The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-12-07
An HOUR OF TFRROR.

found myself on the following morn
ing looking into the mirror to see wheth-
er or not my hair had turned white, and
/ have often wondered since how ever
managed to come through it safely; but
l did somehow, and ann here now to tell
you about it, if you will be patient and
listen.
was just sixteen years of age, and
the youngest of large family, all of
whom had married and left home but
myself. We were residing in the coun-
try, and / had never wished to leave
my quiet home until after that eventful
night of which l am about to tell you.
My mother used to call me her . tom
boy daughter, and indeed, if it had
not been for my ac tomp islmcnts in this
direction. / hardly know how | should
have taken care Of myself on that NIGHT
as YOU will observe when l have
finished.
My father was a physician, and had
b en- called to the bedside of a patient
who was expected to die every moment,
consequently we did not expect him
back until some time the next day.
My mother had dismissed all the serv-
ants for the night and closed the doors.
1t was past our usual bed time, but we
were both deeply absorbed in our new
books, and seemed indispOsed to retire.
At last, however, mother closed her
book, and said it was time we were in
bed, as we were expecting my brother
and his wife TO arrive the next morning
at about, three o clock, and would be
called up to meet them. | had lust
placed my novel on the table, and was
leaning back TO enjoy u huge yawn,
when the gate opened and some one
came rapidly up the walk to the porch.
The next moment there was u loud
knock at the door, and mother and L
looked at each other a moment US if
wondering who could be coming in at
such a late hour.
"Some one has sent for your father,
/ guess" said mother, going to her
room door which opened into the hall.
" Who's there?' she inquired; / heard
the voice of my brother-inlaw, who
lived about mile from as, saying that
his wife was quite i'll, and he had come
for father.
OF course / was sorry for my sister 8
illpess, but at the same time was glad
that the caller was not an intruder. as /
had at first feared. When mother in
fOrme him that father was away, he
asked her if she would not return home
with him, as she might be able to rem
der my sister some relief.
OF course she could not refuse, and so
] was to be left alone, for / could not
possibly leave home, also, on account
of my brother and his wife, and should
be compelled to remain at home to re-
ceive.t
Perhaps L was more easily frightened
than most girls of my age, but the
fact that 1 was 1.-The baby of the fam
ily," and h d never been left alone at
night, i think quite sufficient reason for
my failing.
After seeing mother safely off l
fastened the door, and taking my book
went upstairs to my own room, where
/ determined to spend the remainder
OF the night reading-at least, until my
brother and wife came at three.
door opened from my room upon a
little balcony, into which one from
the hall also opened. This l left az
TO admit fresh air, us l knew there could
be no possible means of reaching it
from the porch below, except BY long
ladder
-. l could not center my thoughts upon
the words before me, although | had
been very much Interested before
mother left. / would start and listen at
the least sound l heard. Once | laid
aside my book, and going to the back
window, looked down toward the serv-
ants houses to see if they had all re-
tired Everything was dark and still,
and / again decided to be as brave as
possible, and forget all about robbers
and ghosts; and so, after salts wing my
self once more that the g was no one in
the closet, or wardrobe, or under the
bed, l took possession of my book and
sat down to read.
1 managed to read a chapter or two,
and again | found myself peernr out
through the window down into the gar
den, and trying to form the dancing
shadows there into human forms max
ing their stealthy way through the
shrubhery.
was about to turn my eyes to my
book once more when l saw something
that caused me 10 start and look more
closely. Yes. it was, indeed, n man
creeping cautiously along behind the
hedge towards the servants houses.
Who could it be? The servants had
said nothing the night before about
] aving, and it was something unusual
for one of them to keep such things a
secret, rs they seemed to take delight
in making known their pleasure trips to
us for several days before they were to
tax, place. Even if it was one of them,
why should he be so careful to get 10
his hOuseP And why had he come
in through the garden instead of the
lane?
| watched him until he reached the
garden gate, and opening it stepped
into the back ward. He paused and
looked about in every direction, and /
saw him peering up through the branch
es of the trees towards the window near
which stood. Shading my eyes, |
looked more closely to see if could tell
who it was, but could not. He wore a
large, broad brimmed black hat and a
long coat He seemed to be gazing M
at my window for full minute. and
then he stepped hastily across the ward
and disappeared around the house. /
hurried TO the back window in time to
see hm enter the house of Uncle Ben.
our old gardener.
Pshawi'' l said to myself ITS
nobody but Uncle Ben, after all. Been
over to see some neighbors and come
home late.
But still was not exactly satisfied, for
] kept on thinking about the manner in
which he had come to the house.
n was lust 1890. Mercy what was I
IN do with the remainder of the time till
three O'clock eame2
When theexcitement occasioned by the
appearance Of the figure IN the garden
had subsidized a little, my eyeiids began
TO oct heavy, and almost before knew
Il. the chin rested on my chest and l
was fast asleep