Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1881-09-23

1
was aroused by slight noise at the
door Of my room. Of course | was on
the alert i'll an instant, and grasping
Il pistol in either hand. awaited fur
ther developments. | was not kept
long in suspense, for almost immedi-
ately a key was inserted where mine
should have heen, and the door was
opened noiselessly.
The curtains round my bed con-
cealed NE from view, and through an
opening in the one near my head, |
could observe everything that was
passing in the room. The last strag-
Cling rays OF ilickering light from the
dying fire, rendered each object in the
room perfectly distinct and threw "a
weird like aspect over everything.
As | peered cautiously from my place
of concealment, a tall, powerfully
built negro entered the room, and as
if perfectly acquainted with the posi-
ton Of everything around, walked di-
rectl Y to the eScrltoire IN the corner.
unlocked it and took from it butch
ers knife, and after coolly running his
hand along the blade to test it sharp
ness, thrust it in his bosom, and turn
ing to the mantel, took up the candle
| had been using, and started for the
door. Once only he looked toward
the bed, and as he did so | clutched
my pistols neryously, and held my
breath in the intensity of the excite
ment. STOPPING for an instant to pick
mp a glove he had dropped, | noticed
that he wore mocasins, ana concluded
that he was evidently prepared to
plumber and perhaps murder.
As he left the room, | left the bed
and strobe to the door. The corridor
was intensely dark. l stopped and
listened. The handle of the next
room was tried, and slight murmer
Of disappointment told me the object
Of pursuit was not there. boldly
stepped in the passage, Judging
rightly, that the villain would look
only before him. Each time that he
opened door, | stepped into the op-
posite doorway to avoid being per-
ceiyed. Several doors were tried. and
similar calculations Of surprise were
muttered in an undertone.
At last the room at the farther end
Of the passage was reached, opened,
and dim light shone through the
open door. Ore moment only did the
tiend pause upon the threshold, but
that moment sufliccd to give glimpse
Of his face, and such an expression Of
fiendish delish, was there visible, that
it male my blood ran cold t,6. old
it. lie entered the room Al kp-
.sgE.s .pE.aaS..s the door aud. peepedy It
was The counterpart OF the room =
| had occupied, with this difference,
that on Il dressing table near the bed,
a prettily ornamented glass bowl was
standing with oil in it and a lighted
taper, which gave light enough to rem
der the objects in the room imper-
tectly visible. Approaching the bed,
the negro softly drew aside the cur
tains, looked earnestly upon the
sleeper, then drew his knife and ex-
amlned it. Slowly and cautiously did
he proceed to uncover the breast of
the lady, for it was no other than my
fair hostess, and with knife brandished
IN the air, was about to give the fatal
stroke, when slight noise, purposely
made bv m2 caused him to turn,-a
tlash,-a report,-and the would-be-
murderer, with a horrible yell, fell
forward on the floor. weltering in his
own gore. The lady screamed, Jump
ed to the floor and would have sought
refuge in flight, had not the tones of
the voice of the wounded man aroused
and transtiXeG her to the spot.
"Clarie, dear Clarie, don't curse me,
don't 60 away until you say you for
give me" were the words he uttered,
and as the truth forced itself upon her
mind, she clasped her hands to her
temple, and IN an agony of anguish
exclaimed:
lis it possible, my poor, dear only
brother"
The scene that followed beggars de-
scription. The servants rushed in,
and there before them all was the
brother of their mistress and their
own respected master, disguised
as = murderer, with the implement of
murder in his hand, and the blood of
Il murderer flowing in copious stream
from the wound near his heart.
After having instructed the SER
wants to take very great care Of their
stricken and unfortunate mistress,
now reduced to the verge of insanity
by the terrific weight Of the over
whelmlng calamity, that had befallen
her, and having ordered tn: masters
body to be removed and prepared with
all care for Mterment, returned to
my room to mediate upon the events
just narrated, and to allay, if posi-
Die, by quiet rest, the terrible nervous
excitement that now oppressed me-.
During the course of the morning, d
servant came to announce breakfast,
Although not in the least hungry, |
felt my curiosity excited to the high
est pitch, to ascertain the fate Of my
fair young hostess, and | was indeed
much surprised on entering the din
ing room, to hear from Hettie, that
her mistress was able to talk, and de-
sired an interview after breakfast.
On entering the parlor | was
amazed, for there before me, clothed in
deep mourning, with a CHASTITY face
on which the scalding tears had left
their impress, stood my fair hostess.
In few words, the following arrange
were m.de.
x * x * =
1t was discovered on investigation,
that Mr.. Charles Jeff'ries, the would
be murderer Of his lovely and angelic
sister Clara, had inherited, equally
with his sister, one half of the estate
and pffactS of hil 1ao,aSal porentS