Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-17
che Story Trllrr.
CHARMING A MANIAC.
A Fearful Adventure.

A Fearful Adventure.
Many years since, while travelling
through the State of Georgia, / chanced
to pass over portion of country, which,
with the exception of few houses,
was entirely desolate. Riding over
the waste, night unexpectedly came
on, compelling me to look around for
some habitation. Not very far distant
I saw a small house, in which
determined, if possible, to obtain
shelter for the night. Arriving at the
lonely tenement, I knocked, and the
door was opened by a fne-looking
man, who, with Southern hospitality
bade me "show my saddle" Accord
ingly, I dismounted, and having seen
my horse stabbed, I was led into the
house; there I found mlddle-aged
lady, who, my host informed me,
was his wife. After partaking of a
substantial supper, we began to
converse about local matters, etc.,
during the course of which the lady
rose, and bidding US goodnight,
sought her room. While departing,
she removed small woolen cap from
her head, when discovered that a
portion of her hair was white. The
host, noticing my apparent surprise,
informed me that his wife's hair
was prematurely gray, owing to an
adventure which she once experienced.
Having expressed desire to hear it,
he narrated the following incident,
adding that he had never left the house
in the night since it's occurrence:
"The time when the adventure
occurred was nearly six months since.
My business, which was that OF a
watchman in the adjacent village,
rendered it necessary for me to be
absent four or FIVE nights in the week,
leaving my wife alone. At first she
was somewhat afraid during my
absence, and I therefore procured for
her small pistol. At length, becom-
ing somewhat bolder, she laid the
weapon aside, and finally placed it in
an old chest among some other articles.
This chest was kept on the lower
floor.
"a few months elapsed in this
manner, and with the exception of a
few benighted travellers, no one called
in nv absence. I was in the habit of
coming home about 4 or 5 o'clock in
morning, or about daybreak. 1 would
remain during the day, and at night
return to my duties.
"One night, about an hour after my
departure, a man came to the house
and demanded admission. 1t was our
custom to welcome all such applicants.
Accordingly, he was admitted, and on
alluding to his hunger, food was
furnished him. While eating, my wife
had an opportunity Of noticing him.
He was a tall, thin man, with dark
hair and a singular appearance gener-
ally. He seemed somewhat uneasy,
and worked his hand convulsively.
This did not alarm her as she attribu-
ted it to feeling of diffidence.
CATER he had finished his meal, he
sat for a moment, then springing
suddenly to his feet, desired my wife
show him a room if she had one to
spare. Taking light she led, him up
stairs. AS be closed the door she
noticed that his eyes cleaned with a
strange lustre; but thinking this was
owing to the light of the candle, she
was not uneasy but bidding him
goodnight, dismissed the subject from
further consideration. About an hour
later she retired. Her room was
adjoining the one occupied by the
stranger.
"These were the only apartments on
the upper floor. Directly beneath the
windows of the two rooms was a
wooden shed, from the roof of which
access could be gained to either of the
apartments. Wishing to make her
situation as secure as possible, 1 had
made small iron clasp which, when
placed in a certain position, would
resist any external attempt to open
the window. All the doors were
strongly secured by iron bolts. These
precautions may appear unnecessary
but as the house is in a lonely spot,
they were requisite for our proper
protection.
"That night she fastened all the
doors, but forgot the clasp, thus leav-
ing the window unguarded. Having
fallen asleep, she dreamed that she
saw man standing on the shed, and
a moment after climb into the roo m
She thought he approached her, and
then drawing a knife from its sheath,
was about to strike, when she awoke.
"The moon had now risen, and was
shining into the room, making every
object visible. She then discovered
the position of the clasp, and was
about to rise to fasten it, when she
heard noise as of someone walking
in the shed. Terror kept her from
moving.
"Meanwhile, the sound came nearer,
until at length it paused directly
beneath her window She knew that
it was not caused by an animal from
the heavy, though subdued tramp.
While her eyes were riveted upon the