The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-12-05

The unknown paused and drew oil the
bandnge fron 'loracrs eyes.
They stood in long low apartment. the
sides Of which were of black brick, aud the
archvd roof Of dingy grey stone. The din,
light which the uni nown carried in his hand
only served TO make more hideous the dismal
gloom Of tie place.
In the centre of the room there was an OBJ
! long box, Of unpublished oak, screwed together
by heavy iron screws, and in general appear
ancc lmt unlike a coffin. \ thrill of super
stitiouS horror passed through Iloracc's frame:
he started back few PAGES still regarding
with distcnlcd eyes the object before him.
We'll y he spoke inqui'ngly.
! THAT box, returned the Unknown :. con-
| talnS II treasure of what form it matters not
! TO YOU suffice it that wish it placed here "
| he pointed to recess IN IN angle of the
wall -" and then you are to build across the
aperture solid line of masonry solid, mind
| you two tiers Of brick, hrcaStwiSe and coat
Of strong plaster over the whole You will
find all the materials, necessary to your work
here: and at precisely four O'Clock shall
expect you 10 have the Job complete. Until
that hour you will be alone then will come
! for YOU ~
Horace drew back. al csnuot, unles, I
v
that am employed made the instrument
of some dreadful villains indeed indeed J
cannot 90 to work in this blind uncertainty -
Choose between it and death ~ came
through the clench,d teeth Of the unknown,
and drawing a revolver from his breast, he
held it in firshliul proximity to the young
man s forehead
Your decision ~
e. consent - Horace spoke the words
without shadow Of quverinr.
Euoush and now leave you to YOUR
self. If your work is done to my satisfaction,
an additional hundred shall reward YOU for
the flight have given you !" He lighted an
iron lamp which hung suspended from the
! cellar and with a courteous good night"
the unknown withdrew, boiling the iron
door behind him.
Horace was left alone in the silent and
mysterious chamber.
y strange awe crcpt over him, and ming led
with Tie oycrmastCling curiosity he felt to
! examine the sailed box. Come what would
he determined to have glimpse of the
- treasure concealed there, aud Horace
fNn'wo ID, when once resolved upon anything
! however pellouS, was as imlnovablc us the
eteral rock IF Glbralur.
Securing TIC great door npon Tie inside
with couple Of rusty bars which had p,oLa-
bly, zen unused from time ilumcmCIIal he
drew ltoin lbs pocket mason S small chiscl
ana applied 1t TO The screws upon The box.
incy yielded, one after another, and in Il
Short space Of time llntwood dew OF the
o.hcn covcr. \ sight me! his eyes which
we'll nigh laralyzd him.
ihc body "ra girl, youug and urpass;ng.
| y lair, rJh.G in white iitcn. lay before him
ihuo vas death upon her brow and eternal
| >|un,brr on her lips. Her long, chestnut
hair swept bright and g'istrniug down h,,
waXwhjt" neck aul the lids over Ter mll
half closed h!ue eyes. seemed but d.ooping
hoio!c The fixed saza Of him WHO bent Over
| her. Unframed, cuIaplulud, Horace gaacd
! upon the corpse.
Speech, molten, everything seemed gone
out ofh!m-al bis iacul les were concentrated
mo one senSc-that Of hearing.
HE striking Of Il distant clock the hour Of
one, aroused him 20 Il sense of his condition.
His thoughts came back, and rushed Though
MS brain with the rapidly Of lightning.
Wall up this beautiful creature in Il cellar.
ANIL the dampncss and tvcila>tiuE gloom =
Who knew what fearful secrets MIGHT be
buried wi,h her? Who could toll the story
| Of her death! What might not those lips-
unscalcd from their cold Silcnce-rcyeal Of
foul crime aud base vilany!
Could he bury h,r up from sight forever
with that dreadful n'stcly hanging around
her! Would he do The deed! Never! God
helping, never,
Immediately he set about an examination
Of the walls Of the collar, and by careful
sounding he was enabled to detect the outer
wall lie brought some Of his to- Is 10 the
side of the masonry, and in fifteen minutes
had made an aperture the size Of man $
body in the brick work.
Fresh air from Heavens outer courts fan.
ned his brow, and the heavy plunge Of rush
Ing water coull be distinctly heard. xvi.
IDENTIFY the building into which he had been
SO strangely conveyed, was situated IN the
vicinity OF some river, if not upon its very
banks.
wild. romantic plan--possiblc from its
very lmpossibility swept through his mind.
Why not remove the body to the shores Of
the river, from whence he could he felt con-
vlnced, subsequently discover AMI take it
away 10, at least, Christian burial lie could
brick up the recess, as bis employer required,
and who would be the wiser?
This plan, once conceived. was carried into
effect without hesitation. BY dilgcnt labor
he soon enlarged the cavity in the wall suf-
icicntly for his purpose, and letting himself
carefully out he r,connoitercd the premises
The night was black as Ercbus, and he could
| ascertain but lit.le beyond the fact that he
stood in u deep dram that surrounded the
mansion The ASCENT fiom this drain was
steep and prccpitous, but Horace felt within
himself the power to do great things, and Mt
once returned 10 the cellar.
Replacing the cover tightly upon the box,
and lightly fastening the screws, he sprang
| through the aperture and crew it after HIM
| with the greatest difficulty he succeeded in
raising the heavy oakcn box to the surface
Of the ground, for the sides of the drain were
wet and slippery. The susli of water could
he very plainly distinguished at but lt,lc
distance eft. a"d close upon the mansion,
evidently between him and the river. rose II
black corsewood of low aldcrs. Into these,
he at once DASHED. bearing his load, and in
fifteen minutes he stood upon the borders Of
a great rivera river which he felt assured
was none other than the Des p
lie deposited his burden, for he had not
moments time to waste, in dense lh;cket
| close BY the rivers edge, and marking the
spot BY snspcndng his white handkerchief
from an ovcihansng h:0ncE, he hastily re.
vault. Drawn fth his wa,ch-the li,tle
silver watch which had been his dead sisters
I and which M rnrtl,lv mad could ,,l,,,, "a,