The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-11-15

'ho uSsO VI W. bFiici f
In the first place. l was confident tha
the plunge of NV feet would have awaken
cd such an animal. Its impulse thcr
would he to bound away But no move
mcnt apparent tc the ear had iakci
place
On the other hand d
There was two married ladies stavint
at the house. One Of them had a smal
baby Her scrvantmaid had been en-
joined to put thut precious iufapt to bed
| had heard this through my openot
door Mt the moment when supper wa
served. d.
Before taking supter, had accident
ally caught Il glimpse of the servant git
en route to her mstress's apartmcut.anC
her physiognomy caused me to ,hink hcl
stupid, laundering lass. Now, how
easily might mistake have occurred
The stupidity or forgcifulncss of the mo
meut might have led her to place the lit
tie baby in the wrong bed. Its mamma
slept in the chamber next to mine--how
facile, then, to open the wrong door.
Certainly. | had not felt anything o
the shape or substance of a baby. But
in that horrible moment my mind had
been completely unhingcd; and could
now say what had fet2
IhougM beats the electric telegraph
These reflections occurred in less time
that take to narrate them.
Ny irst vague horror bad given ava,
to a feeling of calm fright. BY this time
my body was benumbcd, for in ones shirt
the cold strikes in with effect
lluddiing myself together-.and still
Impressed by the supcrnatural--I re
sumed my chain of analysis Thus, fol
some minutcs-but you shall not be trou
blcd with more detail After turning
over every horrible probability, anc
glancing in the dark towards the bee
(as | believcd / went into the commit
tee (all alone) on ways and mcans-wha,
to do
Should awaken the landladv2 B,
no means; even though the circumstance,
warranted it, / wound not. After tho
first horror, as | have tod you cain
fright succeeded and felt that fear
fu' as was the position-I would have tt
brave it alone.
No ! | would light the gas and-look
Slowly | quilted my chalr-bu, Il,
this moment Il strange, uuearthly, hiss
ing sound came from the bed 1t might
hc the kissing of a serpent-aud Mr.
Wilson was. had heard. an amateur
collector, Of such creatures the sup
pressed brcuthiug of ~ dog. 1t was 4
sound as though blood were letting
Saint IIartlolomcw, flaycd to death al
thou vast h9w my heart stood up a,
| thought Of icscning passages in Fraul;
ostcia Sinking with the palsy, us il
seemed, tottercd to my chair
Bat something must be done Screw
ing up my courage to the sticking point
and murmuring II prayer, I again rose
found my trowscrs. aud searched for my
box Of congrevcs-whieh. as a smoker,
invariably carry. 1t was barren not a
sllgle match remained What shoald
| do? To cross the spacious landing
and to reach the kitchen. was all early )
thought The fire would perhaps be
smouldering | might percliunce obtain
what | required Mrs. Wilson's match
cs | could not hope to find | knew not
their locality. But an oil newspaper
which had put into the drawer loaned
me, as men,ioncd-would do Cuuld
not | carry it, blazing from the kitchen
cmbcrs ? Yes, | could, but what then
The glare of the light would arouse the
slccpers aud then The second mar
ricd lad $ was, | had heard Mrs. " ilscr
say, fearful Of fire; and felt persuaded
that, after the manners of others WHOM
| know, she slept with her door ajar
felt for my cane--tho one which
had brought from Hongomont. Dos
peratc thought Of strikcn the coyerlct
until Mot oLjcct moved But suppose i,
were an infant All ? l could pass N,
cane gently over ;Ac surfacc and do uc
harm
| approached tho bed. aud did so
Ttcu, starting back. my summoned re,
olutiun left nae knew. INT that H.,
objoct was still there With a bcaiin.
heart | dressed myself as ! could and
cautiously feeling my way to the sitting
room, lay down on the sofa. and drew my
coat over me.
For time ] was unable to sleep
my nerves were too much strain
cd at length l dropped off into easy
slumbcr.
The clock Of an adjacent church struck
fonr. | awoke. Morning had come;
golden aud silver rays were flashing
through the crevices of the shutters.
arose-wiih a perfect memory of las,
nights occurrences myself, aud
treasured by the day. proceeded to my
chamber. t........... I'D
was not,at ease when | entered. /
stopped on the threshold but at last
SLOWLY J went in. With bated breath
approached the bed. OH shall ever
erase :fom memory that revelation
Ghoul vampire monsters misshapen,
and creatures charged to freeze the
blood No marvel that | had thought
of yel -.-..-- q
My terror had been acutely excited !;
my nerves awfully startled; and | dis.
covered the cause at the bottom of the
bed, in The shape of foot bottle p'
Mrs Wilson, pray for the future inform
your guests when you give then bed
fellow, which bad conscience or active
imagination can injure into frighlful
and mysterious m onster. a.f 81.
EE- Napoleon at St Helena, all at
once interrupted himself in the recital
Of his reverscs, and said-"Alas how
the best calculated plaus may be thwart-