Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-07-08

revery. 81 All the heavens warning me
against the deed, he cried, 81 viii seek NUT
doch and bEave the worst-but where, where IS
he to be found" and he looked again at the let
ter. {. 1t thc Pine Crog, beyond SdiRt S''hh'@
cave.' !" Saint Swithin's cavc!' he murmureo
to himself, then started as if some Sudden thought
had flashed across his brain. +'The tme-the
hour yes, yes. my star is proPitiousI'o-h'sh'
will seek the page of futurity, It's the eve OF
Hallowmas, and according to the legend OF the
cave the mortal who is bold enough to speak the
charm shall find three answers to three questlons
i'll remember rightly it's thus runs the legend
tHe.sho flares sit in Saint swlthn's chair
When the night bag wings the troubled ar
Questions three il they speak me spell,
Fle may ask, and she must Il H.
Yes. by the fiends Of darkness I will deFe to
know my fate. It's already evening-the clouds
are full ofstorm-no prying fool VIII be abroad
to mark my movements, and unseen may seek
the counsel of the bag If he good, then shall
/ be happy and life will be worth living for-lf
evil, why then know the worst, and better to
be Wondering in my grave than TO live upon the
rack of dread uncertaipty-to feel the harry OF
crime for ever gnawipg at my heart and know
that am at the mercy of villain. ies-this
moment will I,seek her counsel" and he rushed
from the apartment, pale haggard and desperate.
The rain fell in torrents The heavens were
wrapped in the sheetcd lghtnings, and the artil-
iery Of heayep rolled louder and louder as fthun-
derng their vengeance against him who sought 10
penetrate the secrets of fntnrity.
The cave of Saint Sw thin stood npon The borders
of broad and deep highland lake, form OF basal
tic pillars, throus which the waters entered TO some
depth, and when chafed by tempest. used 10 make
the hollow arches and rif,cd crevices. echo with
mournfu and terrific sound That night the waters
lsshed and roared as If the demons OF 6esrucl'on
were waging upon their 'bosoms Win dh'-
Guilty lid Allan gain the cave by narrow pathway,
which winding around the base of the mountain, leo
to small opening which conducted into lis heart
Deep and impene.rable darkness reigned throughout,
save when the lightning for moment rradated It's
walls and showed the waves heavIng and swelling,
tipped with their feat berry foam In one corner OF
the cave was a rude seat, formed BY nature out OF
the solid rock like large Gothic chair, and, ac-
cordng TO the legend which from time immemorlal
had existed among the inhabitants. had been once
the seat of the Saint Swithin, TO whom nnumerable
virtues as well as evils were attributed but none
greater than the one contained in the episode quoted
in eur story. To this Allan directed his trembling
footsteps, and seating himself in ii, with beating
heart and trembling lips pronounced the following
"By the sacred blood of Saint swhin bold,
When his naked foot traced the midnight void,
I call thee fiend to appear this might,
And to me reveal thy promised plight"
Strange and unesrthly voices rose upon the Vast,
the lind swept through the cavern with terrific iu-
brlQnt Hdn1e rose 1TofH Writer ~
OF a tall and hldeous looking woman stood before
him. Ia her hang she held the branch OF pine
her hair was crizzed and fell in thick masses over
her naked shoulders and bosom, displaying on!ya
skeleton form covered with shriveed skin-her
eyes cleaned with an unearthy brightness, and her
dep and scpuchral voice fell on the ear OF Allan
like the knell of DEATH while she said "Bshold
Trns to the spell thou hast spoke this night come
10 reveal my promised light
."Ah! is il 500" exclaimed Allan, sam then IN
the presence the Night Hag2'
Eyes! bold mortal, thou hast severed the seal
that bound thy future destiny. Speak ny wishes
and will answer thee.
"Then.be It so,' cried Allan, desperation taking
the place Of terror in his heat "Tell rie, shall
ever holi the means 10 silence my enemy, Murdoch
Mclver!'
"Thou sbaitf", exclaimed the bag.
'And in two days!'
..lu Two days. replied she.
'.And BY whist means ~ asked Allan
..By blood - screarned the 6cnd, and loud
laugh burst from her bosom
sHorribe horrible =! and by whom snail 'nai
blood be she'd" cried Allan.
81 cannot tel-three answers hast thou aHeaay
,had--thc spell Is broken!' loud clap OF thunder
burst in the heavens-,he cave shook to is iounda-
zion, As f crumbling into pieces-aad all again was
darkness j.
For sexeral minutes Allan was unconscious OF
W hat had taken place. and when he began graouaiy
to recover his senses and the doubtful issue OF MS
mission flashed upon his mind, he wanid have gwen
worlds, had be possessed them, not 10 have Pryed
into The book of futnriiy. Slowly and with trem.
bling steps he regained hi, aonts nanslon-bnt
sleep was de MED 10 him-his rilIsiny 10 his poor
cousin hung upon his heart and filed him win re-
morse, apd he resolved that IN the morning ne
should solicit for bis Release. He did so, his suit
was fortunate and hef,se: The noon, Donald was ut
Liberty.
Thu, day. according to custom. l.ady Alice was
seated in the family hall TO receive her nrmetons
,enan.ry who came to pay their yearly rents, In a
corner apart from The Others, sat Allan Apparently
perusing book with intense inIerest,.bui Bis mind
vas otherwise oceupied. The mysterious answers
Of the iend the dread or exposure should he not ne
able to meet the demands Of Murdoch, and the
cravings Of guilty conscience all busy with
in him. Tenant after Tenant arrived, each produce
ing his stipulated sum TO the Lady Alice. The dark
eye of Allan might he seen occasionally to glance
70 the piles Of ged aud silver which haped The ia
BILE, then quickly return to the page again. "Ah ]"
thought he shut little part Of that would suffice 10
ss. nv mind at rest" and device was soon a, work
in his guilty bosom
Before the business of the dav was closed, the
evening had come. sad Lady Alice. after bidding
her tenaniry adieu, Ssho were now ENJOYING her
hospitality and once more receiving Donald to hfr
bosom. whom in her heart, ahe neser fairy
considered entity, ordered the books and papers
l., be deposited in the iron chest, which we
have before alluded to. and where was kept the
family plae then collecting the money into ZENITH
err bag she carried il with her to hr chamber ipr
better security till she was able next mernns 10
count It correctly.
To a late hour the guests kept together, and
b.