Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-15
A Night Of Alarm.


was wilder than now but it might truly
be said Of her that she was not brought
up in the woods to be scared at an owl.
She would traverse the most unfrequent-
ed paths, wondering at my timidity.-
There was nothing masculine, however,
in Julia's appearance she was simply
a sweet, joyous child, with an absence
of fear in her character, and a conse-
quent clearness of perception in all cases
of supposed or real danger.
When was sixteen, and Julia eight
cen, my father hired laborer named
Hans Schmidt, Hessian. 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
a heavy, imbruted countenance and
both Julia and myself were struck at
the very first with an intuitive dread of
him. The feeling in Julia hardly took
the character of fear, but was one rath-
er of loathing yet if she could have fear
ed anything, think it would have been
that man, for she had an intuitive per-
ception that he was demon-like. even be-
yond what his looks demonstrated
One evening she read of horrible mur-
der that thrilled our blood and, upon
turning her eyes from the paper, they
encountered those of Hans Schmidt
There was something terrible in his
glance and from that moment, she re.
solved that the villain should be turned
away. AS her wishes and opinions were
always of much WEIGHT with my father.
the latter gave the Hessian his dis.
charge.
Soon after this, Julia and | were
alone in the house, both our father and
mother being absent upon visit, until
the following day, and We happening tC
be without female servant at the time
(fOr We only kept One) Julia and | had
been remarkably busy, since early morn
ing. making various household arrange
ments with which we intended to sur
prise and please the old people upor
their return, and, being unusually wea
ry, proceeded to our chamber ut an ear
ly hour of the evening. We had partly
disrobed ourselves, when Julia turned
hastily to the window.
81 declare" she said, 1.-THE evening
is so pleasant that it is pity to remain
in doors. l don't feel bit sleepy let
60 down upon the lawn"
We descended the stairs. How littl
/ imagined what was in Julia's heart
Harry Irving came up just as we reach
ed the lawn. He was only casually pas
sing the house. Julia engaged him il
conversation, and he came and joine'
us. My sister was more than usual,
lively and engaging.
"Where-ar Tom, and Edgar, AM
Will p" she asked, alluding to his broth
ers.
"oh," replied Harry, '.they are owe
at uncle's. They will be coming bac
soon"
His uncle's farm was mile off, an
his own house was about half that dis
tance. The three young men soon az
peared upon the road, and to my SUI
/ prise, Julia arose at their approach, an
; proceeded to meet them. Then she re
turned to Harry and me, and called m
aside from the door.
"NOw, Mary, you need not be nerV
Gus" she said. keep quiet, and d
: not speak above your breath. There
man under our bed-there, there
and she clapped her hand over my mout
"a man under our bed, and the youu
, Irvings are going up to secure him
, They all provided themselves wit
heavy sticks and then, guided by j
!, liza, assembled the stairs
T AS to myself, l could not follow then
but remained trembling and moanin
upon the stone steps. Never did l e.
perience a greater sense of relief tina
a when the assaulting party descende'
e looking partly ashamed, and part
: amused having found nothing to justii
their sudden armament. Julia was
an agony of modification, and wept pi
7 eously; for, although but half convince
o that her apprehension had been groun,
f less, the idea that she. who had new,
till now feared anything, had placed he
self in light so ludicrous in the ey,
of those young men, was insupportabl
a The man, she said, must have taken Il
!. alarm, and fed out of the back door
n for she could not have been so deceive
: Our young friends, more in, pity for h
It modification than from any belief in Il
: reality of the night intruder, offered
: remain in the vicinity till morning b.
= she would not listen to the proposition
l. and they thus took their departure.
was very sorry to see them go, ar
/ watched their forms till they were o.
Z of sight; for the affair of the evenir
; had almost frightened me into hysteriC
a julia, however, at once rushed to Il
'r chamber. and iinging herself on the be
continued bitterly weeping. She b;
70 exhibited herself in a character viii,
III she desnised and her man under n