The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-11-18
ate from something prone upon the

from Sometnlng prone uPoA .Ao
floor. II
Suddenly the awful thought flashed
across my brain that the hidepus son Of the !
landlady had entered the room and con
cealed himself before l took possession, and I
hi; ,' With : view to rob me. If callsd for
assistance feltiassured he would spring up |
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.
If ] 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. 1 was almost wild.
l felt my brain Keeling.
All! what silent, passionate prayers for
went up from my heart to tod
that night
Lying there waiting for the throttilng
fingers upon. my throat, | slowly lifted my
head from the pillow and peered around the
room. dim.y lighted by the smouldering en-
bers upon the hearth, when felt the planks
of the bed under me pressed upward as
something crept beneath it on the floor
Crec;.ing-creeping- stealthlly |
it advanced.
1t was a mani felt confident of that
and he was watching, like tiger IN the
jungle, for the suspicious moment to spring
upon his defenceless prey.
Law so still he believed me to be asleep,
and was leaving his hiding place to com
mence his desperate work.
l rose lightly in the bed upon my knees,
and so remained waiting to do battle Tor my
life, and for the life Of my precious child
lying so close to me wrapped in his warm
and rosy slumbers.
O, God! the agony of those moments.
| knew not whether he would creep out
at the foot of the ted, or to the right or left
side of it.
Watching, lynx-eyed, still kneeling. l
wai,ed . moment longer, and by the GRIM
SON glow of the embers his face was reflect
ed in the looking-glass which hung above
the chest of drawers that had stood oppo-
site the foot of the bed. His hideons face.
with it's horrible mouth, with its greenlsh
fanys, and those frightful, leering, oestiai
eyes, how they looked.
He was srinning as he Poked his head
out, and the light glowed on his counte-
nance.
ASH gazed upon him, in an instant hope
of salvation flashed through my mad BRAIN:
The crimson scarf l had worn mufiied
around my neck during my travels, was "
ing across the bed. l reached out with
Quick, nervous grasp and caught 1t. and
waited for him to creep far enough from
under the bed to throw this scarf, Ike o
lasso, about his neck.
| leaned eagerly forward. He crept
along almost noiselessly, and then war;
lifting his head he shook back the tangled
3 shock Of sandy hair from over his eyes, ana
ut the same moment | threw the scarf
around his neck. -.
e Had il missed its aim l would have been
Lost hut God guided it with unerrlng pre-
! cision, and planting my feet against tne
l footboard l pulled with all the fran'ic
strength could command.
The attack coming SO suddenly dlspos.
a sessed the robber of his self command, and
: only his head being from under the bed nc
I had no power to use mis- hands. l felt the
wild throes of his body houndering upon
the floor beneath me; but not even a1ter ne
became quiet did release my Gluten upon
e the scarf.
/ Once I remember heard footsteps steal.
: ine close to the door, and then they paused
as # some one was listening. and all beine
ouie, they retired as cautiously IS they hac
approached. 49,. -,
was dead, but if shrieked for help would
, no, the host and his wife become my muir
derers when they beheld their dead son:
= How l lived through those hours Is
, mystery to me- God WAS with me.
: The embers died out and left me ana tn'
,hrottled corpse aud the unhappy child To-
. eether in the dense darkness; ana 80
!. Watched for the dawning day and the com
ing Of my husband.
Leader footed the hours dragged BY ane
4 At last the first rays Of the morning sa'
: shone 10 at the window. dared mol LOOK
the awful thing that lay prone upon III
floor. lest l should loose my re ason
e could mot release my hold, TOT ma
y grown rigid. l was parslyaed
On the still, clear air OF the morning
> last | heard Clsrke's voice in the court be
a low.
.Halloo. mine host! Did my wife com
y last night:
+ could not distinguish the answer.
if Nv reason tottered.
knew nothing more until months a"e'
/, wards-at least distinctly
,gt have faint recollection, and fearfr
t. one, of the bursting in OF my room doof'
a glimpse Of 4 hideous face with blackene
D. tongue and eyes starting from their socket
/ and of our boy starting from his happ
ne was a blank for weary weeks
Clarke has told me since that susp'eio
to rested upon the host and his wife
40 They hushed the matter mp quickly An
the would be robber and assassin Was oul
IN led quietly enough.
When next l looked in the mirror. N
face was premaiurely pinched and wrinkles
ch and my hair was as silvery gray as 1t Is 4
day.
ed We moved from Anselmo, and returnit
lst TO our native state We battled with the bra
70 est until fortune came to rs
d. Blu, the wealth Of the Indies, the bliss
an eternal, telluric paradise, could never
n store me the freshness and fairness Of
o life, before that one fearful night Of NO
ror,'
to SCIENCE.
re