The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-04-23
A
MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTER.

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miles of the metropolis. This, my first
evening there, was stiflingly warm,
and / slipped out for breath of air,
leaving my friend busy with some
household duty.
went as far as the gate and leaned
over it, musing on the difference be-
tween her life, so full of loving inter
ests, and my, as yet solitary one. AS
I meditated, half enviously, flash Of
lightning, harbinger of the much need
ed shower, frightened the road before
lIe and illumined the path, dark with
overhanging trees, on the opposite
side.
1t disclosed to my view the SLOUGH
ing form of a man slowly moving
along and with his face turned di-
rectly toward me. 1 shivered slightly
with fear-yet, it was fear, though
was ashamed of it moment after
ward. ..#
a man returning from work, /
thought; and yet, why did he not look
straight ahead instead of toward this
house, unless he was attracted by the
cheerfully lighted windows?
felt strangely uneasy and peered
into the darkness, vainly endeayoring
to see it he were still there. No
more friendly flashes came, and as the
rain began to patter down, was fain
to return unsatisfied to the house.
Why was I suspicious?
| did not know. 1t was not that
the mans face frightened me, for the
glimpse had been so momentary that
If the cOuntenance were evil, or that
of the most benign philanthropist, L
could not tell.
l wanted to ask my friend If there
had been any burglars in the village
of late; but 1 feared to needlessly
alarm her, and so refrained from men
tioning the incident; but while T con-
vcrsed on ordinary topics, the form of
that man persistently required to my
mental vision.
TO say to Mr.. Adams, my friends hus-
band: "Have you any firearms in the
house," TO which he replied that he
always kept a revolver under his pill
low. "A very excellent precaution,'' L
explained, with relief. And the mat
ter dropped; but afterward the
thought came to my mind that while
the revolver might be a good means
of defense to him and his wife up
stairs, it would scarcely benefit me,
who slept in the little spare room
down stairs, just off the parlor.
The windows of this room, I trem-
blingly remembered, were easily ac-
ccssible from the piazza which extend
ed round that side Of the house. and
the fastenings on the shutters and
sashes were very frail little arrange
ments.
did not believe in presentiments,
but wondered how and why this bur
glar question, thing which had never
troubled me before, should haunt me
so.
Still bordering the matter, l fol-
lowed my friend into the kitchen,
Where she wanted to get pitcher of
water. On the table lay knife that
had been worn and ground away till
the top was sharp point. She often,
nlsed it for peeling vegetables. and that
1T had a keen edge, I knew, for had
5helped her that day. ..
~ she turned for the water I quick
Iy picked up the knife, and slipped it
UP my sleeve, urged to do so by the
instinct of self-defense, not of any
1 flushed guiltily when my friend
faced NE, for was unaccustomed to
any underhand or uldersleeve move
lnents, and fancied she must know I
had done something sly. However, she
did not suspect anything, and a few
minutes after went as far as the door
sOf my room with me, kissed me good
night, and retired.
Under my pillow I slipped the knife
meant should act as my protector.
Then. smiling at my coWardice, dis
missed the subject from my mind,
Icisurelj' undressed. and was soon fast
asleep. r.
How long / slept I do not know. but
n ray of tight fell across my eyelids,
and in all instant was wide awake.
| did not move a muscle, but all my
previous fears rushed across me-
The light from burglars lantern,
reasoned my fright. A faint flash of
lightning, whispered my cooler sense.
VIGOROUSLY alert, listened.
A slight rustling and rafting fell on
my ear. Some one was at the window
near the head of the bed, Of that I
was certain.
Without moving my head, I turned
my eyes round till 7 got a view Of the
"luuOWs LutIl Saw WILL uOEIOT, CudC Al
was being slowly raised BY some di-
.abolical means, the fellow must have
broken OR loOsened the fastenings.
was frozen with horror In a few
seconds the opening would be wide
enough to admit the ruffian I dare
not scream; for before help could
come, even supposing that my cry
should awaken those above me, the
brute would have time to silence me,
perhaps forever.
Then remembered the knife. A ray
of hope filled my terrified heart.
] Slipped my hand-oh, so stealthily
and silently--under my pillow, at the
same time trying to maintain regu-
lar breathing to indicate slumber
Never did soldier clasp his hand on
his faithful sword with more implicit
trust than I did the little bone handle
of my humble blade.
None too soon did I grasp the wea-
pom, for now appeared Il big head COW
cred with a thick shock of dark hair.
Two glaring eyes rolled fiercely round.
closed my eyes moment in terror,
and remained rigid. Then I opened
thnn S1ipht1v and NY tho i, !.