Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-05
NJ | S C Il j. l. A N Y
From the New York Knickerbockcr.
T II e q Z A CK vE 7 L
BY DICKENS.

For the full understanding of the accompanying
extract, it is necessary TO PREMISE that, ON cold
winter evening, young London surgeon was seat
ed by his cheerful fire. listening to the wind beat
ing the rain against the windows, and bowling
dismally down the chimney. His musings were
interrupted by visit from singularly tall female,
mufed IN a black shawl, as if for the purpose OF
conceament, and her face shrouded by thick black
VEIL After prolonged interview the young sur
geon gathers, that the next morning. precisely at
nine, his services will be indispensable on behalf of
patient who will then, and not till then, be under
the charge OF his visitor. 81 may be mad to ask
your aid, SIT, says the woman, weeping bitterly !;
''but night after night, through the long, dreary
hours OF watching and weeping, the thought has
ever been present to my mind, and although even |
see the hopelessness of human assistance availing
him, the bare thought of laying him in his grave
without it, makes my blood run cold!" just be-
fore the hour appointed the surgeon at the de-
sgnated place, desoate, detached dwelling in one
of the suburbs of the great city AS ne knocked at
the door, how whisper as OF steathy conversation
became audible. Presently the door was opened
by tall llavored man, with black hair, and face
pale and haggard as dead mans. in answer To
the surgeons question, ''Am in time? 2" the man
replied, Too soon. sir; but if you'll step in here
sir, you won't be detained five minutes, / assure
you" The surgeon walks in, the door is closed
!
ceS our scene.
! 1t was little cold room with no other furniture
| than two deal chairs. and table of the same mate
rial. A handful of fire unguaIded by any fender
was burning In the CRATE, which brought out the
damp, if served no more comfortable purpose ; fol
the unwholesome moisture was stealing down the
walls in long slug like tracks. The window, which
was broken and patched in many places, looked in
TO small piece of ground almost covered with wa
/ Nj 10 Il a.,
house or without. The young surgeon sat down by
the place to await the result of his first profes
slonal visit.
He had not remained in this position many min
ues, when the noise of some approaching vehicle
struck his ear. It stopped, the street door was o
pened (; a low talking succeeded, accompanied with
shuflllng noise of footsteps along the passage or
the stairs, as if two or three men were carrying
some heavy body to the room above.-The creak
ing Of the stairs few seconds afterwards announc
ed that the new corners, having completed the
task, whatever it was, were leaving the house,
The door again closed, and the former silence
was restored.
Another five minutes elapsed and the surpeof
had just resolved to explore the house, in search o
some one to whom he might make his GRAND know
when the room door opened, and his last night
vlsiter, dressed in exactly the same manner, will
the veil lowered as before. motioned him TO advance
L Ho olnSuldI helgul vi HeI lOIlI, COupeo WIN IN
circumstances Of her not speaking, caused the ide
pass across the brain for an instant that it nigh
be man disguised in woman'S attire The hys
terc sobs which issued from beneath the veil. AM
the convulsive attitude Of grief of the whole figure
however, at once exposed the absurdity Of the sus
picion, and he hastily followed.
The woman led the way up stairs TO the from
room, and paused at The door TO let him enter first
II was scantily furnished with an old deal box,
few chairs, and tent bedstead without hangings q
crossroads, which was covered with a~patch-wor
Counterpart. The dim light admitted through III
curtain which he had noticed from the outside. rer
dered the objects in the room so ndistnct, and cor
tnuncated TO all Of them 50 uniform hue, that h
did not at first perceive the object on whichhis ey
at once rested, when the woman rushed frantcail
past him, and flung herself upon her knees at til
bedside.
Stretched upon the bed, closely enveloped in