Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-16
The Midnight Peril, or
Saved bV a Phantom.

of rain
"This GENES of short CUTS | mutter-
ed petulantly to myself as [ plodded
along, keeping close to the trunks Of the
trees to avoid the deep ravine through
which I could hear the roar of a turbu-
lent stream some forty or fifty feet be-
low. My blood ran cold as thought of
the possible consequences of a misstep
or move in the wrong direction. Why
had | not been contented to keep the
right road
Hold on Was that light, or are
my eyes deceiving me?
stopped holding on to the low, res
inous boughs Of hemlock that grew on
the edge of the bank for it actually
seemed as if the wind would seize me
bodily and hurl me over the precipitous
descent
1t was ight-thaHk Providence-it
was light, and no ignis fatuus to allure
me on to destruction and death.
"Halloo-o !''
My voice rang through the woods like
a clarion. l plunged onward through
the tangled vines, dense briars and rocky
banks, until gradually hearing, l could
perceive figure wrapped in an oil cloth
cape or cloak, carrying lantern. As
the light fell upon his face almost re-
coiled. Would not solitude in the woods
be preferable to the companionship of
this wrinkled, withered old man ? But
it was too late now.
"What's wanting !" he snarled forth,
with peculiar motion of the lips that
seemed to leave his yellow teeth all bare.
Il am lost in the woods can you di-
rect me to station -
''Yes R station is twelve miles
from here
Twelve miles p
| stood aghast.
"Can you tell of any shelter l could
obtain for the night %
mo"
Where are you going %
ITO Drew's, down here by the maple
swamp"
''Is it tavern ?''
mo"
"Would they take me for the night :
l could pay them well.
His eyes cleaned ; the yellow stump:
stood revealed once more.
Il guess so folks do stop there some
times
d is it far from here ?''
mot very about half mile
Then let us make haste and reacl
it | am drenched to the skin
We plodded on, my companion NOR
than keeping pace with me. Present..
: we left the ravine, entering what SCENE,
like trackless woods and keeping straigh
onward until light cleaned ftfully thrc
y the wet foliage.
!. 1t was ruinous old place, with tn
- windows all on one side, and the pillar
of rude porch nearly rotted away.
n woman answered my companion
=? knock. He whispered word or two
her, and she turned to me with smooth
W voluble words of welcome
- She regretted the poverty of the "a
commodations but / was welcome
G. them, such as they were.
"Where is Isaac ?" demanded II
RS guide
to He has not come IN yet.
at L sat down on wooden bench besit
Ii the fire, and ate few mouthfuls of brea
II should like to retire as soon
We possible said l, for my WEAKNESS vi
Id excessive
a Certainly" the woman started l
with alacrity.
-oS "Where are you going to put him
,Iy asked the guide.
av ''Up chamber"
Put him in Isaac's ROOM
te- mo
9pt Its the most comfortable"
o. u Il tell you, no. -
But here L interrupted the whisper
at colloquy.
-ou Il am not PARTICULAR don't ca
Ose where you put me only make haste. y
'ur So L was conducted up a steep ladd
70' that stood in a corner of the room, il
- an apartment ceiled with sloping bea
NIB and ventilated By one small windo
ide where cot bedstead, crowded clost
Ak against a board partition and pine
EN- BILE with two chairs, formed the sole
tempt at furniture.
for The woman set the hght-an oil lal
an. on the table.
in Anything more l can get you, sir
IN said She
rn Ghe Nothing, thank you.
Il hope you'll sleep well, sir. WI
This shall call you?''
now '.At o'clock in the morning, if J
him please. / must walk to R stat
dog in time for the o'clock express.
az . '1'll be sure to call you, SIR
She withdrew, leaving me alone in
-, gloomy little apartment. | sat dc
,,ts and looked around me with no agreea