The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-12-25


a heaviy-drawn breath, and it seemed to
emanate from something prone upon the
floor.
-" Suddenly the awful thought flashed
across my brain that the hideous son of the
landlady had entered the room and concealed
himself before l took possession, and this.
with a view to rob me. 1t | called for as
sistance felt assured he would spring I'D
! and smother me as lay with my boy IN my
arms, and, even if my cries were heard, in
all probability they would not be needed.
eff sprang toward the door to make my
escape, how was it possible, with that heavy
chest, and those chairs against it, for me to
effect an egresS. | was almost wild. l felt
my brain reeling.
"Ah, what silent, passionate prayers for
preservation went up from my heart to God
that night
Lying there, waiting for the throttling
fingers upon my throat, | slowly lifted my
! head from the pillow and pcered around the
room, dimly lighted by the smoldering en-
bers upon the hearth, when felt the planks
of the bed under me pressed upward, rs
something crept beneath it on the floor
Creeping ping-creeping stealthily
it advanced
at was mani felt confident of that
and he was watching, like a tiger in the
jungle, for the auspicious moment to spring
upon his defcnseless prey.
Il lay so still he believed me to be asleep,
and was leaving his hiding place to commence
his desperate work.
81 rose lightly in the bed upon my knees,
and so remained waiting to do battle for my
life, and for the life of my precious child,
lying so close to me wrapped in his warm
and rosy slumbers.
80, God! the agony Of those moments
81 knew not whether he world creep out
at the foot of the bed, or to the right OF left
side of it.
Watching, lynx-eyed, still kneelng, !
waited & moment longer, and by the crimson
glow of the embers, his face was reflected in
the looking-glass which had hung standing
above the chest Of drawers that had stood
opposite the foot Of the bed His hideous
face, with its horrible mouth, with its green
ish fangs, and those frghtful, leering, beast
ial eyes how they looked.
''iIe was grinning as he poked his head
out, and the light giowed on his counte-
nance
''As I gazed upon him, in an instant a
hope of salvation flashed through my mad
brain
The crimson scarf | had worn mufled
around my neck during my travels wa ly-
ing across the bed. ! reached out with quick,
nervous grasp and caught it, and then waited
f.rh a. 1
bed to throw this scarf, like lasso about his
neck
81 leaned eagerly forward lie crept
along almost noisessly, and then warly
lifting his head he shook back the tangled
shock Of sandy hair from over his eyes. and
at the same moment threw the scarf around
his neck
''iiad it missed its aim | would have been
lost, bat God guided it with unerring pre-
cision, and, planting my feet ga inst the foot
board, pulled with all the frantic strength
] could command
''The attack coming so suddenly, dispos-
scssed the robber of his sefcommand. and
only hi head being from under the bed he
had no power to use his hands. felt the
wild throes of his body houndering-upon the
floor beneath me; but not even after he be-
came quiet did release my clutch upop tbs
scarf.
'Once | remember | heard footsteps steal
ing close to the door, and then they paused
as if some one was listening. and all being
quiet they retired as cautiously as they had
approached.
81 dared not call ont | knew the man
was dead, bat if | shrieked for help, would
not the host and lis wife become my mur-
derGTs when they beheid their dead son.
''How | lived through those hours is a
mystery to me. God was with me.
The embers died out, and left me aud the
tllrotted corpse, and the happy child to-
gether in dense darkness and 50 watched
for the dawniag day and the coming of my
husband.
''Leaden-footed the hours dragged by, and
at last tie first rays of the morning sun shone
in at the window | dared not look at the
awful thing that lay prone upon the floor,
lest should lose my reason. =
II could not release my hold for | had
grown rigid. | was paralyzed. e.. D.,
''On the STILL clear air of the morning at
last heard Clarke's voice in the court be-
low.
"'Halloo mine host Did my wife come
last night?'
81 ceuld not distinguish the answer
"My reason tottered.
Il knew nothing more until months after
wards-at leas distinctly.
Il have faint recollection, and fearful
one, of the bursting in of my room door, Of
glimpse of a hideous face with black
ened tongue, and eyes starting fIom
their sockets, and of our boy starting from
lis happy sleep to greet his father. After
this ali was a blank for weary weeks.
"Clarke has told me since that suspicion
rested upon the host and his wife.
"They hushed the matter up quickly, ard
the would-be robber and assassin was buried
quietly enough,