The Osceola times., 1879-02-15
MY MIDNIGHT PERIL.

His eyes are oDen too.
MY MIDNIGHT PERIL.
The night OF the 18th of October
shall l ever forget its pitchy darkness +,
the roar OF the autumnal wind through
the lonely forest, and the incesssnt
downpour Of the rsin9
This comes of short cuts" I NUT
tered petulantly to myself, as / plodded
along, keeping close to the trunks of the
trees to avoid the rsvine, through which
l could hear the roar of the turbulent
stream forty or fifty feet below. My
blood ran cold as ! thought what might
be the possible consequences Of mics tep
or move in the wrong direction. Why
had I not been contented to keep in the
right roadi
Hold on was that light, or are my
eyes play ing me false 7
/ stopped, holding on to the low resin
Gus b0ughs of hemlock that grew OH
the edge Of the bank, for it actually
seemed that the wind would seize me
bodily and hurl me down the precipitous
descent.
1t was q light-thank Providence-it
was light, and no ignis fatuus to lure
me on TO destruction and death.
"Hslloo-o-o
My voice rang through the woods like
clarion. Iplunged on through tangled
vines, dense brisrs and rocky banks, un-
til, gradually nearing, could perceive
q figure wrapped in an oil,cloth cape; OF
cloak, carrying lantern. As the dim
light fell upon his face almost recoiled
Would not solitude in the woods be
preierab to the ompanionsbip of this
withcred, wrinkled old man? But II
was too late to recede now.
whats wanting?" he snarled, with
peculiar motion Of the lips that seemed
to leave his yellow teeth all bare.
al am Lost in the woods; can you di.
rect me to R station2"
"Yes, R. station is twelve miles
from here"
"Twelve miles 4"
stood aghsst,
"Yes."
"Can you tell me OF any shelter
could obtain for the night"
"No."
"Where are you going?"
"To Drew's, down by the maple
swamp"
as it a tavernf"
"No."
"Would they take me for the night ?
! could pay them WELL"
His eyes cleaned the yellow stumps
stood revealed once more.
81 guess so; folks do stop there"
"Is it not far from here?"
mot very about half a mile"
"Tben mare haste and let u, reach It,
am drenched to the skim
We plodded on. my com panion
more than keeping pace with me. Pres
emily we left the edge of the ravine,
ertered what seemed to be trackless
wood, and keeping straight on until the
lights cleaned f,fully through the We,
foliage.
1t vas ruinous old place, with the
windows all drawn to one side, ms If the
foundation had settled, and the pillar,
OF q large porch near rotted away.
A wsmsn answered my fellow,travel
er's knock. My companion whispered 9
word or two to her, and she turned h
me with smooth, vOluble words OF well
come.
She regretted the poverty OF the &C
commodatioDs but | was welcome to
them, such % they were.
Where is IsaacY demanded nv
guide.
He has not come In yet"
l sat down on wooden bench beside
the fire, and eat a few mouthfuls q
bread.
al shonld like to retire as soon as pos.
sible, for my WEAKNESS Is excessive"
Certainly" The woman started uF
with alscrity.
"Where are you going to put him 2
asked my guide.
up chamber"
"Put him in Isasc's ROOM"
"No."
"It's the most comfortable"
IL tell you mol"
But here l interrupted the Whispered
colloquy.
am not particulsr-I don't care
where you lodge me, only make haste.
So was conducted up stee5 ladde
that stood in the corner OF the room, inc
an apartment, ceiled with sloping beaml
and ventilated by one small clo-e window
where q cot bedstesd, crowded close
against the board partition, and pine
table, with two or three chairs, formed
the sole attempt at furniture
The woman set the light-an old oil
lamp-on the table.
Anything more l can get you, sir ?
Nothing, thank you"
~ hope you'll sleep we'll, sir. Wher
shall ! call you"
AT four o'c'ock In the morning, /
you please. l must walk over TO r =
station in time for the seven o'clock ex
press.
I'll be sure TO call you, SIR"
She withdrew, leaving me alone in th
gloomy little apartment. l sat dow
and loohed around me With NO veF,
| aRreooh1o oeoso&ion.