Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-08

ment nv mind had been completely unni"seu'
and could now say what had ieitE
1HeuqLt beats the electric telegraph. lhese
reflections occurred in less time than take u mar
rate them. ca,
NV first vague horror had given way to ieei-
inc Of calm fright. BY this time my BODY was
benumbed, for in ones shirt the cold strikes III
with effect.
HuddIing myself together-and still impressed
by the supernatural resumed my chain OF anai,
ysis Thus. for some mlnutes,--bu you snaii
not be troubled with more detail. After turning
over every horrible probability, and glanGing IN
the dark towards the bed Gas believed went
into the committee Gall alone) on ways aud means
what to do!
Should awaken the landlady by no means
even though the circumstances warranted iI' !
would not After the first horror, as nave toio
YOU, calm fright succeeded and ieit 'nat-
fearful as was the positlon-l would nave 10 ofa'e
| it alone.
| No, would light the gas, and-look
SIowiv ! omitted nv chair,-but at this moment
stranue. unearthly, kissing sound came from the
! bed It might be the kissing OF serpent, (and
Mr.. Wilson was, had heard, an amateur collec
Tor of such creatures or the suppressed breathing
| of doc. 1t was sound as though blood were
letting! Saint Bartholomew, flayed to death as
thou vast how my hair stood up as thought OF
sickeninc passares in FrankeStein! Shaking
with the palsy, as it seemed, tottered to my
chair.
But something must be done! Screwlng up
nv courage to the sticking point, and murmuring
PRAYER, again rose,-found my trousers ana
searched for my box of congreves (Which, as a
smoker. invariably carry.) 1t was barren! no.
single match remained What should l 40
To cross the spacious landing, and to reach 'he
kitchen, was an early thought. The fire would
perhaps be smouldering; might perchance OBTAIN
what | required. Mrs. Wilson's matches could
not hope to find knew not their locality. bu'
an old newspaper (Which had put into the draw,
er loaned me, as mentioned,) would do. Couo
not carry it, blazing, from the kitchen embers
Yes. | conid but what then? The glare OF the
lioht would arouse the sleepers; and then-1he
second married lady was. heard Mrs. Wilson
saw fearful of fire and felt persuaded that, al
Ter the manner of others whom know, she slep'
with her door ajar -;
7 felt for nv cane-the one which had brought
from Houcoumont. Desperate, thought OF strl-
king the coyerlet until that object moved. Bu'
sunnose il ,cere an infant All! could pass my
cane gently over the surface and do no harm.
approached the bed, and did So Then, start.
ipp back, my summoned resolution lett me
knew, | felt, that the object was still there; !
With a beating heart, | dressed myself as well as
could and cautiously feeling my way, to the Sill
tinqroom, lay down on the sofa, and drew my
coat over me. o,
For time | was unable to sleep; my nerves
were too much strained at length dropped OIL
into an uneasy slumber.
The clock of an adjacent church struck foul
| awoke. Morning had come; golden and SILVER
rays were flashing through the crevlces OF the
shutters. arose--wth perfect memory OF
last nights occurrences-shook myself and (re-
assured by the day. proceeded to my chamber.
| was not at ease when entered, stopped
IN the Threshold, but at last slowly went In
With bated breath approached the bed. oh
shall ever erase from memory that revelation -!
Ghoul! vampirel monsters mlsshapen, and
creatures charged to freeze the blood! NO mar
vel that had thought of ye!
My terror had been acuteiy excited my nerves
+ awfuly startled and | discovered the cause a
the bottom of the bed, in the shape of 'too- bot
u" Mrs. Wilson, pray for the future inform
your guests when you give them bedtellow
which bad conscience or active imagination car
coriure into frightful and mysterious monster.