The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-07-30

l.
Thus far had I deciphered the scroll,
which was blot,ed, worn, and in parts al.
most illegible, when heard faint rustic
behind me. !, Ny ost had recovered. and
was standing bolt upright by his chair.
His figure was as rigid as the figure of a
corpse The muscles Of the face were
drawn dcwn, and his eyes rested with sto-
| ny glare not upon the scroll, which held
in my right hand, but on the folds Of
cambria handkerchief. saturated with eau
de cologne, which had mechanically bound
around my forehead to soothe the raging
headache Of fever. Aa-,,.-. -
| Into the substance Of this handkerchief
the initials OF my name soere distinctly work-
ed an black and blue thread. The intensity
| Of the mans gaze fettered me as with in.
invisible chains. At length with moan,
not of pain or anger, but ofdeadly suspense,
he bounded up to me, tore the Eandker-
chief from my forehead, and staggered with
1t to 1. the light. He held the initials in
every possible position, repeating them 10
himself in a tone Of distracted inquiry. All
at once his manner changed to an air of the
widest terror Springiug up like a mad,
| man, he waved me off with outslretched
arms, shrieking out, "Haye you come to
| torment me before the timei Fiend that
you are, would you drag me 10 lower hell
than thlsa l will not go--no--no---I will
no. go! / defy you!" be shouted, apparently
! gaining courage from the very extremity of
his despair. 81 defy you," and then, in
lower key he muttered idiotically some old
! latin exorcism, "Coryuro ote--scelestissima--
iniGuissima- atqa naiseJrima co,yuro h!
conjuro teiI"
In one ofthose fantastic changes Of mood
so common under the influence Of delirium,
now grew heartily tired Of the scene,
about which thought there was n vast
deal of mummery, so, tossing the scroll,
which bad all along retained, scornfully
! from me, reeled back to my chamber.
Towards morning was visited by deep,
but unrefreshing slumber. 1t was late in the
| day when Iawoke, rational, but greatly ex-
hausted. Ny first impulse was to attribute
the events Of the night to disorder and ex-
citemeut of brain. l knew from experience
how startling and vivid fever dream
might be, but in the present instance n
trivial circumstance demonstrated that
had not been mofing altogether in region
OF phantasys The cambric han lkerclIief
no longer .uveloped my head, nor could
| find il either beneath the bed Clothes or in
any quarler of the chamber. Now | YVES
absolutely certain that had, just af
ter retiring, made use OF the handlSerchief
for the purpose have specified, aud in con-
| hrmation of this there stood the uncofked
| bottle of cologne upon chair within
reach OF the bedstead. My specula,ions
were distributed 10y the unceremonious en-
trance Of the neg,o who had served me on
the evening before. lie brought in an ex
cellent breakfast, which he arranged on a
side table of mahogany, presenting at the
same time his masters compliments, with
| the hope that my fever had subsidized! How,
| asked, did his master know that / had
suffered from feverl The fellow opened his
eyes in the extremity of astonishment, in
forming me that | had been sleep walking,
and had come nigh numbering my host in
the entry. The explanation satisfied me.
| really then had committed certain ex-
travagances, which were materially exagge-
rated by an infamed imagination, After
the necessary apologies, and thanks which
l charged my attendant, (who, by the way.
was not the stupid creatureI had supposed
him. to convey to his master, partook
sparingly Of the meat and bread before me,
making up for this neglect Of the substau.
tials by copious draughts Of coffee.
Somewhat refreshed, l sunk back upon
my couch. BY degres strange lethargy
crept over me. The window curtains, stir.
red by faint wind, and waving TO and fro
! with n monotonous motion, stole upon my
senses with the effect of low, regular and
mournful music. Soon all consecutiyeness
of thought was lost, and lapsed into a
| condition of absolute and rayless oblivion.
X
I When next woke to sense of life, it
was with feeling of awful depresson-a
sensation OF almost suicidal gloom. Dark
ness was all around me-thick, palpabe
darkness. The atmosphere was cold and
damp, chilling me TO the very soul. at
tempted to move, but Imagine my horror
and dismay, when the dull clauk Of chains
informed me that had been bound hand
and foot. My brain was dizzy and vacant,
and the effort to penetrate the dreadful
mystery Of my situation, resulted into So
cond attack OF delirium in which the dark
ness suddenly became luminous with blue
and red meteors, and winged serpents 1yiug
towards me with tongues of flame. Then
occurred another spell of total unconscious.
ness.
was aroused at length by slight sound
above my head. Upon gancing upward |
perceived ray Of light gimmeriug from
the ceiling. II gradually increased until
an aperture like that Of trap door was
discernable, and in the midst of it pale hu-
man face peering anxiously down into the
dungeon. Recognised my host. and saw at
the same moment that rough wooden
ladder communicated with the apartment
above. My first foolish impulse was to call
for aid and deIiverance, but instantly sub.
dued it, and determined to resort to strata
gem. lay perfectly still, scarcely breath