Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-01-13
FOILED.

Thore is kind of half way cond
lion, in which we may be said 10 /
neither awake nor asleep, consciou
nor unconscious-asleep enough /
dream, and awake enough to kno,
we dream. At such times we hea
sounds, as ii were, with double sens
"a sense OF reality and a sense o
fancy.
such was my condition on the ey,
OF an event that will ever be memor
abe in my history. | had gone I,
spend few days with an uncle. Iiy
irg in the Western part of Pennsyl
yania. l had reached his DWELLING
late in the day. after long. fatigunp
ride, and had retired to rest at an
early hour. l had fallen asleep quick
W and for time had slept soundiv +;
out had at length reached that inter-
mediate state, between the world of
dreams and the world of reality,
winch 1 have attempted to describe.
1t was then that my waking sense
heard the noise of some one slowly and
gently pushing open the door Of INV
apartment and gliding with a soft and
'teaIthy tread, aud my sleeping fancy
showed me huge panther creeping
cautiously over the dry leaves and
through the slightly rustling bushes.
70 pouhce upon deer drinking at
clear and beautiful spring.
Suddenly the panther made his
spring and struck the deer, and at the
same instant was startled into clear
cohsciou ness by hearing sound as
of some person in The room striking
his foot against chair. Isprunes /
IN bed aud looked around in h-.- tpe-.
ment. Where was I24 >,eNvceive,
remember. Tho windeM 10 recollect
where / was aud what had happened
TO bring me there. 1t was a painful
effort, for my whole system seemed
snervated by strange dread, and the
came out of me in beads.
| believe there are few things moro
trying to the nerves than just such a
situation of body and condition of
mind, and do not think ever suf-
Tered more from fearful uncertainty
than during the few moments re-
manned in that torturing perplexity.
AT length, like a ray of sunlight
struggling through the obscuring
mists, caught the remembrance of
leaving home; and then, in az instant,
all the incidents of the day flushed
upon my mind, and knew myself to
be under the roof of my uncle's dwell
ing and in an apartment where |
had never slept before. So far all
was well; but what were those sounds
that had 80 strangely mingled with
my waking and sleeping perceptions,
and had at last aroused me with such
a peculiar sensation of impending
evil? We're they mere fancies? or
had some midnight robber or assassin
stole into my room and concealed him.
self near my bed, or unlcr it, ready
to execute his wicked design at the
first safe opportunitys
The very thought of this latter made
me shutldler, and was tempted to call
aloud for help; and only the fear of
being ridiculed for my temerity. in
case nothing sinister should be dis
covered, deferred me. What should
do? Should / get out of bed and
search the apartment in the darS (for
unfortunately had no means of slrk-
ing ligh) and thus risk putting my
self in the power of the unknown or
should | lie down and pretend 10
sleep, but keep all my senses on the
alert' decided upon the latter
course; and affecting to yawn, in a
drowsy, stupid manner, threw my
self back upon the pillow, and in Il
short time pretended TO snore.
There it was, as lay with my eyes
wide open aud my hearing on the
stretch. | saw the figure of aman,
slowly and cautiously rise up from
the foot of my bed, between me and
the window, and there stand for some
seconds, as if listening aud consider
ing. was frightened, ! confess.
Cold chills went over me, and my hair
seemed to stand on end. What did il
mean, unless robbery or murder, and
perhaps both1 And what should | do?
Keep quiet and watch him, till certain
Of his evil intentions? or spring up
and give the alarm q, once? and per-
haps &c: shot, stabbed. or tIrottIcd for
doing so, He was rather yer medium
size, aud somewhat under, and had
reason to believe was no match fol
hrm in physical strength.
While was thus considering saw
him make u slight movement and
caught the glimmer of light just il
Tins TO close my eyes before it stream
ed upon my face from | dark lantern
was evidently not tile person b.