Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-04-07

h'N"e' NJ ia'ilci anu ulOtutr. anu DSV.
monsieur good night.
1t vas about half-rast one. when wa.
awakened from light sleep by hearing
a stcalthy foOtstep in the corridor out
side my room. II approached my door
the person, whoever it nigh: be. walk
n 8 softly and ca utiouslv, as If fearful OF
disturbing me. Who could it be. Nv
first impulse was 10 jump out Of bed and
see; but ] was of a timid nature, and
imagined burglars and all sorts of things.
80 | remained still, listening with sus.
pended breath.
Presently the handle Of my door was
turned. Oh, heaven, felt paralyzed.
a man entered my room with small
dark lantern in his hand, and, after paus-
ing for moment, slowly approached the
bed. had just sufficient presence of
mind To shut my eyes and feign sleep as
he bent over me. | felt that ne had
turned the light !ull on my face: his
breath famed nv cheek.
Ny heart beat to suffocatien, and felt
that il the ordeal lasted much longer. |
could not control myself, and should
scream or faint.
Happily, however, the next moment
the light was withdrawn, and my noe
turnal visitor left the house.
| heard the footsteps pass along the
corridor, and descend the stairs leading
to the drawing room. Then it flashed
upon me, though bad locked the hu-
reau containing my iewelrv, had not
taken away the key.
/ have remarked that by nature I
was timid: but, at this juncture,
felt as brave as lion, and, springing
from my bed, threw on my dressing.
gown, and went out to the head of the
stairs.
l paused. A dreadful fear came over
me. All was dark, and | heard not a
sound. began to descend.
When got opposite the door of the
drawing-r"om, which was partially
closed, | saw dim light proceeding
thence. Oh. my agony OF fear lest the
stairs should creak and betray me
On reaching the door OF the room, ]
saw TO my delight that the key was in
the lock outside. Blu: if / should not
be successful in making this villain
prisoner.
| shuddered ut the thought. How
this man had got into the house could |
not tell. He must be friend oc one of /
the servants, l conjectured.
My hand was upon the key OF the door,
when the handle with sharp click, be-
trayed me.
/ heard quick step across the apart
ment. A moment decided me.
/ must feign somnar:bulism.
In another instant the door Was opened.
and /, with my eyes fixed wide open.
entered the room.
The thief started back with a smotbered
OF surprise.
/ dared not look at him, but walked
straight past him to the bureau,
spoke the following words di.jeintedly:
8 lost my key here. Where caH it
be-"
The man walked over to the other end
of the room, where an overcoat was hung
on the back of chair, and began to
search the pockets.
had in that moment time to regard
him.
l could hardly forbear cry; for, in
this room, trying to rob my mother and
myself of our jewels, was Monsieur Men,
ton.
He returned to the bureau (where
vas still fumbling to find the keyl, and
orced one into my hand.
l then pretended that / had found
what l wanted, and, turning round, left {
he room.
have often wondered since then why
did not raise the house, but. truth to
tell, my movements on that night were I
luite mechanical; my faculties seemed
o have given away under the unnatural G
ension to which they had been sub 9
ected; felt sort Of stupor, and hard
y knew whether l was asleep or awake. i
returned to my bedroom, and, looking t
t the key as placed it on my dressing a
able, saw that it was that of the
ront door of our house, which Mon h
ieur Mention must have taken from nv 8
ather's study sfter We had all retired h
Dr. the night. p