The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-18

bade the landlady goodnight, and stand
ing at my open door, counted the sounds
OF her footsteps down the stairs.
Returning to the hearth where few
faggots blazed and smoked / took Eddie
on my knee and prepared the little iel-
low for his nights rest,
While l was bearing his prayers, he
suddenly interrupted me:
"Mamma," he asked, looking up in my
anxious face, with his blue, peaceful
eyes. "Mamma, do you like that man
with the ugly face downstairs {"
My sonl why do you ask me such a
question? inquired, almost breath
lessly.
"Because don'p' he replied, myster-
iously.
Why notP I asked smiling, in spite
of my anxiety, at the wise look on his
countenance.
turned 80 red in the face when he saw
the gold in your purse that you took out
to pay the driver, answered Eddie.
Nonsense, darling, you should not
suspect persons OF evil; it is always sal
enough when we lind it out.
/ stopped and kissed my child, but my
heart beat loudly with fear found it
impossible to control, struggle with N.Y.
self, ana laugh at my timidity as would.
For long while after Eddie went to
bed i sat musing by the hearthstone,
starting hurriedly at every creakng
sound or footstep / could hear without.
The ire-light threw long fantastic
shadows on the ceiling and the walls,
vously as | watched them lengthen and
darken as the faggots dropped into ashes.
At last, prepared for bed, attempted
to secure the door for the night, but it
had no tastenings upon 1t of any kind OF
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.
EXerting, myself to the utmost push.
ed an old-fashioned chest against the
door, and on top Of it l placed two stiff
backed wooden chairs the room afforded.
After this exertion, feeling mole
composed than satisfied, retired and
fell into heavy slumber.
How long l laid there can not tell.
1t surely could not have been many
moments, when l was suddenly start
leo into the most intense consciousness
that there was some one in the room be-
sides little Eddie and myself, for dis
tinctly heard heavy and labored breath
ing.
Lying there, with my startled, WIDE
awake eyes, wondering how this invisi-
BILE person could have entered, / glanc-
ed toward the door, but the chest Of
drawers and the chairs remained sta
tionary- as l had placed them upon
getting into bed-and surely no one
could have entered through the door
without displacing them and making
a noise that would have startled the
whole household.
listened again to assure myself
was not mistaken and beyond doubt,
heard a heavily drawn breath, and it
seemed to emanate from something
prone upon the floor.
Suddenly the awful thought flashed
across my brain that the hideous son of
the landlady had entered the room and
concealed himself before l took possess
sion, and this, with view to rob me. III
| called for assistance felt assured he |
would spring up and smother me as l |
lay with my boy In my arms, and even if
my cries were heard, in all probability |
they would not. be needed.
If l sprang toward the door to make |
my escape, how was it possible, with |
that heavy chest, and those heavy chairs |
against it, for me to effect an egress. l
was almost wild. felt my brain reel.
ing.
Ahl what silent. passionate prayers
for preservation went up from my heart |
TO God that night
Lying there, waiting for the throttling
fingers upon my heart slowly lifted my
lead from the pillow and peered around
The room, dimly lighted by the smolder-
ng embers upon the hearth, when l. felt |
,he planks OF the bed under me pressed
lpward,a as something crept beneath it on
,he floor.
Creeping-creeping-creeping stealth
" 1t advanced!
1t was MALL felt confident of that
and he was watching, like tiger in |
yhe jungle, for the auspicous moment to |
spring upon his defenseless prey.
l lay SO still he believed me to be |
asleep. and was leaving his hiding
place to commence his desperate work. |
l rose lightly in the bed upon my
inees, and SO remained waiting to do |
oattle, for life, and FOR the life of my |
precious child, lying 30 close to me |
in his warm rosy slulAbers.
Oh, Godl the agony Of those moments |
l knew not whether he would creep |
,ut at the foot Of the bed, or to the right
or left side of it.
Watching, lynx-eyed, still kneeling, 1 |
waited moment longer, and by the
ooking-glass which hung standing above |
he chest OF drawers that had stood |
opposite the foot of the bed. His hide
Jus face, with its horrible mouth, with
Is greenish fangs, and those frightful, |
eering, bestial eyes how they looked.
He was grlnning as he poked mis- head |
'ut. and the light glowed on his counte-
lance.
As j gazed upon him, in an instant
\ hope Of salvation flashed through my
rain. 1
The crimson scarf had worn mufled
round my neck during my travels, Was
ying across the bed. I reached out with
Iuick, nervous, grasp and caught it, and
hen waited for him to creep far enough
rom under the bed to throw this scarf,
Ike a lasso about his neck.
! leaned eagerly forward. He crept
long almost noiseless1y, and then war
ly lifting his head he shook back the
angled shock of sandy hair from over
lis eyes, and at the same moment /
brew the scarf around his neck.
Had it missed it's aim / would have
,een lost, but God guided it with uner-
ing 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 |
md only his head being from under the |