Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-05-02
CHAPTER Ill.
Continued.

CHAPTER III.
Continued.
remember also Elsie's grave reply
TO the effect that it was. very, very
wrong to kill people, because, as she
ulogically added, you would get hanged
for it. The killing business was there
fore set aside, the consequences being
too awful to contemplate, and we de-
cided instead that we would run away
tomorrow when the clock struck IL.
Where we should run to was not de-
cided; why we should take our flight in
broad daylight was not explained; how
we should exist was not considered.
We We're placidly satisfied that the
mere fact of running away when the
clock struck IL would be crushing
blow to the hard-hearted stepmother
and from that moment Elsie's life and
mine would be life Of happiness.
On that night it was that my little
sweetheart's cries pierced my mind
while l was sleeping, and l uncon'
sciously rose with the intention of go.
ing to her rescue. 1t happened That
those about me We're less watchful
than usual, and thus l succeeded in
creeping unobserved to the top of our
house, where a short ladder reaching
to a trap door in the roof enabled me
TO reach a similar door in the adJoin-
ing house, which l found unlocked.
It was dark night and my enterprise
was full of dangers, but sleep-walkers
are like cats and can walk safely on
the edge of a precipice. l succeeded
in raising the door in the roof and in
total darkness felt my way down the
stairs, guided doubtless by the little
maids cries for help and mercy. Dash
ing into the room in which the torture
was being inflicted, l sprang upon the
cruel woman and tore at her and beat
he so that she in turn, probably more
frightened than hurt, screamed loudly
for assistance. BY this time my own
people We're aroused, and, obtaining
entrance into the adjoining house, bore
NE away to my room.
When l awoke in the morning l had
no knowledge or recollection of what
had occurred, and l gathered the par.
ticulars from those who were interest.
ed in them. My bedroom door was
found open and not in bed; the two
trap doors in the roof were open, pro.
claiming the means by which I left
one house and obtained entrance to the
other; Elsie drew vivid pictures of my
actions when rushed in her bedroom
and sprang upon her stepmother; and
my own people supplied the rest. The
adventure made great impression and
was long remembered and spoken of,
and from the day of its occurrence l
was more carefully watched at home.
When l asked the good woman l
married to become my wife, related
this incident of my child-life to her.
She made light of it, and think 1t was
chiefly through her encouragement that
the adventure was known in my house
hold. My daughter, it appears, de-
scribed it to Mile. Rosalie as a divert.
ing incident, and the woman Of multi
farious accomplishments treasured it
In her mind. During manhood my som.
nambuliStic propcnsities occasionally
broke out, but they were always of the
most harmless kind, and grew to re.
gard them as of small moment. Short.
ly, however, after the engagement Of
Eunice and Harry l was greatly dis
turbed by an incident to which could
attach no satisfactory explanation. My
wife told me that she woke in the night
and I was not by her side. She was
about to rise and seek me, when en-.
tered the room, undressed myself and
lay down in bed, being all the time in
a sound sleep.
81 have no remembrance" said, "of
going anywhere or doing anything"
"You never have" remarked my wife.
"It is very annoying observed. 81
wish TO Heaven they had thrown a
bucket of cold water over me when l
was a child. 1t might have cured me-"
"It might have killed you," said my
wife, gravely. "It is too late now to
kEeL OfcT IL, hlCudIu.
81 should not mind" I said, eff
could remember where 60 to, or what
do; but it is all blank"
We spoke of other matters, and went
down to breakfast. After the meal
my wife and l strolled in the garden
and spent an idle hour there. My
daughter and Mile Rosalic were in the
grounds, and Samuel Fleetwood made
his appearance to give me report OF
some task had set him to do. When
he came toward me / was conversing
with Mile. Eosalie, my wife and Eu.
nice being at q little distance, and
left my daughters governess to jolr
him. Certainly my mood was pc
euliar one on this morning, for the
short conversation l had with Mile
Rosalle left an uncomfortable impres
sion upon me. And yet nothing wa!
spoken by her or me to account for it
we had conversed on ordinary matters
but there was in her manner q confid
ing tenderness-I can think W no Other
words in which to describe it-whicb
was new and strange to ME.
After hearing Fleetwood's report
referred to something l had observed
as he approached me and Mile. Rosalie
She had nodded to him, with pleas