Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-16

At last, prepared for bed, attempted
TO secure the door for the night, but il
had no fastenings upon it of any kind oil
quality.
To retire in that unprotected fashion,
in strange house, and alone, was some
thing | could not think of for an instant.
Finally, an idea presented itself which
seemed entirely feasible.
Exertiug myself 10 the utmost pushed
an old.fashioned chest OF drawers against
the door, and on top OF it piled the two
stiff backed wooden chairs the room
afforded
After this excl ton, feeling more com.
posed and satisfied, retired and fell into
heavy slumber.
How long lay there cannot tell.
l. surely could not have been many
me ments. when was suddenly startled
into the most intense consciousness that
there was some one in the room beside
little Eddie and myself, for distinctly
heard heavy and laborod breathing.
Lying there. with my startled, wide
a wake eyes, wondering how this inysibls
person could have entered. I glanced
toward The door. bul The ches. OF drawers
and The chairs remained stationary as |
had placed them upon getting into bed
and suroly no Que could have entered
through the door without displacing them
and making noise that would have
startled the whole household.
l listened again to assure myself was
not mistaken and beyond doubt, |
heard 4 heavily drawn breath. and it
seemed TO emanaie from something
promo upon the floor.
Suddenly the awful thought flashed
across my brain that the hideous son OF
tie landlady had entered the room and
concealed himself before took posses.
sion, and this, with a view 10 rob me. II
| called for assistance felt assured that
he would spring up and smother mo As |
lay with my boy in my arms, and. even
If my cries were heard. in all probability
they would not be needed.
1t sPrang toward the door to make
nv escape, how was it possible, with
that heavy chest, and those chairs against
it, for me to effect an egress. | was
almost wild felt my brain reeling.
An what silent, passionate prayers
for preservation went up from my heart
10 God that night!
Lying there. waiting for the throttling
fingers upon my throat, slowly lifted
my head from The pillow and peered
around the room, dimly lighted by the
smouldering embers upon the hearth,
when | felt the planks OF the bed under
me pressed upward, as something crept
beneath it on the door.
Creeping creeping creeping stealth.
lily il advanced.
II was a mani fell confident OF that
and he was watching like tiger in the
Jungle. for the suspicious moment to
spring upon his detenseless.
lay so still he believed me TO be I
asleep. and was leaving his hiding place
to commence his desperate work.
Irose lightly in the bed upon my knees,
snd so remained waiting 10 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 these moments !
knew not whether he would creep ont
at the foot OF the bed, or TO the right or
LETT side OF it.
Watching. lynx. eyed, still kneeling. |
waited a 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 draw.
ers that had stood opposite The foot OF the
bed. His hideous face. with its horrible
mouth, with its greenish fangs, and
those frigh:iul, leering. beastial eyes how
they looked.
lie was grinning as he poked his head
out, and The light glowed on his counte.
nance
AS gazed upon him, 10 an instant s
s GasbaI
mad brain.
The crimson scarf | had worn muffled
around my neck during my travels. was
lying across my bed. | reached out with
quick, nervous grasp aud caught it, and
then waited for him to creep far enough !
from under the bed TO throw this scarf,
like lasso about his neck.
leaned eagerly forward. He crept
along almost hoiseessly, and then warily |
lilling his head he shook back the tangled
shock OF sandy hair from over his eyes,
and at the same moment l threw the |
scarf around his neck.
Had it missed its aim | would have |
been lost. but God guided it with unerring
precision, and. planting my feet against
the foot. board, ] pulled with all the
frantic strength | could command.
The attack coming so suddenly, dis.
possessed the robber of his self command |
and only his head being from under the
bed he had no power to use his hands.
ielt the wild throes of his body founder
ing upon the floor beneath me; bnt not
even aner he became quiet did | release