The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-04-10
4 MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE.
Two. Girls Encounter with a
Treacherous Intruder.

NY sister Julia was always very
courageous. In our youth the country
was wilder than now; but it might
truly he said of her that she was not
brought up in the woods to be scared
10y an, owl. She would traverse the
most unfrequented paths, wondering at
my timidity.
There was nothing masculine, how
ever; in Julia's appearance: she was
simply sweet, joyous child. with an
absence OF fear in her character and a
consequent clcarncss of perception in
ali cases of supposed or real danger
When | was sixteen ana Julia eight
cen, my father hired laborcr named
Hans Schmidt. Hessian. who had been
in the British service, and who, at the
close of the war, had deserted from his
regiment. lie was a powerful man,
with a heavy imbruted countenance;
and both Julia and myself were struck
at the very first with an intuitive dread
of him The feeling in Julia. hardly
took the character of fear. but was
one ratherof loathing; yet, If she could
have feared amy thing. | think il would
have been that man, for She had an in
tuitive perception that he was demon
like, even beyond what his looks dem
onstrated. One evening she read of a
horrible murder that thrilled our blood.
and upon turning her eyes from, the
paper they encountered those of Hans
Schmidt. There was something terri
BILE in his glance, and from that mo-
nent she resolved that the villain
should be turned away. As her wishes
and opinions We're always of mnch
weight with my father. the latter gave
Il l. IL 4.
this Julia and were left alone in the
house, both our father and mother he
Ing absent on IA visit until the foll pving
day. and we happened T. I've without u
female servant at the moment for we
only kept one}. So Julia and / had
been remarkably busy since early morn
ing making var7ous household Arrange
Inents with which we intended 70 siIr-
prise and please the old people upon
their return. and being unusually weary
proceeded to our chamber at an early
! hour in the evening. We had partially
disrobed ourselves when Julia turned
hastily t. the window
Il declare she said. the evening il
50 pheasant that il il pity - remain
indoors. / don't feel a hit sleepy: lets
go down upon the lawn"
We descended the stairs. How little I
imagined what was in Julia'S heart.
Harry Irving came up Just as we
reached the lawn. He was only casual
" passing the house. Julia engaged
him in conversation and he came and
Joined us My sister was more than
usually lively and engaging.
Where are Tom and Edgar. and
WHIP" she asked, alluding to his
brothers.
"Oh," replied Harry, they are over
at uncle's. They will be coming back
soon"
His uncle's farm was n mile off, and
his own house was about half that dis
tance. The three young men soon ap-
peared upon the road; and, to my sur
prise, Julia arose and proceeded to meet
them. Then she returned To Harry and
me, and called us aside from the door.
''Now. Mary, you need not be nerv-
GUS she said. Keep quiet and do not
speak above Your breath. There is a
man under our d-there-thcre- and
she clapped her hands over my mouth
Ga man under our bed. and the young
Irvings are going up TO secure him.
They all provided themselves with
heavy sticks; and then, guided by Ju-
lia, assembled the stairs
AS to myself, could not follow them.
but remained trembling and moaning
upon the doorstep. Never did | expe-
rience a greater sense of relief than
when the assaulting party descended,
looking partly ashamed and partly
amused, having found nothing to justify
their sudden armament. Julia was in
an agony of modification and wept
| piteously, for, although but half con-
vinced that her apprehension had been
| groundless, the idea that she. who had
| never till now feared any thing, had
placed herself in light so ludicrous in
/ the eyes of those young men, was in
supportable. The man, she said, must
! have taken the alarm and fed out o.
the back door, for she could not hav.
been so deceived. Our young friends
more in pity for her modification thar
from any belief in the reality of TIT
| night intruder, offered to remain in IN,
| vicinity till morning, but she would no
listen to the proposal, and they thu
took their departure.
| was very sorry to see them 60, an
watched their forms till they were ou
of sight, for the affair of the evenin
had almost frightened me into mysteries
Julia. however, at once rushed to tn
chamber. and fiinging herself on tn
bed. continued bitterly weeping. Sh
had exhibited herself in n charactc
which she despiscd. and her man unds
| thc bed would be the talk of the neigl
borhood. ] followed her, but neithe
of Us could compose ourselves sufi
ciently TO sieeo
The clock on tic mantel piece struc
eleven; and then tick, tick, tick"
went on for the next drea-y hour. Jul
at length ceased weeping and lay
thought, only an occasional sigh betra.
ing her wakefulness. Again the cloc
struck. ''ting. ting, ting" but it had NJ
reached the final stroke when Juli
springing lightly from the bed, fur
herself upon an immense chest at u
! further end of the room,