" said 1, for my wcari-
ness was excessive.
"Certainly," tho woman started
up with alacrity.
Where are you going to put
him 2" asked my guido.
Cup chambor.
"Put him in Isaac's room."
"No."
otis tho most comfortable"
But hero | interrupted tho wins.
pored colloquy.
II am not particular--I don't
caro- W hero you lodge me; only
mako haste, ploaso."
So vas conducted up a steep
ladder that stood IN o corner OF