The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-02

"'l'll do it myself said he; 'for the
girl and the ostler will be abed'
"Then he called his wife ard told her
to bring me candle, which she did. She
was COARSE ooking, care-worn woman,
and l noticed whom she showed me to
my room that her hand was shaking and
her voice sounded thick as she bade me
a civil Good night
"My bedroom was long low room
with queer old furniture, quaint carved
chairs -and great tour-post bedstead
which seemed as big as hearse. There
was no lock to the door, and the bolts
were rusty, so could only put the latch
down. l thought of putting a chair
against it, but that seemed childish and
no protection after all. The night WAS
wet and windy and the sky black as ink.
TRY as would l couldn't go to sleep,
and there l lay listening to the ghostly
tapping Of the ivy leaves against the
window, and thinking of the evil look in
the landlords eyes, aud all the horrid
stories 1 had ever read came crowding
into my mind, when suddenly started
up in bed, wide awake enough, for
heard something or some one climbing
up the ivy to my window I.lay with
palpitating feart and straining eyes, lis
tening to the horrible ghostly rustling
which everv moment sounded nearer
Suddenly thought struck me, and |
arose, hastily smoothing the bed clothes
q rrh ho hod hoA ole in,
| had Just time to creep under the bed
when the window was shaken open and
somebody softly slipped in. 1t was a
man, aud, listening intently, l heard him
sigh YEARLY to himself, as if he were
tired out. Then he got into my bed,
drew the clothes over him, and in a few
minutes / heard him snoring. You can
imagine how pleasant / felt, and The
scamp had nv money bag under his pi-
low, too! What was to be done2 i
thought of nay happy home and the dear
little wife now perhaps dreaming of me
and the thought Of her gave me coura ge.
| determined to snatch at my money and
fight for it with the unseen visitor to the
death, if need be. l was crawling from
under the bed when I heard another
sound, nearing the door this time. In a
minute the latch was quietly lifted, the
door gently pushed open, and l saw the
landlord glide into the room. Then
hand holding candle stole in at the
door-only hand, but / knew those
quivering fingers we'll enough. The man
crept on tiptce to the bed and. leaning
softlr over the sleeper, stabbed him to
the heart. There was one deep groan
and all was over. The murderer drew
the money from under the pillow and
crept stealthily to the door, glancing be-
hind him as though he feared the dead
man would get up and follow him.
Shaking all over and with hair on end
| crawled from my hiding-place, groped
about the room for my clothes. and, after
standing a moment, d,zed with horror,
followed the guilty couple, Their room
was almost opposite mine, and / could
see the light under their door, which was
barely closed. i pusued it open and
peeped in. The table faced the door,
and there they stood with their backs at
me, so intent upon the money that
crept close to them without being heard
"'Look, look heard the man whis
per, there Is more than enough to save
onr hoy. How they shine! Aud all
ours, wie-ours!
"No, mine, murderer" / shouted with
a voice of thunder and, snatchiEg the
bag from his nerveles grasp, dashed
the light from the woman's hand and fed
back swiftly TO the room where the dead
man lay.
Opening the window I CROPPED about
with one hand for an ivy hough, cliGg.
ing somehow to the sill with the other.
and at last managed to scramble down
reaching the ground bruised, shaken,
breathless. As l rested a moment to
get my breath, heard from the room
above an awful cry sung out in wo-
mans voice:
"My boy, my boy, my only son!"
IL clambered over the gate which led
into the street A watch-box stood
close by in the square, and hurriediy
told my story to the watchGan He
stared in horror, as we'll he might, and
wanted to fetch his mate; but told him
We were more than match for those we
should find at the inn, so he came with
me. A frightened servant opened the
dnor to us, and | led the way to the
room l had jus; qritted. The watch.
man bent down and reered into the dead
mans face.
".Ah,' he whispered, 'it's as feared
It's their own son-they didn't know he
was home, and 80 they mistook him for
you, sir
81 felt myself turn queer and giddy,
for | knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, NV only son"
Sand what of the murderers ? They
had not so much as tried 10 escape and
the door wasn't even barred against US.
The woman Law moaning on the floor
the an sat huddled up in chair by the
bed When we entered he held out his
hands to he manacIed without utterin9 a
word. When told him how it happen
ed, that his son had fallen victim in
stead of me, he just stared in nay face
and made nc sign that he heard the
ghastly tale
swell, sir, that's about all. The moth
er, poor soul, died raving mad, and the
man was hanged at Tyburn; but not an
other word did he speak from first to
last, save once-and that was when the
Judge passed sentence on him. Then
he raised his head and, with look in
his eyes which l can never forget, be
said:
"'An old, old man, my lord-my only
son!'
"That's all, sir. The strangest you
ever heard Well, dare say it is; but
it's all true, every word of il; for I've
got the papers to prove it, and if you'll
be pleased to come in and see 'em, you'll
he welcome as flowers in May, that you
will. not now2 Well, then, I'll bid
you good day, and thank you kindly for
letting me talk to you, for 1t does me
good to chat bit sometimes, that it do I!
Good day, sir, aud a pleasant walk to
you'll