The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-05-18
Under the Bed.

TED white 10 q single moment. Lee
me tell you about it, and Mrs. Hart
] lay, lady Of thirty o.. lhersaboats
with q pleasant and sipgularly ex
pressive face, her head covered will
a luxurious mass of hair, silvery
white, commenced the following mar.
rative:
! Ten years ago, this very day,
was married. My husbands BUSH
ness was such that he was not able
to leave the city for any considera
bic length of time; so my dreams o.
a wedding tour on the Continent
we're unrealized, and | was COMPEL,
ed to content myself with . few weeks
travel in the West.
After having visited several of the
principal cities we came across an old
friend, who, with his wife, was alec
in search of pleasure. One evening,
at dark, we found ourselves at lit
tie settlement few miles from Mil-
waukie 1t had commenced to rain,
the night babe fair to be very un-
pleasant, and to complete our misery,
we discovered that the driver we had
hired to take us to Milwaukee was
either terribly stupid, or a little in
toxicated-the latter seemed most
probable. My husband, after qucs-
tioning him in reference to the local
ity, found that a short distance fur>
Their was tavern, where we could
spend the night.
This was very acceptable news
to me, for | had grown exceedingly
nervous at the approach of the storm,
as we'll as at the lateneSs as the hour,
and the singular behavior of our
guide and driver.
My husbands Shall we stop or go
p met with hearty Stop by all
MEANS, from the whole party; and
after few moments. more slow crop
ing among the dripping trees, we
halted before little wayside inn,
which, at first appearance, presented
rather a comfortless aspect. The
room into which we were ushered
was large, squire, and we'll lighted /;
cheerful fire cracked upon the
hearth, presenting striking contrast
to the chill drizze outside.
1t did not take long to remove
our wrappings and ordersupper, and
in few moments a good, substantial
repast was laid before US. After
having sat an unprecentedly long
while over our coffee, our friends,
Mr.. and Mrs. Withers, were placed
at one end of long hall, or passage,
and we at the other.
This is cozy,' said Frank, prepar>
ing to retire. The whole get up of
this place reminds me of our country
houses at the East. | haven't had
anything taste SO good since | left
home as my supper did tonight.
Plain, clean, substantial, and enough
of it, and this amt bad glancing at
the snowy dimity, and high feather
bed. But what's the matter with
you he continued, amazed at re-
ceiving no reply.
"A strange nervousness had all at
once taken possession of me, and the
sepsation was SO new that was alb
solutely frightened. |! was the first
time in my life that | had ever ex-
perienced such a feeling as fear, and
I was to proud to admit the truth, SO
evaded his query by declaring that
L was utterly tagged out, and need
cd sleep. Just then a knock was
heard on the door My husband
answered the summons.
would be kind enough said a
voice, which | immediately recog~
nized as our landlords's, 'to come
with me to the next house 7 A poor
fellow has sent for some one to read
the Bible He is in the last agonies,
sir, and | am sorry to say no one
here can do it and have made bold
to come and ask you. 1t seems a
shame to have the poor fellow step
out without a single crumb of COM
fort
'I'll be with you in moment re-
piled Frank A; and with "Thank
you,' which was altogether too cring-
ing for my taste, the man turned
away.
But, Frank, you are not going ?
| exclaimed, in horror, as he drew
on his boot,
'Why, Lis, what question |! who
would refuse such request Y he res
Piled, without looking at me. %
course, am going. 1t isn't possible
my little wife would say a word
against SO simple an act OF kiudnessf
God only knows what straits we
may be reduced to in our last hours.
"A cup of cold water in my name, ;
and AS ye do it unto the least of
one of these, remember
with sob, which | could not
restrain, / hid my face on the pillow
well, declare you are nervous,
he continued, leaning over the bed
to comfort me. you are actually
trembling. Now, be good little
girl and bolt the door after me. 1t
isn't at all probable | shall be gone
over an hour, and without another
word, he slipped his watch, pockets
book and one of his pistols under my
pillow, and was gone.