The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-08
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

-'My prematurely wrinked face, and my
gray hair, have often been the source Of
wonder and question. And while l have
always had the inclination to impart
knowledge of facts to the curious, never,
until tonight have | had sufficient strength
and courage to tell the story that, even at
this distant time. thrills and fills me with
vague horror and alarm.
"About ten years since, had occasion to
90 to Anselmo, a little town out West.
SIT is, even to this day, disagreeable and
dangerous journey to perform, and then it
was particularly so. But, when a wife
recognizes the predominant duty of her life
to be strict and unquestioning obedience to
her husband, neither rough fare nor fearful
roads can deter her in the prosecution Of the
set purpose Of her soul.
'My husband had invested his ready funds
in a piece Of property in Anselmo, and,
although he was not by any means a man Of
wealth, he was able to surround me, gener-
ously with all the comforts, if not the lux
uries of life.
''Nly marriage with him had met with the
extreme opposition of my entire family but
genuine affection had predominated over
any proposed worldly considerations.
''Aly husband being however, unpopular
amid the domestic circle, because of his
financial inability to conform to their uni-
versal ideas of what was requisite in life
of civilization and refinement, determined
he would go 'out West and, if he found
any inducement to settle, he would invest
his means, and apprise me Undue time where
and how to join him.
''We bad one child, the idol Of our hearts,
and, as I remember the parting, now, it
seemed much more difficult to my husband to
say goodbye to Eddie than to me.
swell, he went away, and l tried to be
cheerful and happy, and | succeeded.
''Every day Eddie displayed new accom-
plishment or an unexpected power, or an
unimagined grace, and l eagerly anticipated
the time when his father could sec him
again.
''The winter, the spring, the summer
passed away in successive seasons before
one word from Clarke summoned me from
our native village.
81 do onot think that my relatives realized
how dear my child and were to them until
we left them.
"They were extremely averse to my pro-
posed attempt to make the journey alone
''For long time there was in their oppo-
sition, bitterness against my husband, but
this feeling was finally overwhelmed by in
dignation against me for my persistent de-
termination to adhere faithfully to Clark's
expressed desire that should lose no time in
joining him.
"There were many hundred miles to
travel by rail, but finally | was directed to
stop at particular station and there hire a
conveyance and proceed to a roadside inn.
where | was to await the arrival Of my
husband who would join me as expeditiously
as possible.
''The rail travelling was pleasant and easy,
and, more than ali, replete with interest for
me, for, until he summoned me west, l had
never been more than fifty miles from
home.
81 took note of every thing, and had a
heartful of pleasantly and gossip to tell him
when we were costly seated by our own
freside.
ARRIVING at the station, l found a convey
anee, which, at an exorbitant price, was
hired to me for the journey to the roadside
tavern.
"This latter part Of my travel was disa-
greeable.
"A great, burly, countryman with the
erossest and sulkiest face l have ever seen,
drove the vehicle, which was a rafting ma
chine Of broken springs and worh-oui
leather seats, and ragged stufy-smelling
curtains.
"Neyortheless it was ali 50 much better
than expected that was in quite state
Of delight.
'''lhe driver was my dread along the lonely
road, aad / olasped Eddie closely iu my arms
andpnt my trust in God, with happy smile
reminding myself that | would see Clark
that night; and the visions were iaii
that my fancy corjured up, while the dis
tanee vas slowly travelled
It was nearly dusk when we reached
''The Forks, 1.-THE name of the tavern to.
wards which We had been journeying--a
name which became applicable from the TACT
that the high road forked to the right and to
the left, just at that point.
SIT was a tall, narrow, ihree-story fame
house, in very unpainted and dilapidated
condition. The outside presentment. how
ever, was, if anything, more agreeable than
that which beheld within doors
''The Landlord met me At the door and in
troduced me into gloomy little room on the
left Of the cold, dark, uncarpeted hall. twas