Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-03-27
A MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE,
Two Girls Encounter with {
Treacherous Intruder.

wv 1nlS IiuCOuuU0T WIFI b
Treacherous Intruder.
My sister Julia was always very
courageous. In our youth the country
was wilder than now; but it might
truly be said of her that she was not
brought up in the woods to be scared
by 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 q
consequent clearness of perception in
all cases of supposed or real danger.
When was sixteen and Julia eight
cen, my father hired laborer named
Hans Schmidt, a Hessian, who had been
IN the British service, and who, at tho
close Of the war, had deserted from his
regiment. He was powerful man,
with heavy imbruted countenance;
and both Julia and myself were struck
Mt the very first with an intuitive dread
of him. The feeling in Julia hardly
took the character Of fear, but was
one rather of loathing; yet, If she could
have feared any thing, think it 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
ble in his glance, and from that mo-
ment she resolved that the villain
should be turned away. AS her wishes
and opinions were always of much
weight with my father, the latter gave
the Hessian his discharge. Soon after
this, Julia and were left alone in the
house, both our father and mother be-
ing absent on visit until the following
day. and we happened to be without q
female servant at the moment (for we
only kept one). So Julia and l had
been remarkably busy since early morn.
ing making various household arrange
ments with which we intended to sur
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 to the window.
81 DECLARE" she said, "the evening is
so pleasant that 1t is a pity to remain
indoors. don't feel bit sleepy, let's
20 down upon the lawn"
We descended the stairs. How little
imagined what was in Julia's heart
Harry Irving came up just as we
reached the lawn. He was only casual
ly passing the house. Julia engaged
him In conversation and he came anG
Joined u.s. My sister was more thar
usually lively and engaging.
"Where are Tom and Edgar, ant
WHIP" she asked, alluding to hi'
brothers.
"Oh," replied Harry, "they are ovel
at uncle's. They will be coming bacl
SOON"
His uncles farm was a mile off, ant
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 NEE
them. Then she returned to Harry ant
me, and called us aside from the door.
'Now, Mary, you need not be nerv
ous," she said. keep quiet and do no
speak above your breath. There is I
man under our bed-there-therer ant
she clapped her hands over my mouth
"a man under our bed, and the young
Irvings are going up to secure himl'
They all provided themselves with
heavy sticks; and then, guided by Ju
liza, assembled the stairs.
As TO myself, l could not follow them
but remained trembling and moaning
upon the doorstep. Never did expe
\ riehce greater sense of relief thai
when the assaulting party descended
-IIooking partly ashamed and partl,
amused, having found nothing to justif,
their sudden armament. Julia was il
an agony Of modification and wep
piteously, for, although but half con
vinced that her apprehension had beer
groundless, the idea that she, who ha,
never till now feared any thing, ha,
placed herself in light so ludicrous l,
the eyes of those young men, was in
supportable. The man, she said, mus
have taken the alarm and fed out o
the back door, for she could not hav
been 30 deceived. Our young friends
more In pity for her modification thai
from any belief in the reality of tn
night intruder, offered to remain in tn
vicinity till morning, but she would no
listen to the proposal, and they thu
took their departure.
was very sorry to see them go, an
watched their forms till they were on
of sight, for the affair of the evenin
had almost frightened me into Mysteries
Julia, however, at once rushed to tn
chamber and hinging herself on tn
bed, continued bitterly weeping. Sh
had exhibited herself in a characte
which she despised, and her man unde
the bed would be the talk of the neigh
borhood. I followed her, but neithe
of US could compose ourselves suff
ciently TO "leep