The Empire County argus., 1856-09-06

trembling from head to toot l could remember
nothny Of what hal started me so; only the vague
IDEA remained th-t something evil and fearful was
very near lie.
Sitting up in bed AMI putting my hair from my
eyes, listened inten y. Nothing stirred; but by
an by | began to b. ns 'e of pale, phosphoreS-
cent light ut the foot Oh y BID drew the clothes
ar lnd me- and kept my - txe1 steadily upon 1t.
1t grew brighter aid min. el with b.uish glare.
An by and by u dusA! spo, n the very center OF
the flame began to take tne i.rn OF q human coun-
tenince. One by one the teat res came out distinct
~. At last the work was coL pete and the eyes
stared iul upon me-
1t was the face Of man some forty years Of age
nothing but the lace and head. Long and abuu-
diut ir hung in curS around the pale, one Cheeks
the ol ehead was high and broad but strangely mark
ell by IL single heavy turrow; the mouth and chin
were covered with iron grey beard and moustacle
all the eyes were really beautiful, large and meial-
caoly, and Of beautiful violet color
A strange thrIu ran over me, as gazed-not ex-
acy mere fear, but neXplicable awe, that seemed
to parayze me, from head to foot. would not yield
to it, however, and summoning up all my failing
courage, l asked boldly:
Who are v. H. and what do you want? "
A demoniac fitted over the pale face, and
tn n the head was thrown suddenly backW ards. and
every feature became earluly convused The heavy
belrl was made still whittier by the fakes OF foam
fr,n the halparted lips, the sharp white teeth were
Clolcneu, ana the DGautllul NOiCl eyes, Stldlcu duu
up.urned now looked lurid and red with blood.
sat dumb with horror, awaiting the end
Three times that face changed before my eyes in
tae same way; now beautiful an angels, ana now
as hideous as fends. Then the blue light began to
fade away by degrees, till nothing was lett but faint
white line along the carpet.
l watched t.at anxiOusy, dreading, I knew not
what. The myterious lace mad stamped itself upon
my brain too strongly to be forgotten, and dreaded
its second appearance. But the light gradually
died away, my strained eyes began to close, and at
last sinking down upon my pillow, from sheer ex-
haustion slept till morning.
/ should have been ready when / awoke, to smile
at it as q dreum had it not been for my unstrung
nerves and pallid cheeks But the days and weeks
passed on, and the circumstance was forgotten Or
only remembered to be smiled at, as the dstempered
vision of an uneasy summers night.
1t iworthy of notice, however, that from that time
grew dreamy and distracted, and cared less for
ciety than had DONE l seemed to myself, to be i'll
expectation of something which was TO decide all my
future life. AT last it came
Sitting silently in the midst of merry rarty one
evening, heard my name spoken, aid locking up,
saw my host with ano,Eer g,utltnlan beside him.
You, who were the lie of our festivals, must not
be allowed to desert us like this" lie said, good hu-
moredy. Allow me to introduce to you Signor
Montavi, a very dear friend of mine"
That he is friend Of yours will be sufficient" /
answered without lifting my eyes, :" He will always
be welcome TO me, for your sake.
Let me hope that you may one day add, for nine .
the stranger said, in peculiar toue, that made me
liit my eyes
turned sick and faint when saw his face. There
was the same olive mplexcn, tie same iron gray
Beard, the same violet eyes, had sen once III that
Eisicn of night.
/ could not speak I stammered when tried to
say something, and then the room whrled around me-
turned pale. and for the first time in my lie, faint
1% .lr
The first glance of his eyes had stirred my soul to its
lowest depths ] knew the hour Of my late and the
master ,0 my heart, had come. And | recognized
his power by losing hold Of the actual world when
met him, and lying as one dead at his very feet
AS the rush and roar of waters in my subsil-
ed | was conscious of great stir around me. and
that was lying in ones arms, while something
like priclsly drops fell upon my face. l opened my
eyes. The dark face Of Monalvi was bending above
me, and it on his breast was lying, while lady
threw water in my face.
"She is better now, said Montalvi, waving his
hand for the crowd to disperse. Give her air ii
you please"
How did it happen:" asked scre of voices.
Il am all old friend. and suddenly introduced
to her utter stranger" the deep voice replied.
When add that have as it risen out OF the
grave this night to meet her, you will not wonder
that she was 50 shocked"
lay passvely on his breast with shut eyes hear
lovers, yet without the strength Of will body to
contradict him by a word or glance. But more than
ever felt that he had bound me to him forever and
felt the chain so tightly could hardly breathe.
They left us, and he bore me into the conservatory,
and famed Inc gently by the open window. 1 opened
my eyes and locked up into his face with dull de-
spair
He had indeed I" risen as were, out of the grave, "
to meet me shuddered as remembered the night
when had first seen that face, and wondered, if be
had been conscious Of it, as l was.
What is it? u" he asked, seeing the question in my
eyes.
What you said out there was false 1 said despe-
rately. You and have never met before ~
Never? " he asked, with smile OF strange intel
lgence, that made my flesh creep. Never? Think
again. You can not mean what you say?"
1 groaned bitterly, and held my face in my hands.
Let me go! let me go" 1 cried, passionately.
And then with vague feeling that only One could
help me. added half despairingy-
If this is Satan tempting me, OH God, deliver
m from his power!"
I e violet eyes grew lurid and angry
IL-you have not faith enough for prayer" he
snee II. Bnt since you long to be alone. will
leave you. First, though, mark youas my own"
CHAPTER II.
From that night knew my doom. It was in vain
to resist it, for fate stronger than l. | loved
him. but it was with kind of horrd fascination, like
the grasp of a nightmare. | would watch him for