Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-08
4 Brave Englisii Woman.


A Constantinople letter to the Phila-
delphia Telegraph says: The quiet Greek
village OF Kadekem, on the Asiatic shore
OF the sea Of Marmora, some four miles
from here, was the scene the other night
of wild excitement and alarm. AT
dusk, while the family of Mr.. b., re-
spectacle English resident, were about
sitting down to a comfortable supper,
knock, timidly repeated after an instant,
was heard at the door. The wind was
how ling around the angles of the house,
and as MIR. b. opened the door, gust OF
sleet and rain took him in the face and
almost prevented him from perceiving
his nocturnal visitor. 1t was a
wretched woman, bent nearly double
with age and clothed scantily with
filthy rags, who, in quivering accents.
begged food and shelter for the night.
After some hesitation the spirit of the
good Samaritan prevailed over the natu-
raj suspicious aroused oy such n visit.
The hag's story was a plausible one.
Having, owing to her infirmities, missed
the last steamer back to town, and
being left with only her return ticket in
her pocket, she was exposed to pass that
bitter night out in the open air unless
some charitable person lent his roof to
shelter her. Already she had been
turned away from several dwellings
when she knocked despairingly at Mr..
B. g door. Thus ran her tale.
Resolved, when once in for it." as
Mr.. b. said, to do the thing up brown"
hot food and drink was given to the
wanderer, who, complaining soon after
OF great fatigue, was led into an empty
room on the third floor, where sort of
shake-down was provided her. The
family stayed together some time after
in the parlor, chatting over the fire
about the incident, then separated for
the night.
A mysterious anxiety, however, hung
over Mrs. b., kept her awake and cul.
minated in determination to visit the
guest room and see how the guest was
faIing. Arriving at the door, which, as
q precaution, had been locked, noise
lessly in her bare feet. a narrow ray of
light streaming from the keyhole aroused
her suspicion, and an unwonted noise of
steps. Peeping in, the first object that
met her eaze was a bundle of rags, sole
relic OF the pitiful hag that they had 1
rescued from the elements, while in her
place stood tall, brawny Circassian in
full dress, his leather belt stIck full of
pistols, while he tried on his thumb the
ger. His face was turned toward Mrs.
B., and she saw in his set mouth and
rascally face such murderous purpose
that she with difficulty restrained
scream of fright. However, she crept
down the stairs. trembling with excite
ment, aroused her slumbering lord, and
told what she had seen. A short con-
sultation followed, in which the strange
decision was arrived at that the husband
should run at once 10 the nearest corps
de garde for policemen, while the wife,
armed with her husbands revolver,
would stand behind and bear the at
tack. A few minutes after B. had slip
ped on his clothes, and closed the street
door, that sound found its echo upstairs
in the crash of the guest room door,
which yielded TO the battering-ram
blows of the Circassian's shoulder.
Heavy but rapid steps came down the
stairs. Mrs. b. stood, with a dressing.
gown thrown over her. admirably cool.
her right hand grasping n revolver. The
steps came nearer, and the ruffian, after
trying the door of the parlor in which
the lady was standing. burst it open, and
rushed in. His headlong course was
stopped by four shots in rapid succession,
two of which took effec: in his arm and
neck, and rolled him on the ground al
most at Mrs. BIS feet. The house sef-
want then appeared, aroused by the
firing. and Mrs. b., for whom the air
was just then full of Circassian murder
ers. greeted him with n flesh wound In
the leg. Luckily for the rest OF the
household. who began pouring in, the
inevitable revulsion of feeling came, and
the courageous woman tainted. Just
about then the husband. with six zap
tiehs or policemen, arrived, as usual, too
late 10 be cf much use.