The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-11-01
A MIDNIGHT RECOGNITION.

some time ago the wife OF merchant
was suddenly awakened in the night by
the sound of footsteps in her bedroom,
md the next momeut tho light of a
dark lantern flooded her face so near that
she could almost feel the heat and hear
the suppressed breathing Of tho intrud-
er. Her husband was from home, and
the only other person in tho house ex-
ccpt herself was servant girl, who slept
III the story beneath. Her presence of
mind did not, however, forsake her. It
doubtless requires great amount of
resignation and fortitude in woman to
listen to, without screaming, tho ran
sncklng OF her store of valuable laces
and the appropriation OF her jewclry;
but the lady, very nationally deemed her
! life worth all tho laco and diamonds in
the world, quietly closed her Dyes and
awaited the result.
The light was withdrawn from her
face, and she heard the rrlstling Of silks,
the picking of locks, and occasionally a
low whisper of surprise or disappoint-
ment. Then there was silence for full
minute--it seemed an hour to hcr-and
a soft iootstep approached the bed, and
the glare of the lantorn again fell uUon
her face. Through tho closed lids Of
her eyes she saw the light, but remained
calm and motionless in it's scrntinizinp
rays, fearful that tho least movement
might impcril her life. What n moment
of suspense Tho light was removed
from her face and sho felt that some ono
was leaning against tho bed. Still she
remained motionlcss, nor did she stir
when tho warm breath of tho burglar
famed her check. Not until his Gps
pressed ho~ forehead did she spring up
and half shrick:
"Who is i'll this room?"
"Hush T. responded voice in n
hoarsc whisper. while n rough Land was
laid on her shoulders: "Spcak uotbino
and fear nothing."
The next moment sho heard tho sound
of retrcating footsteps and tho creakinp
of shutter, then all was still apaino
Satisfied that she was alone she sprnno,
from tho bed and touched q lighted
match to tho burner, thon sank into n
chnir, completely prostrated with tho
danger through which sho had passed.
Recovering sho looked round to nscpr-
tain Of what she had been plundcrd.
ThL drawers were all in the utmost
confusion, but, strange to say, little or
nothing was missing. A cnsket OF Jew.
clry was open on the bureau but the
diamonds anu gold were all there. Be-
side the caskct she discovered n little
roll OF paper containing II ring which had
been given to her many years before,
and which had been in her possession
ever since. Half bcwiltlcretl Mt the sim
r1llar proceeding she was about 20 cast
Ihc paper from her when her eyo caught
the marks of npencil upon it. She care
fully opened 1t and read:
'This ring, which once was mine.
tells me i'll whose house l am. You
know | nm M outlaw-thc world knows
It, and l do not care to deny it: but.
fallen rs am, L cannot rob you, Maria,
Forgive me and God bless yon.
HENRY"
This explained all. Falling on her
knees, she prayed for him who had
written the scroll. And who was
"Hcnry?'
Ten years ago he loved that same
Maria, and he wonld have made her his
wlfc-for she had promised to be his
had he not taken to drink and gambling
and finally forged the namc of his ON
ployer, for which no was given n homo
in convict prison When he was
wnr!!.y % her love he gnvc her that ring.
and she had kept it in remembrance of
what he had been. This is the story
of the ring.
On the return Of the husband tho wife
related to him the adventure and showed
him the note; but he never ATTEMPTED
TO arrest the burglar. - CHic0qO T1I-
J,u1e.