Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1884-09-25

read came crowdlng INTO my mind,
when suddenly started up in betf,
wide awake enough, for | heard some
thing or some one climbing up the
ivy vine to my window. lay with
palpitsting heart and straining eyes,
listening to the horrible ghostly rust
ling which every moment sounded
nearer.
Suddenly q thought struck me,
and arose hastily, smoothing the
bed-clothes, as though the bed had
not been slept in.
II had just time to creep under the
bed when the window was shaken
open and somebody slipped in, 1t
was a man, aud listening intently |
heard him sigh YEARLY to himself, as
if he was tired ont. Then he got into
my bed, drew the clothes over him,
and in a few minutes / heard him
snoring. You can imagine how plea
SAINT felt and the scamp had my
money-bag under his pillow. too
What was to be done? thought Of
my home and the dear little wife now
perhaps dreaming of me, and the
thought of her gave me courage.
II determined to snatch at my mo-
ney and fight for it with the unseen
visitor to the death, ifneed be. /
was crawling from under the bed,
when l heard another sound, near
the door this time. In a minute the
latch was quietly lifted, the door was
gently pushed open, and l saw the
landlord glide into the room. Then
a hand holding a candle stole in at
the door-only a hand, but | knew
those quivering fingers well enough.
The man crept on tiptoe to the bed,
and leaning softly over the sleeper,
stabbed him to the heart. There was
one deep groan and all was ever.
The murderer took the money from
under the pillow and crept stealthily
to the door, glancing behind him as
though he was afraid the dead man
would get up and follow.
Shaking all over and with hair on
end | crawled from my hiding place,
CROPPED about for my clothes, and, af-
ter standing q moment dazed with
horror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite mine,
and could see the light under their
door, which was barely closed, pushed
it open yfdosFI1eqd. IN. The table
w;s i.their backs to me, 10 intent 6p9aa
| the mone e,, that | crept close to them
without being NJ, :.
Look, look, )" | EeaFdtase man whis-
per-"there is more than eirout-p 10
save our boy How they shinel
And all ours, wife-ours 7
mo, mine, murderer T. | shouted
with voice of thunder, and snatch
ing the bag from the woman's hand, |
fed back swiftly to the room where
the dead man lay.
"Opening the window, CROPPED
about with one hand for an ivy bough,
clinging somehow to the sill with the
other, and at last managed to scram-
BILE down, reaching the ground bruised,
shaken, breathess. AS | rested a
moment to get my breath, ] heard
} from the room above an awful cry
sung out in a woman's voice
} my boy, my boy, my only son !
II clambered over the gate which
Q led into the street. A MATCHBOX
! stood close by in the square, and
\ hurriedly told my story to the watch
4 man. He stared in horror, as wei
t he might, and wanted to fetch hi'
: mate; but / told him we we're more
v than a match for those we should
find at the inn, and he came with me
Q A frightened servant opened the dool
t to us, and / led the way to the room
g l had just quilted. The watchmaI
!, bent down and peered into the deac
if mans face.
/. "AhT he whispered, "it's as
o feared. It's their own son-the.
= didn't know he was home, and 80 the.
- mistook him for you, sir.
E, II felt myself turn queer and gid
g. dy for l knew the meaning Of tina
1t pitiful, My only son I
Is "And what Of the murderers The
d had not 30 much as tried to escape
1, and the door wasn't even barre
d against us. The woman lay moanin
L. on the floor; the man sat huddled U
ID in a chair by the bed. When we en-
g tered he held out his hands to be mar
If acled without uttering word, Whe
IN / told him how it happened that b
ID son had fallen a victim instead Of m,
ID he Just stared in my face and mad
q no sign that he heard the ghastl
a. tale.
T. "Well, sir, that's about all. Tt
ly mother, poor soul, died raying ma
%. the man was hanged at Tyburn; BIT
ne not another word did he speak fro
first to last, save once-and that WI
ID when the Judge passed sentence c
le him. Then he raised his head, an
e. with look in his eyes which | new
he forgot, he said
I'd "'An old, old man, my lord-m
ID only SON.
d. That's all, sir. The strange
story you ever heard? Well | dat
w say it is; but it is all true, evel
IT. word Of it; for I've got the papers
,st prove it, and if you'll be pleased
a come in and see EN-, you'll be W.
he come as flowers in May, that you wi
!, ] Not now2 Well, then, I'll bid VI
/ good-day, and thank you kindly
it, letting me talk to you, for it does 4
ro-' good to chat bit sometimes, that