News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-08-14
A Travellers Story.

A Travellers Story.
1t happened one time that in travel
ing across tract of country where l
had business got benighted, and about
s O'clock, myself and my horse being
tired and pretty nearly worn out, |
drew rein before the door of comfort
able looking farmhouse, and dismount-
ing knocked at the door with the handle
of my whip. 1t was opened ty A little
girl, who stood in the doorway holding
a candle in one hand and keeping back
her thick curly hair with the other,
while she looked at me half shy, as if
demanding my business.
My dear answered, to that ques-
tioning look, lis there any one in the
house besides yourselfr'
Yes there is, she answered; father
and mother and the boys"
''Well, ask your father to come here
a moment; l want to speak to him."
She retreated, and entered the room
behind her, and in about half & minute
the farmer came out. | made known
my business, explained that L had been
overtaken by the night, that my desti-
nation was several miles distant, and
that both my horse and myself were
unfit for further travelling till we had
procured food and rest.
With the hospitality common to all
farmers, especially American ones, my
host for the night bade me welcome,
conducted me into large kitchen with
a floor SO white that you involuntariiy
pitied the hands and arms that had
brought it into such a state of cleanli-
ness, and bade me seat myself before
the blazing fire while supper was being
got ready; and then, not forgetting my
horse he told one of the 'boys" to
feed him and take him to the stable.
After supper. as l felt unusually
tired. asked to be shown the place
where | was to pass the night, and was
conducted to a comfortable room with
a downy bed. white counterpane and
curtains. upon the second floor by my
host himself who, after bidding me l
''good night left the candle with me
and departed, closing the door after
him.
Tired and sleepy as was hurriedly
undressed, went to bed, and in five
minutes was soundly sleeping. A grind
ing, grating sound awoke meat what
time | don't know-but the moon.
which did not rise till very late, was
fully up, its bright rays streaming in
through the window, from which | had
purposely looped back the curtain that
the first streak of daylight might wake
me. as | was anxious to proceed upon
my way. There, sitting full in the
moonlight, was a man with long carv-
ing knife in his hand which he was
leisurely sharpening upon piece OF
grindstone, and which l now perceived
made the sound that had awakened
me- 1 thought surely 1 was dreaming;
or, if l was awake, what in the name of
heaven meant what | saw! And still
the man leisurely ground the blade of
the knife, and in a perfect stupor OF
amazement | lay perfectly quiet with
wide open eyes looking at him.
In few minutes he stopped grind
ing, and passing his finger carefully
along the edge of the knife he shook
his head knowingly, to intimate to him
self that he had brought the blade to
a proper degree of sharpness. My
blood ran cold; kind of panic seized
me when | saw that action, and the
cool, calculating smile with which he
held the knife up between him and the
full moonlight, looking at it with the
| air of a connoisseur. Then he leisurely
got up, stepped over to the table where
/ | left the candlestick and began look
| ing around for something's match.
| conjectured.
While his back was turned the idea
of slipping from the bed and boiling
out at the door suggested itself to me,
but before | had time to act upon IT
the match was found, and holding the
candle in one hand. the match in the
other. and the handle of the knife be-
tween his long, wolfish teeth. he came
over toward the bed Even then |
might have attempted to escape by
rushing at him, wrenching the knife
from between his teeth, and so getting
the advantage, but that | was not
capable of SO overcome was | by the
surprise and horror of my situation,
and through all such an Unsuitable
curiosity possessed me to know what
he was about to do, for as yet could
only conjecture that his purpose was
to murder me.
He struck the match against tine
wall and lit the candle, and then TOOK
the knife from between his teeth ana
took firm hold of the handle in his
hand. | felt faint and sick when
fully realized then that my last chance
. of escape was gone He bent over me,
flashed the light full upon my eyes,
and, perceiving that | was awake ex
elaiined with a wild laugh;
l .sBal hal Awake. eh? Hal ha
! Glad of it, sir. meant to wake you
If you hadn't done it yoursei1. con
slider it eowardly to kill sleeping
man."
And he laughed at me again, ano
neered into my face with his red, hot
burning eyes.
Ioould see at once he was mad, ano
7 saw that the horror of my situation
was increased. At first / had though
him a robber-I hardly know what
thought-but now l knew that he wa
a mailman. From his own words, too
: knew that it was his intention to mur
dar mo and | felt that little short of I
miracle could save me-
After he had taken good look
me he sat down upon the bed, and T.
NV intense horror began slowly run
n;no his fingers with great care alon
the edge of the knife-evidently ne ha'
no intention of suffering by the exper
ment-and then he said:
81 don't intend to kill you just now