The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-04-20
j Under the Bed. ssssl

IuO 1Iist1 III G1C IlOOu his prODdDIV
never been the subject of half as much
scientific investigation as thatother skele.
ton IN the family the man under the bed.
1t is an asgesome feeling to .tinaid,
shrinking. sensitive woman, to remem-
ber just as she has put the light out, and
crawled into the safe and comfortable
retreat where She expects to. peacefully
lay her head on a smooth pillow, and
sleep if not snore--thatss she has forgotten
to look under the bed! In moment she
is as wide awake as if aconfirmed victim
of Insomnia; she imagines she can hear
some one breathe; she knows he Is there,
dressed in d brigandish suitLred- flannel
shirt, military boots, sloueh hat and a
mask and a whole arsenal. of firearms
( her heart beats thick and FAST strange
noises ring in her ears, the perspiration
starts out. and bathes her in clammy
folds. She has locked the door, and he
will murder her if she moves2 Ina Yery
ecstacy of terror she slips one white foot
out ON the carpet, it touches cold rub
ber shoe of her OWE that is lying beside
the bed, and with a shrek that rouses
the whole family, she tears open the door
and when the alarmed household inquiries
the cause of her fright, she coo1ly an
sswers: Il thought heard rat in the
poom.22a.yzsa .tnf.-,s xnU IA v4nsar
The man under the bed does not always
provesa myth. Perhaps it is an actual
fact that women who pray laok, for him
more regularly than others of less spir-
itaal turn of mind ;.when the good woman
kneels at the bedside to offer her deyo-
tions, it is the most natural thing in the
sworldfor herto first explore that historic
territory and satisfy herself that no con-
cealed burglar is listening. It is also
"a well authenticated fact that a piosls
woman in the suburbs of London did dis
cover the legs of a bold, bad, house
breaker sticking out, Just as she began
her petition. She did not Shrek, but
went on with prayer for that particular
sinner, that would have melted the heart
of a Newgate thief. i wish that it might
be added that he was converted on the
spot. came out and was pardoned and
afterwards married the petitioner. But
truth compels me to add that the woman
was interrupted in the most solemn part
other prayer by. a peal of laughter from
the graeeless younger brother who mad
enacted the part of q burglarssg Ss9aiS
More tragic was the story of the lady
who travelling alone stopped at an inn
and mentionea the faott that she had been.
followed and watched, by a vilIaino,is
looking man with Shock of red hair,
who she feared had designs upon the
valuables she carried with her. AS moth
ing was seen of him at the inn she re-
tired for the night, carefully locked the
door and was soon nbed, leaving LIGHT
burning IN front of q mirror. No sooner,
was her head on the pillowsthan she had
a distinct view of the man with the red
hair crouching under the bed; She made.
no sound ] but reached softly for a scarf
she had laid near, made it into running
moose and waited. The next morninS
when her servants broke open the door;
they found the lady sitting up in bed,
grasping with both hands the moose in
wifiehsshe held the fearful weight of the
dead man; she had strangled him, but
was herself a raving maniac from whom
reas on had forever gone.
Some years ago prominent Judge in
Birmingham, N ew Hampshire, was found
murdered in his own house and no clue
to the murderer. It was immediately
after an adverse decision. he had made
IN a case of great importance, and the
murder was supposed to have been insti-
gatedbysa desire forrevenge, but as all
the parties were respectable people, it
was impossible TO fasten the guilt On on any
one.s The Judge was a widewer and
lived alone with the exception of young
daughter and the servants. This dauch
ter was beautiful, and on, the evening in !
question had returned home from. a ball
at a late hour and had gone directly to her
own room where she stood before her
mirror taking off her Jewels. AS she did
so she held her white and rounded arm.
above her head, and conscious ofaits
beauty said alsud. =stsWhat a. beautiful
armpl little thinking the idle remark
OF such consequence as it proved to be in
the tragedy that followed The girl
both saw and heard sher fathers mllr--
derer,, but as he was masked failed to
distinguish His features, but alWays de-
clared she should know his voice ifaever
she heard it. Several years passed, and
IN another city she was standing III 4
crowd observing some passing sight,
when she was conscious of the curious
regard Of a stranger who stood near
Looking at her with singularsinteasity
he made this remark: 80, the beautiful
armm 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 un-
der the bed and heard the idle remark
of the young girl which she herself had
been scarcely conscious Of, He had rec
ognized her on nleeting her, and invol
unfairly betrayed himseh, as he had been
2 stranger and an unsuspec ted party.
It IS not a pleasant thing for any !
woman toawaken in the night and see
. masked. burglar standing oyer her
with a pistol IN his hand. Yet such an ]
occurrence shappened to d Mrs. Mary
5eotten, sister of Mr.. Daniel Scotch Of
5prfngwells, only a week or two ago. |
Mrs. Scotten is 81 lady yasweH known in
Detroit. and she is the- one woman who
lid not up to the time mentioned be-
ieve in either ghosts or burglars. So
much faith had the lady In her kind