Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-10-07

more uncomfortably, and the wind tha
roared without swept down the chimney
whirling the dust and ashes into her eyes
and all over the dingy, uncarpeted floor
A cross look bestowed upon the intruder.
was the only acknowledgement of theii
presence, and Eva, sick at heart, turned a.
way.
"You see" said her husband. as he closed
the door, ''that in few minutes your own
apartment will be ready, and to that, if YOU
wish, you can at any time retreat" A
hoarse call from without, a hastv wave of
the hand, and he was gone.
Resuming her seat in the 3ounging chair.
she gazed with mixture ofdisgust and ter
ror around the room of which she now sole
occupant. Only stool, few rude benches
table covered with half emptied glasses,
dark framed, greenish mirror, and dirty
rag carpet, constituted its furniture. But
the warm blaze upon the hearth before her
presented more cheerful object ofcontem-
platon. Into the chimney's flaming ca
vern the great trunk of a maple had been
thrown, and already its burning heart glow
ed with the intensity of molten iron, while
bright tongues of flame licked up the sap
that yet bubbled from lis extremities, or ran
like serpents through the cinders and under
the curling bark. Silently marvelling at
the infatuation which could induce the
most fastidious and luxurious of men to ex-
change the elegancies of home for the IA
tigue of a solitary hunt, and the discomiorts
of the country through which they had
passed, she sank back, and with her cheek
resting upon her hand, her small feet eros
sed upon the hearth, abandoned herself to
the vague reverie that so often and so de-
liciously follows unwonted fatigue of mind
or body.
AT first her train of thought, if thought
1t could be called, was rather cheerful than
otherwise: but as the storm without redou-
bled in violence, and the flames roared up
the chimney yet louder, and with fearful
hollow sound, her fancies gradually took
more sombre hue, and nervous excitement
which she felt beyond control, banished
the languid calm that had so pleasantly
succeeded her terror. With veiled ewes
and throbbing heart, she reclned, ndul-
ging in that species of self torture in which
we all, perhaps, at times find an unaccoun-
table fascination.
Like one who in darkness watches the
she lay, with terrible scenes, each fast fol-
lowing its predecessor, fitting beneath the
shadow of her closed lids. In Imagination,
already she heard the approaching foot of
her murderer, his step upon the threshold,
his wary tread over the uncarpeted floor,
his pause beside her, his very breath, as it
played among the light curlsupon her tenn
pies. With faint shrek she started up;
for latch was indeed raised, and door
the outer door-fung open. Ere she had
resumed her seat, two rough backwoodmen
noisely entered the room. Placing flask
and glasses upon the table, they seated
themselves beside it.
Her eye rested for a moment upon two
ofthe most repulsive countenance that she
had ever beheld, and then was instantly
avertcd. a few minutes more and she be-
came conscious that their glances were
stealthily turned upon herself. Then the
loud voices We're suddenly lowered and
they conversed only in whispers.
A thousand horrible suspicious flashed a.
cross her mind. Strange that in house
of this character no accommodations could
be provided for their servants or the trusty
hounds. To what den of murder had they
been taken. How difficult in these inter-
minable forests for the strong arm ofiusice
to reach an offender-how easy ofperform
ance the most lawless deed. She glanced
at the travelling cases, the elegant dressing
boxes now piled in corner of the parlor,
and shuddered at the temptation their con-
tents might present to the necessitous OF
vicious. And all this time the younger OF
the two men sat gazed stealthily upon hel
face.
If she started when his heavy hand fell
upon the table, he glanced significantly al
his companion if she moved, he leaned
forward and watched her with hardy and
impcrtinent curiosity. Once or twice he
rose, and, on pretence of wishing to warm
himself at the fire, passed so near her as t.
brush her arm, and then, standing with hi
back turned to the blaze, gazed at her will
a half suppressed smile playing around hi
| lips.
Unable to disguise her agitation, she has
tily arose and approaching window tool
f; up volume that lay beside it. 1t was tn
| ssPirate's Own Book" and she opened at
vilanous wood cut, distorted scene Q
e murder and violence, that caused her t
e close the volume and precipitately turn a
+ way. She retreated to her bed room, bu
e the dismal gusts of smoke and wind tha
a pulled from the fireplace drove her thenc
t in despair. A small, rudely sketched ma
e of the country through which they wei
|, travelling caught her eye as she again GRO
!, sed the parlor, and to this she turned, hol
D ing to drive away, by otherwise occupyiu
( her mind, the terrible fancies that bes'
j her. Without difficulty she traced the
l. route by the little towns they had pass
until she paused at portion of the COUNT
ID evidently that in which they were no
d, detained, a region commonly known
n "The Shades of Death" A faint exclam
,e tion escaped her. A very trifing circuI
,e stance will suffice at certain moments