The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-10
CHOICE FICTION.'
A GOOD NIGHTS REST.
A Story of Nervous Woman's Fears.

ing breath. | wouldn't for the world
have it known, and | only tell it in the
strictest sort of confidence. for where
people are poorest. they are apt to be
proudest. In my day-dreams | am al
ways doing the most heroic actions, and
ask no favors of any; but let night come,
and | am the abject slave of the next
person that can answer for a companion.
You can imagine, then, whether it was
we'll with me or not when Reuben came
in and proclaimed that he was obliged to
run over to New York in half an hour
from that time, and he might be detained
several days. and so would take his hand
bag; and he might leave for home next
noon-he hoped he should.
And what is to become of mc:'' |
cried
You, said Reuben. 'Why, you'll go
to the matinee. and you'll dine with
Cousin Teresa, and as you are always
complaining of my waking you up too
early in the morning. you'll go to sleep
and get good night S rest.
"A good nights rest But there was
no time for argument; the carriage was at
the door, and time. tide and the train
wait for no man. Reuben kissed me, and
was gone And II was very much pro-
voked Such an utter disregard of my
welfare, such total Indifference to my
comfort. when he knew had never slept
alone in my life. when he knew what
night of terror it would be to me, when
he knew what my horror of the dark was,
and all my fear of thieves, of fire, of rats!
1t was mighty cool good-by kiss | gave
him-I was sorry had given him any at
all. | wished | was at home with all the
multitudinous household there, the dogs,
and cats, and birds, and servants. and
burglar-alarms. But it was useless wish
ing: here | was in this great boarding.
house, in the drawing room on the first
floor, using the back parlor for our bed
room and with windows opening to the
ground in front and rear, the rooms over
us empty, the bells ringing out in regions
where at night there were none to attend,
and with nobody to hear Ne far or near
should | scream myself hoarse. Well. it
was not very cheerful outlook; and
what aggravated it all was that the street
itself was lonely one, and my bedroom
windows opened on little area connected
with a dark back alley haunted by SIN
gular sort of beggars that came out only
after dark, like the reaches and beetles
of the human race, and the gate OF the
area opening on the alley was fastened
by nothing but chip.
Well | went to the matinee, and be-
cause such things always come together
coincidentally, the play was laid with
scenes shifting from costly villas to
thieves quarters: and dined with Cousin
Teresa, who sent me home after four
hours recital of the burglarious expert
ences of all her guests. You can imagine
that when entered my parlors and turn
ed up the gas in the front room. l was
ready to see vile wretch in every shadow.
The first thing did was to look behind
all the doors and under the piano. |
even lifted the lid of the piano, for
never feel at all sure that a burglar may
not have taken out the works and put
himself in their place. ] gave every cur
tain lift and shake. thrust Reuben
Gaze under the sofas and lounges. and
into the dark corners. and under the bed.
which stood in partly curtained aicovc.
and on which | had thrown my polonaisc
and skirts when | went out in a hurry:
but was determined not to be frighten-
ed by these things. Having then ex-
plored the inside of the big wardrobe and
the bureau drawers by the light from the
front room-there was no gas i'll that
room, and either the house-maid or the
rats had borrowed my candle and kept it
I felt as sure as doubtful person could
that there was nobody hiding in the
rooms, and so locked the doors at last.
Yet nevertheless, found myself walk
ing on tiptoe and holding my breath as
if were afraid should be heard; sup
pose | was afraid that some noise would
be made that | should not hear. | then
Jennings. l always feel so secure with
Reuben. throwing all responsibility on
him. that | had never thought of looking
at them before. There We're none. Great
goodness, what was to do?
All that | could do was to wrench down
couple of nails from the wardrobe. and
by means of the poker drive them i'll over
the sashes of the front windows. Going
fn,. 1a 1,n,l |
found that the rest were hooks, and it
was in vain to try and get those out that
had already driven i'll, SO as to use them
on the back window: they would mt come
out. Very well, | said to myself, |
shan't go to bed tonight: and prepared
myself for sitting up. If Reuben didn't
come back for two or three days, | could
sleep in the daytime, and sit up ready
to meet the foe in the nights To be sure,
] should be worn out, but what would he
care? | had grim idea of satisfaction
in thinking it was his fault was under
going so much, anyway. lie might at
least have left me pistol, | said: but
what good would it have done if he had?
was as much afraid of pistol as OF
house-breakcr And it wasn't only the
customary house breaker III question now;
the town was full of contrabands that had
come in to work on the improvements,
and failing to find work We're starving:
and images of some stalwart, brutal black
wretch rose before me every time | put
my fingers on my eyes. In the day. the
colored people had nc Staunchcr friend
than |, but somehow they always figured
in my Nightmares.
1t was not a very inviting prospect,
this of sitting up all night, already tired
out as was. Still. had a novel. could