Year: 1860

"A Midnight Adventure.


Females often possess presence OF mind and
tthe power of self control under circumstances
of emminent peril, which seem almost for
4eign to their nature and beyond the endurance
sof delicate physical organization. A
striking instance of self command, by lady
whose fears must have been powerfully
excited, and whose life of affluence had
probably never before given her nerves any
sseverer test than is incident to the vexations
of domestic cares, is given in Chambers
journal of recent date. I'VE copy the
adventure promising by way of explanation,
that the lady was the daughter of rector
residing in quietsEnglsh country village,
'and was upon the eve of:marriage:


The wedding day was to be on the morrow
-of that on which our adventure happened.
Grand preparations were ade.for the we'd
ding; and the rector s fine old plate, and the
costly gifts of the bride, were discussed with
pleasure at the Hare and Hounds, in the pres
'ence of some strangers who had come down
to prize fight which had taken place in the
'neighborhood.


Thatnight Adelaide, who occupied a sepa-
rate room from that of her sister, sat up
'late-very long after all the household had
retired to rest. She had long interview
with her father and had been reading a
schapter to which he had directed attention,
iand since had packed up her jewels, etc.


The leader replied that they should be
She was consequently still dressed
when the church clock toledmidnigHt AS
it ceased, she heard owsnoise like that of
"a file; she listened but could distinguish
nothing clearly. 1t might have been made
fby some of the servants still about or per-
haps it was only the cracking of the odtrees.
She heard nothing but the -sighing of the
winter winds for many minutes afterwards.
House breakers were mere myths in primitive
Thydon, and the bride elect, without fear
resumed her occupation. She was gazing
at a glittering set Of diamonds, ,destined,to be
worn at the wedding, when her'bed-room
door opened. She turned, looked up, and
'beheld a man with black mask holding a
pistol in his hand, standing before her.


She did not scream, for her first thought
was for her father, who slept in the next
room and to whom any sudden alarm might
'be death, for he was old, feeble and suffering
from head complaint. She confronted the
robber boldly and addressed him in a whisper:
"4ou are come she said," to robus. Spare
yourself the awful guilt of murder. My
father sleeps next to my room, and to be
startled from his sleep would kill him.
Make no noise, beg of you"


The fellow was astonished, and bowed
"We won't make any noise," he replied
suffenly, "Ifyou give US everything quietly"


Adelaide drew back and let him take her
jewels-not without'a pang, for they were
precious e-gifts-remafking at the time
that two more masked ruffians stood at the
half-opened door. As he took the jewecase
and watch from the table, and demanded her
purse she asked him if he intended to go into
her fathers room. She received a surly
affirmative: "He wasn't going to run a risk
and leave half the tin behindP' She pro-
posed instantly that she should go herself,
saying 81 will bring you what ever you
wish and you may guard me >thfther and
kill me if play false to YOU" The fellow
consulted his comrades, and after, short
parley, agreed to the proposal and with
pistol pointed at her head, the dauntless girl
crossed the passage, and entered the rectors
room. Very gently she stole across the cham
ber, and removing his purse, watch and keys
from the desk, gave them up to the robbers
who stood at the door. The old man slept
peacefully and calmly, thus guarded by his
child, who softly shut the door, and demanded
if the robbers were yet satisfied.


when they had got the show of plate spread
out below, but that they couldn't let her out
of sight and that she must go with them
In compliance with this mandate, she fol-
lowed them down stairs to the dining room,
where a splendid wedding broadcast had
been laid, to save trouble and hurry on the
morrow. To her surprise, the. e..fellows-eight
in number when assembled-seated thena-
selves and prepared to make good meal:
They ordered her to get them out wine, and
to cut her own wedding cake for them and
then, seated at the head of the table, she was
compelled to preside at the extraordinary
revel.


They ate and drank, laughed and joked,
and Adelaide, quick of ear and eye, had thus
time to study, in her quiet way, the figures
and voices of the whole set


When the repast was finished, and the
plate was transferred to sack, they prepar-
ed to depart, whispering together, and glan-
cling at the young lady. For the first time
Adelaide's courage gave way, and she trem-
bled; but it was not consultation against
her; they told her they did not wish to harm
her-that she was "jolly wench, regular
game" and they wouldn't hurt her, but that
she must swear not to give an alarm till nine
or ten next day when they should be off all
safe. To this she was of course obliged to
assent, and then they all insisted on shaking
hands with her. She noticed, during this
parting ceremony, that one of the rnfians
had only three fingers on the left hand


Alone in the despoiled room, Adelaide,
faint and exhausted, awaited the first CLEAN
of daylight; then as the robbers did not
return, she stole up to her room, undressed,
and fell into a disturbed slumber The con-
sternation of the family next morning might
be imagined; and Adelaide's story was still
more astounding than the fact of the rob-
berry itself. Police were sent for from Lon
don, and they, guided by Adelaides lucid
description of her midnight guests, actually
succeeded in capturing every one of the
gang, whom the young lady had no difficult
ty in identifying and swearing to, the "three-
Ion hoi fha cln 10, fho