Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-22

.hoi was pound tightly over his ewes, al
ject. - -
on, and on rolled the phaton, over Boyton
priage, and past the canal toll-gate, ever ii
prick paYements, out upon the plank road, n
WI ~ 1881 the wheels reVolyed upon the hai
graVeI OF turnpike. Bye-and- bye, the WI
became rough and stony, and Horace kne
that tney had left the city and its environs f
oehlnd them. Not word had been exchange
between the young mechanic and the NJ
hhown and tho man who had held the reii
hba guided the horses, was silent as the gray,
Al length tho carriage stopped, and HoraC
was assisted to alght. He was conducted u
grassy path, and into some sort OF buildiu
ne knew It by the confined air and the heay
eiahg OF doors behind him. With the III
known holding fast to his arm, he ascende
1--WE nights Of stairs-then passed through SCI
ersl mouldy, damp rooms j then down fiigl
ot ssser, 7ysieen eia- hong, empty corridor nj
then, successfully descended four windin
staircases-the last ofunhewn stone. The a
grew moist and dense, the odor oppressive.
W here are you leading me q Flintwoo
Ventured TO ask of his mysterious guide.
IL matters not 2 was the brief, stern reply
They stopped before massive, iron door
strongly secured by balts, fastening in groove
cut far into the solid rock of the casihg.--
Down into their inches fell the ponderous bar
as the twain passed through the entrance, and
the door closed to with dall, heavy bang.
The unknown paused, and drew off the band
age from Horacc's eyes.
They stood In long low apartment, the
SIDES OF Which were of black brick; and the
arehed roof OF dingy grey stone. The dim
ight Which The unknown carried in his hand
only served to make more hideons the dismal
gloon Of the place.
In the centre OF the room there was an OBJ
long pox, OF unpublished oak, screwed together
Dy heayy iron screws, and in general appear
ence not unlike a coffin. A thrill Of super
stltous horror passed. through Horace's frame;
ne started back a few PAGES, still regarding
with distended eyes the object before him,
Wellf' he spoke, inquiringy.
~ That boxs.retarned the unknown con-
tains a treasure of what form 1t matters not
III you; suffice it that wished it placed here
ne pointed to recess In an angle of the
wall and then you are TO build across the
aperture solid line of maSonry-solid, mind
you two tiers OF brick, bre astwise, and a
coat Of strong plaster over the wheld You
VIII hnd all the materials, necessary to your
YORK, herej and at precisely four O'Clock
'haii expect to have the job complete. Until
nat hour you will be alone-then will come
or youl''
Horace drew back, ttI cannot, unless |
inow the contents of that casketl 1t may be
mai am employed-made the instrument of
'one dreadful villainyl indeed, indeed can
lot go to work in this blind uncertaintyl'
'ohose between it aud deathl' came through
ne clenched teeth OF the unknown, and draw
ng revolver from his breast, he held it in
lead.
Your decisionI'
3 consent p Horace spoke the words With
nut a shadow Of quivering.
Enough and now leave you 10 yourself,
y your work is done to my satisfaction, an
hundred shall reward you for the
aM. aSn' ,1n nave E.s 5oaFeols GOOD night,
= k--Mithdrew, boiling the iron door
behind him.
Horace was left alone in the silent and mys-
erious chamber.
A strange awe stole over him, and mingled
With the oyermastering curiosity he felt to.ex
mime the sealed box. Come what would he
determined to have glimpse OF the trea-
ure' concealed there, and Horace FiintwOod,
When once resolved upon anything, however
'erlions, was as immoYabe .as the eternal
iock of Gibraltar q
Securing the great door upon the inside,
1ith couple OF rust bars which had proba-
ly been unused from time immemorial, he
nd applied 1t to the screws npon the box
hey yielded, one after another, and in Il short
pace of time Flintwood drew off the oaten
over. A sight met bis eyes which well nigh
aralyzed him.
The body Of girl, young and surprisingly
Ar, robed in white linen, lay before him!-
here was death upon her brow, and eternal
lumber on her lips Her long, chesnut hair
Tept bright and glstening down her wax
hlte neck, aud the lids over her full, half
losed Dlne eyes, seemed but dropping before
40 nxed gaze of him who bent over her.
.enraptured, fascinated, Horace
azed upon the corpse t
speech, motion, everything seemed gone
Ut oil him-all his faculties were concentrated
ITO one senss--that of hearing.
ihe strikirg OF distant clock the hour OF
ne, aroused him to a sense of his condition.
is thoughts came back, and rushed through
IS brain wth the rapidity of ligh ming.
wall up this beautifnli creature in u cellar,
MD the danpness and everlasting gloom!- =
I hr knew What fearful secret might be buried
ith herr Who could tell the story of her
cath What might not those lips-nnsealed
ON their cold silence-reveal of foul crime
ad base Yilanyl
Could he bnry her up from sight forever
ith that Areadful mystery hanging around
erl Woild he do the deed Neyer God
slping, n,yer s..ls..
Immediately he set about an examination of {
le wallsof the cellar, and by careful sound
lg be was enabled to detect the outer we'll !
9 brought some OF his tools to the side Of the i
asonrJ, and in fifteen minutes had made an
,erturt the size of mans body through the
rickwort, Fresh air, from heavens outer ,
,urts, famed his brow, and the heavy plunge
rushisg water could be distinctly heard.-l
sidsF -tife building into which he had been /
} strAagely conveyed, was situated in the q
ciniB of some river, if not upon its very t
inks. ytt In -+4
A wh, romantic plan--pessible from its 9
,ry inpossiblity through his mind.-- ID
rhy Mt remove the body to the shores OF the t
yer, fom whence he could, he felt convinced III
bseq emily discover and take it away to, at !
asst, CHRISTIAN burial. He could brick up the III
cess,H his employer required, and who \
Duld q the wiser ia Is sfs4E5.I t.Iiz z5T 55f b
This 'ian, once conceived, was carried into Z
feet without hesitation. By dlligent labor b
, sOol enlarged the cavity in the wall suffi- I
emily for his purpose, and letting himself v
Irefuly out he reeonnoitered the PREMISES c
he uibt was black as Erebus, and he could Z
CERTAIN but little beyond the fact that he e
ood il b deel, drain which surrounded the n
ansiol. The ascent from this drain was steep 5
ID .proiphous, but Horace felt within him Il
If thepower to do great things, and at once Il
the cellar. A-et C
Rep.eing the cover tightly upon the box, d
ID lihtly fastening the screws, he ,sprang n
roug the aperture and drew it after him. l
th tie greatest difficalty he succeeded in o
Using. .he heavy, oaken box to the surface of $
G gsSind, for the sides OF the drain were q
et an slippery. The gush of water could d
yeT plainly distinguished at but a little o
stane of, aud close upon the mansion, evil V
him and the river, rose black a
'peslood Of low alders, Into these he at Il
ice ashed, bearing his load, and in fifteen 8
inuts he stood upon the borders OF great Il
YER driyer which, he felt assured, was none c
her nun the Des P12 y. 1... Aa-l $
Heleposited his burden, for he had not a 1
omat' time TO waste, in a dense thicket
ose,y the riyer's edge, and marking the b
ot y ysHspending bis white pocket handker b
sficnIa hranch afil1 b