The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-19
A NIGHT OF ALARM.

eighteen my father hired q laborer
named Hans Schmidt, HessiaIh who
had been in the British service, and who,
| at the close Of the war, had deserted
from his regiment.
He was powerful man, with heavy,
imbruted countenance, and both Julia
and myself were struck, at tile very
The feeling in Julia hardly took the
character of fear, but was one rather of
the most intense loathing.
One evening she read Of a horrible
murder that thrilled her blood, and upon
turning her eyes from the paper they
encountered shose of Hans Schmidt.
There was something terrible in that
glance, and, from that moment, she re-
solved that the villain should be
turned away.
AS her wishes and opinions were al
ways of much weight with her father, he
took her advice and gave Hans his dis
charge.
Soon after this Julia and I were lett
alone in the house, both father and moth
er being absent on visit until the fol-
lowing day, and we happened to be with
out servant at The time, for we kept
more than one.
At night we went to bed, and had part
| ly disrobed, when Julia turned hastily
to the window.
al DECLARE" she said, ssthe evening is
so pleasant that it is pity to remain in
doors. don't feel bit sleepy; let's 20
down on the lawnW
We descended the stairs. How little
I imagined what was in Julia's heart!
Harry Irving came up just as we reached
the lawn. He was only casually pass
| ing the house.
Julia engaged him in conversation and
| he joined us.
"Where are Tom and Edgar and
| Will?" she asked.
"Oh," replied Harry, "they are over to-
my uncle's. They will be coming back
soon."
The three young men soon appeared
upon the road, and, to my surprise. Ju-
liza arose at their approach and called us
aside from the door.
snow, Mary, you need not be, ,nerv-
ous," she said. "Keep quiet and do not
speak above your breath. There is a
man under our bed-there, therew and
she clasped her hand over my mouth--"a
man under our bed, and the young IT.
wings are going to secure him."
They all provided themselves with
big sticks, and then, guided by Julia, as
cended the stairs.
AS to myself, could not follow them,
but remained trembling and leaned upon
the doorsteps. Never did l experience
a greater sense OF relief than when the
assailing party descended, looking partly
ashamed and partly amused, having
found nothing TO justify their sudden
armament.
Julia was in agony of modification
and wept piteousiy; for although but
half convinced that her apprehensions
had been groundless, the idea that she,
who had never till now feared anything,
had placed herself SO ludicrously in the
eyes of those men, was insupportable.
The man. she said, must nave taken
the alarm and fled out the back door, for
she could not have been so deceived.
Our young friends, more in pity for her
modification than from any belief in the
reality of the night intruder, offered to
remain in the vicinity till morning; but
she would not listen TO the proposition,
and they took their departure.
l was sorry to see them 60, and
watched their forms till they were out
of sight, for the affair OF the evening had
almost frightened me into Mysteries.
Julia, however. at once rushed to the
room, and, finging herself on the bed,
continued bitterly weeping. She had
exhibited herself in a character which
she despised, and "her man under the
bed" would be the talk OF the neighbor-
hood.
l followed her, but neither of us could
sleep. The clock on the manuel struck
eleven, and then ''tick, tick, tick" it
| went ON tor the next dreary hour. Julia
at length ceased weeping and lay in
| thought, only an occasional siga betray-
| ing her wakefulness.
Again the clock struck, but 1t had not
reached the final stroke when Julia,
| leaping out of bed, flung herself upon
an immense chest at the further end OF
| the room.
"On, Mary p she cried, s'quick quick!
He is here! l can not hoia the III! He
will get outw
There was indeed some living thing
inside the chest; for, in spite Of Ju.
Iia's weight, the lid was lifted, and then,
as the instinct Of selt-preservation over
come my terror, sprang quickly TO her
assistance.
Whom or what had we caught2 Imag-
| inc Yourself, holding down the lid OF q
showman's box, with boa constructor
writhing beneath; or keeping cage-top
| in its place by your weight alone, with d
hyena struggling to tear his way out and
devour you.
But we were not long in suspense.
HOrrid eXecratlOnS, nail German, nall
| English, chilled our very hearts, and we
knew that there, in the midnight, only
| the lid OF an old chest was between QUIZ
selves and Hans Schmidt
| At times at started up, and once OF
Twice his fingers were caught In the
opening. Then, finding our combiHed
| weight too much for his strength, il
| would become evident that he was en-.
deayoring to torce out an end OF the
chest. But he could not work 10 ad.
yantage.s Cramped within such limits
his giant power OF muscle was not Who'll.
iIy available. He could neither kick MOI
strike with full force, and hence his
chief hope rested upon his ability to lii
us up, lid and all.
Even then, in the absolute terror thai
Imight have been supposed to possess
lher, queer feeling oil exultation spranf
iup in Julia's heart.
81 was right, Mary" she cried. "They
wont think me 1901 now, will they?
sha'nt be ashamed to see Harry Irvingl |,
Poor Julial under the circumstanceI
i the idea was really ludicrous; but ma
ture will everywhere assert itself, ane
Julia hated a coward.
4 Thumpl thumpi tnumpl Lid and sid,
and end alternately felt the cramped
lpowerfui blows. Then came the strain
ing lift, and Julia cneered me when th
Il onwar ehaok and rusa. and trQmhiqd