Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-02-07
MY HOUR OF PERIL.
A THRILLING SKETCH.


Some thought me plain, many passa
BILE, and few decidedly handsome
Whether or not I could lay any Just
claims to beauty, am unable to say
but certain it was, at eighteen, the
honor and pleasure of my alliance were
solicited by two individuals whose birth
education and position in life might have
secured for them hand, in pecuniary
point of view, far more desirable thar
mine. Herbert Stanley was young
man, handsome, rich, accomplished, tai
ented, and in every way most eligible
match. Scarcely had I recovered from
the surprise the unexpected offer of his
hand and heart occasioned me, wheI
I met George Morgan, my sec
ond suitor, who was lawyer
from the thriving town of G.. Ht
was neither brilliant nor particularly
prepossessing in his personal appear
ance, but he stood we'll in his profession
had acquired some property, and haC
established for himself one of the fnest
and most unexceptionable characters
and to him my heart inclined.
We were married, and returned witt
him to his pleasant home in G.
Twelve years Of conjugal happiness, such
as seldom falls to the lot of mortals, haC
passed over our heads, and two little
ones had been given to us to unite oul
hearts more closely, and to bring fresh
Joy and sunlight to our happy, Cheerful
home. 1t was an August afternoon, un
usually warm and sultry, that was sit
ting by the open window of my little
parlor, busily plying my needle. MY
children were away, passing the day
with friend, and Mr.. Morgan was al
his Office. He had informed me in the
morning that important business called
him to New York, and that it was his
intention to leave on the evening boat
and my fingers were flying to get the
last stitches set in some clothes he was
to take with him.
had been sitting some time, wholly
engaged in my work, when heard the
creaking of the front door upon its
hinges, and it slowly opened; closed
again; the stealthy steps in the hall fell
distinctly on my ear. 1 caught a glimpse
of shadow on the floor. Hastily throw.
ing aside my sewing, arose to ascertain
by whom and for what I was thus unex.
pectedly visited; but before I had time
to advance step the tall, powerful fig.
ure of a man stood in the doorway.
One glance in the newcomers face
was enough to drive all the color from
my lips and cheeks, to make my very
blood freeze in my veins, and my knees
smite one against the other.
It was Herbert Stanley. had moi
seen him since the night of his reiec-
tion, twelve years before. But I had
heard, from time to time, that life had
gone variously with him, that he had
met with heavy losses in business,
which had brought ON mental derange,
ment, and for some months he had beer
regarded as hopelessly insane. He had
now escaped from the asylum where he
had been confined, and had come to pay
visit to me, the object of his early
love. His head and feet we're bare. A
pair of coarse blue pants and a plaid
calico shirt were his only attire. His
long, black disheveled locks fell fal
down upon his shoulders, ano in the
red.leather hunting belt which fanci
fully encircled his waist, pistol anG
bowie knife were distinctly visible.
fierce CLEAN of wild delight shot from
his dark eyes as they fell upon me.
Seizing the knife in one hand, ht
brandished it over his head, and with {
laugh loud and diabolical, drew it sew.
eral times across his throat and fore
head 80 that was in momentary expec
tation of seeing frightful wound in
ficted.
Laura Moore" he exclaimed
Moore was my maiden name), "wher
we were young and handsome, lovet
you, adored you, as no man ever before
adored woman; but you scorned m,
love, you spurned me from you, yol
smiled graciously upon my hated rival
and you gave him the precious treasur,
of your heart, but I've got you now
You refused to be my bride on earth
You shall be mine in heaven Thithe
am going, and you shall accompan,
me Here is the instrument that viii
take us therei'
Saying this, he advanced with rapit
strides toward me, secured me by tn
arm, fourished the deadly weapon dex
terously over my head, brought tn
blunt edge directly across my throat
and then fell back again to the door, an,
stood gazing upon me with those wild
glaring eyes of his till the very bloo
froze in my veins.
essayed to rise, but terror rendere
me powerless. It seemed as if ever
muscle had become rigid, and all powe
of motion denied me. I glanced towar
the door. Herbert Stanley must hav
interpreted the glance.
You cannot escape" he exclaimed
exultingly. "I have taken care to pre-
vent that-I've fastened the east doc
and the back door on the outside, an
here is the key to the 'front.'"
And he took from his pocket a larg
brass key, and held it up triumphant
before me.
All possibility Of escape was TINS CT
Off was in the power of a desperat,
merciless madman, bent on my destru,
tion, as he had expressly avov ed it, an
that paralyzed every nerve and muscle
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