The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-18

Among the "reminiscencesr Of an "old
Bohemian" Is one which refers TO q
sleepless night passed by him on one &C.
cssion at n little wsyside hos telry. lying
short distance back from the main road
leading to Freiberg.
He was hungry and weary with a long
days travel, and in spite of the most
earnest entreaties on the part of his faith
full old servant Joseph-who declared
from his knowledge OF the Bohemian
character that they would both most as
suredly be murdered in their sleep if
they rested there-he determined 10 ap-
ply at once for such shelter and &C.
commodstion as the place would afford.
The host, full-blOoded Czech, appeared
a. the door, and, in answer to their in.
inquiries, assured them that nothing
should be wanting to their comfort.
He had ample room, and goodly store
of provisions, and the servant was accord
ingly ordered to uuyoke. Nothing, how.
ever, would induce the latter to sleep
away from the horses-he would save
them at any cost.
Giving free vent to bis fears, and the
dreadful forebodings of evil which
weighed upon him, he succeeded, before
retiring for the night, in filling the mind
of his master with some of his own ap-
prehensions, and with so much effect
that the latter found it at east impossible
to sleep.
After some hours of watching and sus.
pense, he dropped at length into an IN
easy slumber, which, short as it seemed,
was disturbed by the most frightful and
harassing dreams.
Suddenly a fit of coughing aroused
him, and be fancied he heard a gentle
creaking noise outside his door. He
started up in bed, and listened intently.
The stealthy tread of retreatiDg footsteps
along the narrow passage, was distinctly
| audible.
He sprang from the bed, crept as
noiselessly as possible to the door, and
cautiously opening it, peered out into the
gloom.
AT the further end of the passage
| dark figure was just Observable making
its way silently through sn entrance at
the back into the courtyard which led to
the stable
The thought that poor Joseph vas
about TO be murdered by their tresch-
erous host-for it was undoubtedly
he-filled the master with horror and
alarm.
Forgetting TO take either pistol or
dagger, he rushed Immediately at full
speed along the passage and out into the
yard, intent on seeking TO save, at all
hazards, the life of his servant There
was the murderer, snTe enough, Just
entering the door which he silently
opened.
Would the master be in timer He fol-
lowed as cautiously and rapidly as posi-
BILE, and On approaching more closely
tiger-like, as if preparing to spring upon
| his victim.
As quick as thought, the master
threw himself forward and clutcted
the intending murderer firmly by the
throat.
At the same moment he felt an iron
grip upon his own. Ii became at once q
struggle for life or death, and the master
stroye hard to make his own grasp the
tighter.
He dared not shout, for no breath
could be spared for the purpose. The
deadly pressure of his fingers, however,
wrung out grooming cry from the
other, striving in vain TO wriggle from
his grasp, and to his intense surprise
and relief, he discovered in them the
mufied accents of poor Joseph him
self.
The latter, unable to sleep, had been
impelled, by his eyer-incressing fears for
masters safety, TO make way to the room
where he slept, and had endeavored TO re.
turn as quietly as possible to the stable
when he had assured himself that every
thing was still all right.
An interchange of explanations fol-
lowed, and the suspense and anxiety of
the night thus came TO an end. The host,
of whom so much evil was suspected,
turned out, on further acquaintance, 20
be one of the most honest and worthy
men that had ever lived.