The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-03-28
A Night Of Horror. a;l,l:.'

:. ~ & y = !.
the darkness and utter quiet in which
found the premises wrapped that l de-
tcrmined to give lovely surprise; but
nature, appealing to me on vital point,
[ dropped Into the dining room with the
view of refreshing myself with bite of
cold Joint by way Of preliminary.
Striking a lighs, found that my
wants had been anticipated, for there on
the table lay the remains of repast-
breast of chickens, cakes, cheese and
what not Being sharp set, l pitched
in, glass of cold porter materially
assisting the process Of indigestion.
All at once my eye caught sight of u
meerchaum upon the mantle Now
there is nothing very alarming in a mcer
chaum per Sc, but when the n,ccrchaum
is the property of o stranger and is
found upon one's premises during his
absence, it becomes invested withsan
Importance which itcould derive from
no other circumsi iance. There is also a
papcr of Turkish, tobacco The fellow
has taste, ut all aycats,' said [, aud I
filled, and smoked, drank bumper and
cogitated. y9
ss Now Maria knows I am not in the
least jealous; knows it had nev er entered
my head to suspect her ofauy impru
deuce; but this, to say the least oft,
had very suspicious look about it, bat.
nevertheless drank again Y ct pro
tested | was not jealous. Al that mo-
niept L started and sprang to my feet us
il at tlet touch Of an clcc ric battery for
cn the settee in tho cornerslay an i'm
puden5 hooking hat and cane, and even
a par Of gloves! To smash the hat
F '"to snithcreesss, to Gear :he gloves into
fragments, 60 snap the cane into flinders
was done IN \ monlelt. took another
bumper, aud folding my arms, glare /
majrrtically .aroun,i. Not til /. was
jeslous y! dear no '".s s%,"& ! .-.
's"l vcsuned- my scat aud pipe, to
5c"gitatc over, OF course the pr,
cccdure when ] received anotne sho K.
My eye had ali. h,cd upih Il note which
had fallen uu!lcr. the table 1t wa<a
feminine hand Dear Charlie it ran,
'l'm so slal you We arrived. Sanmy's
away. Dout stand upon ceremony.
We'll have such nice tins! Cold
lunch and all agreeable. Come over ut
once'
Sammy's my name. 'Perfdious wo
man 1t is thus -
l threw it into the fire after stamping
son it. l. fortified myself with another
glass, took off my stockings, and started
up stairs. On the way l tumbled over
a stiange cat in the Kitchen.
In my ascent l suppose 1 must have
made some noise, fer strange dog set
up furious yelli in the back area. It
mny be as we'll to prepare for contingcn
cies, reflected, as l re entered the par
lor with view to possessing myself of
poker. Dark as it was. | secured the
desired object, and was retreating, when
| fancied somebody came in on tiptoe.
Holding my breath, lodged past him,
and crept up stairs like thief not that
II was jealous but only to see what was
going on. After pause, during which
| could count the beats of my heart, /
tried the bedroom door. 1t was not
locked and was dark within. A gentle
snore-not rough, exasperating, reck
less thing, but more of musical moan
came from the bed.
'She is sleep mused 'the step Of
strapger's' toes was the tread of a cat
Poor Maria! how could I SO wrong
you z disrobed and slipped in bed.
Charles, how long have you boon =
said a feminine voice.
Gracious goodncss-it was that Of a
stranger cold perspiration broke over
me as reflected upon the horrors OF my
s'.aation. The hou'e 1 had purchased
was one of a pair which had been built
exactly alike, aud coming home iatigucd
and sleepy direct from the cars, must
have entered my neighbors mansion
instead ofmy own
pounccd upon the foor..
Excuse me, DEAR | whispered, Il
think / hear burglars
'What-again? I think you must be
mistaken