Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-31


there, this discovery was but of little
use to me.
Half an hour passed away in this
state of indecision. 1 stole cautiously
to one OF the windows, and gazed on
the beautiful city bathed in the light OF
full moon.
How quiet and calm everything look
ed! But the air felt fresh and cold, and
7 closed the window and resumed my
seat on the chair. l then found myself
wondering what avocation my friend
IN bed followed. l suddenly cast my
eyes on heap of clothes which lay on
a trunk covered over with handker'
chief, no doubt belonging to the sleep
er. Ny curiositY got the better OF my
politeness. aud before scarcely knew
what l was about found myself exam
ining his apparel. The handkerchief
which covered them was a coarse, cot
ton ore, and his clothes were Of coarse
homespun, and were such asaro usually
worn, by droyers. Ny companion, then'
was evidently droyer-a rough class
of men who usually stand upon very
little ceremony.
Partly undressed as was, l began
to feel very cold-but before yenturing
INTO bed determined to try an expert
ment to see if the droyer slept soundly
or not. had taken the prccautien to
leave the bedroom door open so that l
could make a run for tiff necessary, l
fixed my eye on the bed as let my
boot fall. The drover was evidently
sound sleeper, for although the noise
made was considerable he did not make
the slightest motion. This decided me-
ana hastily finished undressing and
crept into bed.
Ofcoursc, 1 vas careful not to 'oucA
nv companion. l DO not know now
lonr I lay awake, hut the novelty oI
the situation drove sleep from my eye
lids for some time. By degrees now
ever, the s!rangcnes Of my p)''tIon
wore of. / felt reassured ~ my bed
fellow sound sleep. and the genI-c-
mprmurine ofthc breeze outside caused
nc to follow lis example.
I have 10 idea low long I slept b.
fore I commenced to dream. l sudden
lis. however, thought that M compan-
ion woke Up aud sat upright II bed ;
that he alared around him and at last
his eyes Cll upon met IIc then utter
ed a terrible cry and tarow himself up
on me. In spite Of my natural coward
ice. I saw that i'll dil not struggle /
should be killed. l thought I seized
him BIZ the throat and tightening my
grasp. I saw him getting black IN the
face. His hands fell powcrless By his
side. a smotheung groan escaped him
but still pressed his throat tighter
t:glter-h.s face grew b!acler and
blacker.
In agony OF fear awo6e, and what
was my horror and dismay to find thai
nv hand was really pressing my COM
panion's throat. lie did not move no'
stir. aud his cody felt as cold as ice.
Great God ~ I exclaimed aloud
Can he be deaJ:'
l Jumped out Of bed. Morning Aa'
dawned. although The suq had not yet
risen. Irushed TO the window an'
pulled back tie curtain. then ran &c
the bed again and looked at my com
p,nion. My worst fears we're realized
lie was dead blac, in The face -stran-'
led IN my sleep.
Ishall not at.cmp. to describe my
, sensation at THIS horrid spectacle. Nj
, u
body was balhod in ! cold p'cspration
nv hands tremblcd, and for leW mo
r,ents l believe I was bereh Of NJ,
Senses recovered by dccrecs-bu
Il was only to realize in a more acut'
situation. There lay my Yic!im-an'
7 was q murderer! Ny trial, coav!c-
! viction. and the hideous gallows al
] passed in rapid review before me. VIII
would believe me? I sat down. buric
+ nv face in my hands and sobbed like
f child. My wife, my own comforlabl
bome-sbould ever sec them again
, What was to be done? Should
q arouse the house and make q clea
. hreast of It? But what could l say ?
7 tell them | had killed a man in ~
sleep? Not a soul would believe Il,
story. CouldI effect my escape? In
!. possible the crime would be disco'
cred before could leave the city; aud
l. shonld be arrested then The law WOui
q take lts course. and | should be hange
y by the neck until was dead.
i Hanged by the neck? Yes that woul
J. he my fate. As this terrible thougl
l. crossed my mind, | cast my eyes arouu
1t the chamber, and they fell upon th
d beam with hooks IN. From thencel'h'
't wandered to the handkerchief GOVERN
IL the dead mans clothes.
= A means of safety suggested itself
- my mind. Suppose could make it al
80 s near that man had committed SUICIDE
- Yes. that was my only chance, and
:, determined to put it into execution.
AZ T took the dead mans haCdkerchl
:, ~ and advanced to the corpse with gre
deal of repugnance, but with more cou
, ace than 1 could have anticipated. y
- = own fearful situation no doubt anima
" tod me to an extent that L should se
60 or otherwise have dreamed of. made
II posse IN the handkcrchiefand slipped
ovor ,he dead mans neck. then III