The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-07-08
miscellaneous
MY MIDNIGHT PERIL.

| hA IhAbAAoll1 LhlLs
The night of the 18th of October
1S-, shall l ever forget its pitch
darkness, the roar of its autumna
wind through the lonely forest, an
the incessant down-pour of the rain
This comes of short cuts" | nut
tered petulantly to myself, as l plod
ed along, keeping close to the trunk
of the trees to avoid the ravine
through which l could hear the tut
bulent stream, forty or fifty feet be
low. Nv blood ran cold as l though
what might be the possible conse
quence of a misstep or move in tn
wrong direction. Why had l no
been contented to keep in the RICH
FoadF
Hold on! was that light, or are III,
| eyes playing me false?
| stopped, holding on to the low re
sinous boughs of hemlock that grew
on the edge of the bank, for it actual,
seemed that the wind would seize III,
bodily and hurl me down the precipi
tous descent.
1t was a light-thank Providence
it was light, and no igniS ,fdtUuS tt
lure me on to destruction and death
| "Hailoo -o-on'
My voice rang through the wood
like clarion. plunged on through
tangled veins, dense briars and rock J
banks, until gradually nearing,
perceive figure wrapped in an OF
cloth cape, or cloak carry ing lantern
AS the dim light fell upon his face
almost recoiled, Would not solitude
in the woods be preferable to the com
partnership of this withered old man
But it was too late to recede now.
What's wanting?" he snarled, with
a peculiar motion of his lips thai
seemed to leave his yellow teeth al
bare.
Il am lost in the woods; can yor
| direct me to R. StationP"
"Yes, R Station is twelve miles
from here"
Twelve milesy'
stood aghast.
Can you tell me OF any shelter
could obtain for the night?"
mo"
"Where are you going?"
ITO Drew's, down by the maple
swamp"
SIS it a tavern"
NO.
Would they take me for the night
l could pay them WELL"
His eyes gleamedi the yellow stumps
stood revealed once more.
u guess so; folks do stop there"
"Is it far from hereg'
Not very; about half mile"
"Then make haste and let US reach
it. ! am drenehed to the skim
We plodded on, my companion
more than keeping pace with me-
Presently we left the erge of the ra
vine, entered what seemed like a
trackless woods, and kept straight OIL
until the lights cleaned f1itfully
through the wet foliage.
1t was a ruinous old place, with the
windows all drawn to one side, as il
| the foundation had settled, and the
pillars of rude porch nearly Fotted
| away.
A woman answered my fellow travel
er's knock, My companion whispered
a word or two to her, and she turned
to me with smooth, voluble words Of
welcome.
"Where is Isaacs" demanded my
guide,
He has not come in yet"
sat down on wooden bench be
side the fire, and ate few mouthfuls
of bread.
Il should like to retire as soon a,
possible" said l, for my WEAKNESS
was excessive.
Certainly" The woman started
up with alacrity.
where are you going to put him.?
asked my guide,
up Chamber"
Put him in Isaao's room"
No"
Its the most comfortable"
II tell you no.
But here interrupted the whisper
ed colloquy.
Il am not particular-I don't CARE
where you lodge me, only make
haste"
Sol was conducted up steep ladder
that stood in the corner of the room
into an apartment ceiled with slopine
beams and ventilated by one SINAI
window, where cot bedstead crowd
ed close against the board partition
and pine table, with two or tire,
chairs, formed the sole attempts a
| furniture.
The woman set the light-an old OF
lamp-on the table.
Anything more can get you, sir?'
Nothing, thank you"
Il hope you'll sleep well, sir. Wher
shall call your"
AT four o'clock in the morning, j.
| you;please. / must walk over to R
Station in time for the seven O'Clock
express"
"I'll be sure to call you, SIR"
She Withdrew, leaving me alone il
the gloomy little apartment. l sal
down and looked around me with ne
very agreeable sensation.
81 will sit down and write to Alice,
/ thought, that will soothe my nerves
and quiet me, perhaps"
] descended the ladder. The fire
still glowed redly on the hearth be
meath; my companion and the woman
sat beside it talking in a low tone
and third person sat at the tabl,
eating; short, stout, villainous-look
ing man, in red flannel shirt anc
muddy trousers.
/ asked for writing materials and re
turned to my room to write to III!
wife.
MY darling Alice"
Ipaused and laid down my pen as
concluded the words, half smiling t.
think what she would say, could sh
know of my strange quarters.
Not till both sheets were covered
did lay aside my pen and prepar
for slumber. AS folded my paper
happened to glance toward the couch
Wa it the CLEAN of a human ey
observing me through the board par
tition, or was it but my own fancy
There was crack there, but onl
blank darkness beyond, yet l coul,
have sworn that something ha,
sparkled balefully at me.
took out my watch-it was on
o'clock. 1t was scarcely worth Will
to undress for three hours sleep.
! would lie down in my clothes an