The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-11-26

lights began to twinkle, and Mr. Hether-
ington fastened up the staircase.
Mrs. Hairston shook her head as her
daughter finished this narration; and,
pointing to the closed window, said that
Eleanor must conquer this foolish nervous
ness, which, on former occasion, had
been the jest of every one. She had not
finished her homily, when Miss Hairston
suddenly pointed to the toiet-ta5le. A
folded note lay upon it, which was opened
and hastily read. 1t contained these
lines:
miss Hairston has had two dreams
her master, sleeping and waking, tells her
so. The moment approaches when he
will assert his mastery in spite of the OPP
position of her solemn lover. 1t is use
less TO tell her to beware"
IIetherington's proud lip was convulsed
for moment with wrath. His fiery eyes
burned like consuming brands and he
clutched his sword-hilt until the blade
shook in his furious grasp. That any
man should dare to thus treat his intended
bride!-that there should he IA mortal liv-
ing who won presume! Had the intruder
then stood before him. the death of one
or both of them would have ensned
Little was said by the young man, how
ever. His teeth were set close together,
as if to prevent his wrath from escapin.
and expcnding itself in weak words. He
bowed gravely to the two ladies, and re-
tired from the apartment Miss Hair
ston shared her mothers bed for the re-
mainder of the nj ght; and, on the next day
nothing was said of the occurrence. The
servants had not been around, and he
mystery was shared 10y the three persons
alone.
At last, the night appointed for th'
marriage of Helhrrington and Eleanor
arrived, and every preparation had been
completed. 1t was to be very private, a
the request of the bridegroom, and none
were to witness the ceremony but the
household, the officiating clergyman, and ii
few friends of the bride.
As the shades of night descended, and
the honr approached when he was to rr-
ceive from her mother the hand of the
beautiful and blushng girl, The young man
experienced. he knew not why, a strange
and ominoaS forebodng.
Having clad himself completely in hi>
splendid wedding toilet, and bestowed ii
last glance npon the snowy frilT at hi,
bosom, his lace cuffs, and elaborately pow
ldered hair, to- which his body servant had
Just given the finishing touch, Helhering
ron sat down at the window opening to-
ward the ocean, and leaning his head upon
his hand, gave himself up to reflection
which settled down into mood of un-
wouted gloom.
1t seemed to him that some terrible
crisis of his life was approaching &
dark and threatening cloud, veined with
Iurid lightning flashes, drew toward him
from the gloomy horizon, its serpent-likt
folds, which ere long would envelope him
and make him their victim He said af
terwards, that he heard Kissing voices il
the air, like the voices of those terrible
creatures of the imagination, the lan,tas--
those human serpents which foretell mis-
fortune and revei in the indications of ap
proaching woe The air seemed charged
with thick and sufocating vapor, ant
an odor made itself plainly discernable tt
the young man, like the loathsome smel
of field of blood and death. Are ther
| intimations in the air-in the winds, tn
unseen currents of the atmospheric
coming fate? Wise men have said so, ant
the testimony of thousands corroborate
this presence Of something ng-some shadoy
of an invisible object-.an object of hor
ror and despair.
The yonng man tried in vain to shak
! off The influence which had mastered him
he rose, walked up and down the apart
meni; turned toward the window agair
and looked forth AS he did so, II fain
red light glimmered for moment in on
of the rushy coves, then disappeared.
seemed like his life, and he turned agai
, from the window As he did so, his eye
fell upon the poniard which he had $
strangely gained possession of-the POM
dth vi 'HC SSeiSl iSSN ''"tiS'
. The drops of blood upon the blad
) seemed to hoil and hiss as he gazed; an
Y the antique handle formed strange an
Z diabolicaI profile which sneered at him.
"Bah !" he muttered fercely, tossin
r the weapon from him as he spoke.
"I'll not act The baby, and be affrigh
V ed by my shadow-by the foolish gosSi
1 Of an old woman. And as for this onlil
r ous weapon-ihis .fate Of the Hetherins
: tons-let the legend do lis worst! l
: scotch and kill. the foolish tale forever
# As he spoke, he caught the poniard /
. the blade, and in doing SO, inf cted Il sligl
S cut upon his finger.
d AN omeu!' he muttered, with scorl
u ful sneerS, but trembling he knew NJ
!, why; perhaps the blade is poisoned, All
II this is to be the fate of the last of Il
t HetheringtoLs! Perhaps this poniar
: will, which my grandfather, Geofrt
r Helheringlon, was killed hy his cous
t Richard, on the day Of his marriage I
y Elizabeth Hairston, of Gleuarvin, is
Z he H2Y death weapon, too! Who knows