Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-03-23
UNDER THE BED.
Times when LIT Has Concealed the
Oft-LCOked-FOr Burglar

The man under the bed does not al
ways prove myth. Perhaps it is all
actual fact that women who pray look
for him more regularly than those of a
less spiritual turn of mind; when the
good woman kneels at the bedside to
offer her devOtions it is the most natu-
raj thing in the world for her to first
explore that histronic territory and sat
lsfy herself that no concealed burglar
Is listening. 1t is also a well-authenti-
Gated fact that pious woman in the
suburbs of London did discover the
legs of bold. bad house-breaker stick
ing out just as she began her petition.
She did not shrek, but went on with a
prayer for that particular sinner that
would have mslted the heart of New
gate thief. | wish that it might be
added that he was converted on the
spot, came out, and was pardoned, and
afterward married the petitioner. But
truth compels me to add that the good
woman was interrupted in the most
solemn part of her prayer by peal of
laughter from the graceless younger
brother who had enacted the part of
burglar.
More tragic was the story of the lady
who, travelling alone, stopped at an inn
and mentioned the fact that she had
been followed and watched by a vii
demonstrating man with a shock of
red hair, who she feared had designs
upon the valuables she carried with
her. AS nothing was seen of him at
the inn, she retired for the night, care
! fully locked the door. and was soon in
bed, leaving a light burning in front of
a mirror. No sooner was her head on
the pillow than she had distinct view
of the man with the red hair crouching
under the bed. She made no sound,
bat reached softly for scarf she had
laid near, made it into a running moose,
and waited. The next morning, when
her servants broke open the door, they
found the lady sitting UP in bed, grasL-
ing with both hands the moose in which
she held the fearful weight of the dead
man; she had strangled him, but was
herself raving maniac, from whom
reason had forever gone.
Some time agO'a prominent Judge in
Birmingham, n. H., was found muir
dered in his own house and no clew to
| the murderer. 1t was Immediately
after an adverse decision ne had made
IN case of great Importance, and the
murder was supposed to have been in
stigated by desire for revenge, but as
all the parties were respectable people
1t was impossible to fasten the guilt on
any one. The judge was a widower,
and lived alone with the exception of a
young daughter AMI the servants. This
daughter was beautiful, and on the
evening in question had returned home
from a ball at late hour and gone di-
rectly to her own room where she stood
before her mirror taking off her jewell
AS she did SO, she held her white and
rounded arm above her head, and con-
scious of its beauty said aloud.
what a beautiful arm !" little
thinking the idle remark of such conae-
quence as it proved to be in the TRACE
dy that followed The girl both saw
and heard her fathers murderer, but
as he was masked failed to distinguish
his features, but always declared she
should know his voice if feuer she heard
it. Several years passed, and in an
other city she was standing in a crowd
observing some passing sight, when she
was conscious of the curious regard Of
a stranger who stood near. Looking
at her with a singular intensity, he
made this remark: "Oh, the beauti-
full armp She knew the voice IN an
instant, and throwing herself bodily on
the man denounced him as her fathers
murderer. He was arrested, tried, and
convicted, and told how he had lain
hidden under the bed and heard the
idle remark of the young girl which
she herself had been scarcely conscious
Of He had recognized her on meeting
her, and involuntarily betrayed him
self, as he had been a stranger and an
unsupported party.-Deroit Post.
| The fftieth anniversary of Kossuth's
entrance upon his career as a Journalist
and patriot will be celebrated at Buda-
Pesth, Hungary, this yea1, by present
ing him with huge album containing
the signatures of his admirers. The
Hungarian leader will be so year. old
on April q.
| A Wisconsin girl who received a
comic valentine was SO mortified that
she took poison. The only comic thing
they can stand in that state is Nor
mon elder taking ride on rail.
The success of st. Jacobs Oil through
out the civilized world, is without a
parallel. = Richmond { Va.l Southern