The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-05-18
Probably my anxiety to stand well
in the estimation of my husband,
caused me to, restrain further exhi-

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'He had told me to fasten. the door
but / dreaded 10 step out Of bed. II
seemed as ifsome great, black hand
was already to grab-at my ankle ;
but I knew it must be done, and aft
err moments hesitation, / leaped
out, turned the key, drew the bolt,
and with the speed of an antelope,
tucked myself down again into the
comfortable feathers.
Sleep | might as we'll have tried
to sleep in the regions of the infer>
nal, couldn't close my eyes even.
There was a painful sensation of its
being necessary to keep myself close
together. My feet seemed so far
away from my head that | was com.
PEELED to draw them carefully up,
and when at last my knees touched
my chin, and there was no further
curtailing possible, tried to define
what | was afraid of but the more
| tried the mora wretched and per-
picked | became. | could see moths
ing--hear nothing ; but warning
of danger lad been wsfted to my
soul, which that soul felt, but could
not understand. ca
"A cold Precipitation started from
my face, but | dared not lift my hand
to wipe it off. Every sense seemed
preterna.urally acute. After space
of time, which seemed to me like an
eternity, distinctly heard a slight
rusting under the bed. Still stirr>
ed not Again and again it was res
peated, and at last discovered that
somebody was trying to remove
from his hiding place. The cause of
my horror was then plain. What
should | do ? Rush for the door, aud
attempt to alarm my friends at. the
other end of the passage.9 To save
my life, | could not move an inch !!
Still, the strange movement beneath
me. 1t appeared as if my right
hand were taken, without the least
volition of my own, and laid upon
the little destroyer under my head.
My eyes seemed riveted on the
foot of the bed, where, in little
while, a hand appeared "a long
black hand, which grasped the rail,
as fin this way to assist its owner
to his feet.
'Slowly-as | had seen figures APP
pear before trap-door on the
boards of a theatre the horrid thing
assumed proportions. Not for Sec
ond did l remove my eyes.
The head was small, covered with
long, perfectly straight black hair;
tiny bead like eyes, glistened like
those of serpent. The creatures
mouth seemed literally to spread
from car to car, while the thick,
crimson lips gave GROWING hide
business to the most terrible counte-
nance I ever saw or imagined.
MY hand clutched the murderous
little weapon.
The wretch moved slowly toward
me, keeping his horrid eyes fixed
on my face, with leer, impossible
to describe, proclaimed that he
thought his job an easy one.
Gold, lady--gold- watch--gold !
Right away, now Then Bill buggy
you = muttered the brute, advancing
another step.
with a steadiness that would
have done credit to a professional
at a target under ordinary
circumstances, this right hand drew
out the little pistol, aimed-fred ;
and in a seconds time the giant,
with piercing shrek, reeled and fell.
1T appeared to me that a legion of
men came running up stairs. They
tried the door.
'This I thought part of the plot,
of course. My husband had been
beguiled into leaving me, and | was
in a den of thieves So there stood
by the door ready to shoot the first
person who crossed the threshold.
They entreated to be let in.
whoever attempts to enter this
room is a dead man 7 answered
with my mouth to the key hole.
Let me in, Lis, please!' said a
we'll known voice. Bella, open the
door. What can be the matter9
There is nothing to hurt you from
the outside, Bella, darling, open
the door "a,
'And | did.
MY God! What is that 2 came
from every member Of the house,
hold, as the dead body met their
view.
'And, my Cod what is this 2
said my husband, taking my hair
which he'd turned perfectly gray,
which hung about my shoulders, into
his hand and bursting into tears,
ooh, darling why did | leave you 2
was all the poor fellow could utter.
THE MAJ was villain who had
several times escaped the penalties
of the law, on account of what it was
pleased to term his idioey.
SO there was no conspiracy | ven-
tured to ask, after taking a long
breath.
None at ALL replied Frank. 'The
poor man we went to visit died while
I was there.'-[The Cricket on the
Hearth.