New-York tribune., 1841-10-14
Z A K n A b r L ID G. f.
a NeW e9gort bp Eo,.
CHAPTER l.XII

for hours It would be hard to LAY, OF what ma
lure his reflections They mud no distinct
ness. and saving for some flashes and then,
no reference to his condition the train of cir
cumstauce- tv which it had been brought about -
The cracks IN the pavement cl ms cell the cnlnks
in the wall where stone ioined TO stone, the
Lars in the window, the iron riHg upon the floor
such things these, su5siding strangely into one
another and awakening indescrbaGIe kind Oi
interest and amusement, engrossed ais whole mind
and although al the bottom of his every though,
there was an uneasy SENSE of guilt. and dread OF
death, he felt no more than that vague conscious
ness of it, which Il sleeper has of pain 1t pur-
sues him through hi- dreams, gnaws al the heart
oi oil his fincied pleasures, robs the banquct OF
its taste, music Of is sweetness, makes happiness
itself unhappy, and yet is bodily sensation, but
Ii phantom without shupe, or form, OF visible pre-
sence; peryading every thing, but having exist
eucc; recognizable every where, but no where
seen or touched, with face face, until the
sleep is passed and waking agony returns
After lons time. the door of his cell opened
He looked up--saw the blind man cnlcr--and re-
lapsed into his former position.
Guided by his breathing, the visitcr advanced TO
where he sat-and stopping beside him, and
stretching out his hand to assure himself tina. he
was right, renamed, for good space, silent.
This is bad Rudgc. This Is bad y he said at
length.
,.The prisoner shufiled with his feet upon the
ground in t1rnins his body from him. but made no
other answer.
How were you taken - he asked "And
where! You never told me more than half your
secret. No matter; know it now. How was ii,
and where, ch ?" he asked again, coming still
nearer 10 hm.
"At Chigwe" said the other
"At Chgwell How came YOU there ?"
Because | went there to avoid the man
stumbled on" he answered. g Because was
chased and driven, by him and Fate. Because
was urged to go there, by something stronger than
my own will. When | found him watching in the
house he used to live in, light al er night, knew
could escape him-never! and when
heard the Bell
He shivercd mut,ered that il was very cold;
paced quickly up and down the narrow cell; and
sitting down ngan tell into hi. old posture.
- You were SAYING, sal the blind man, after
another pause thil when yon heard Tue Bell
:" Let it be-. will you ?" he retor,ed IN Il hurried
voice. 'll hangs there yet.
The blind man turned wis,tu and inquieiive
face toward him, but he continued to speak, with
out noticing him.
'' went to Chjgw,l IN search Of the mob |
have been 50 hunted and bc,e Ly this man, thst |
knew my only hope Of safety lay in ioinns them.
They had gone on before; followed them, whea
ii lett oil
q" When what lett oil '''
e" The Bell They had qu,el the place.
hoped tha: some OF them might br ,'I lingering
among the ruins, AND was searc aiug tol them when
| heard hr drew IL long breath, and wiped hiS
forehead with hi> sleeve" ms Voice.
Saving what 30
No matte, what ! don't know was then
~ ,le foo, of the urlct. where | did the
Ay.' said the blind man, nodding hi, head
with perfect composurc, - | understand.
q climbed the stair. or 50 much OF it as was
lett; meaning hide till he had gone. But he
heard me and followed almost AS soon as set
foot upon the ashes"
You might have hidden in the wall and thrown
him down, or stabbed him, said the blind man ~
Might Between thai man and mo- was
one who led him on saw il. though he did no,
--and raised above above his head a bloody hand
1t was in the room above that he and | stood glar
ing ut each other ou the night of the murder, and
before he fell he raised his hand like that and
fixed his eyes on me. | knew the chase would
end there
You have Il strong fancy said the blind man,
Strengthen yours with blood, and sec what !,
will conc to-
He groaned and rocked himself, and looking up
for the first time, said in 4 low hollow voice:
Eisht-and''wenty YEARS Eishrand-iwen;y
yeslsi He has never changed in all iha; time.
never grown older nor altered in the least degree
He has been before me in the dark light. and in
the broad sunny day; in the twilight. the moon
light the sunlight, the ligh, OF ire. and lamp. and
candle and in the deepest gloom Always the
same In COMPANY. IN solitude land on ship
board; sometimes leaving alone for ,nosths
and sometimes always with me. have seen him.
at sea. come gliding il the dead Of nigh; along the
bright reflection OF the moon in the calm water;
and have seen him. on quayS and market-pIaces.
with his hand uphtted towering. the centre OF
busy crowd unconscious OF the terrible form that
had its silent stand among them. Fancy Are.
YOU real Am Are these iron letters. riveied
on me by the smiths hammer, or are they iancics
| can shat;er AZ blow
The blind mas listened in silence.
Fancy Do fancy tina, ! killed HIN Do
fancy thst when left the chamber where he lay,
saw the face OF man pceping from dark door.
who plainly showed me by MS fearful looks that he
suspected Whist had done Do remember that
/ spoke fsirly to him-;ha, drew nearer--nearet
yet-wi,h the no, knife in my sleeve Do fancy
iha,hs died Did he s;sgger back into the angle
ot the wall into which had hemmed him. and
bleeding inwardly, stand, no, fall, corpse before
me Did see him. as see YOU now, erect and
,n his teet-but dead.
The blind man, who knew that he had risen
mo,ioped him to sit down again upon MS bejstead
but he took no notice OF the gesture.
:" II was then thought. fox the first time, OF
f..t.nins the murder upon him. L; was then
,3r..sed him in nv clothes, and dragged him down
the back stairs to tAe piece of water Do | re
member listening to The bubbles that csme rising