Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-05-07

Iled with tne OVermasterlng curiosity ne
| felt, he determined to examine the sealed
box. Come what would, he determined to
have glimpse of "the treasure" concealed
there, and Horace Flintwood, when once
resolved upon any thing, however perilous,
was as immovable as the Rock Of Gibral-
tarl ~ f
Securing the great door upon the inside
with a couple of rusty bars, which had
probably been unused from time immemori-
al, he drew from his pocket a mason's
chisel, and applied it to the screws upon
the box. They yielded, one after another
and in short time he drew off the oaken
cover. A sight met his eyes which well
nigh paralysed him.
The body Of girl, young and surpas-
sinsly fair, robed in white linen, lay be.
fore him There was death upon her
brow, and eternal slumber on her lips -
Her long, chestnut hair swept bright and
/ iglistening down her wax-white, and the
lids over her full, half-closed blue eyes
seemed but dropping before the fixed gaze
of him who bent over the entranced, en-
raptured, facinated Horace gazed upon
the corpsel Speech, motion, every thing
seemed gone out from him-all his facul-
ties were concentrated into one senseAthat
of seeingl A distant clock striking the
hour of one, aroused him to sense of his
condition. His thoughts came back and
rushed through his brain with the rapidity
of lightning. =
Wall up this beautiful creature in eel
lar, amid the dampness and everlasting
gloom Who knew what fearful secret
might not be buried with her? Who
could tell the story of her death? What
might not those lips-unsealed from their
cold silence-reveal of foul crime and base
villainyP Could he bury her up from
sight for ever, with that dreadful mystery
hanging around her? Would he do the
deed? Never never 6rr
Horace Immediately set about an exam
ination of the walls of the cellar, and by
careful soundings he was enabled to de-
tect the outer wall He brought some Of
his tools to the side of the masonry, and
in fifteen minutes had made an aperture
the size of a mans body, through the
brick. Fresh air, from the outer courts,
famed his brow, and the heavy plunge OF
rushing water could be distinctly heard
Evidently the building into which he had
been so strangely conveyed was situated in
the vicinity ofsome river, if not upon its
very banks,
A wild, romantic plan-possible from
its very impossibility-swept through his
mind. Why not remove the body to the
shores of the river, from whence he could,
he felt convinced, subsequently, discover,
and take it away to, at least, Christian
burial. He would brick up the recess, as
his employer required, and who would be
the wiser?
This plan once conceived, was carried
into effect without hesitation. BY diligent
labor he enlarged the cavity in the wall
sufficiently for his purpose, and letting
himself carefully out he reconnoitered
the premises The night was dark as
Erebus, and he could ascertain but lit
tie beyond the fact that he stood in dark
ditch, which surrounded the mansion.-
The ascent from this ditch was steep and
precipitous, but Horace felt within him
self the power to do great things, and he
returned at once to the cellar.
Replacing the cover upon the box, and
lightly fastening the screws, he sprang
through the aperture and drew it after
him. With the greatest difficulty he sue
ceeded in raising the heavy oaken box
to the surface of the ground, for the sides
of the ditch were wet and slippery. The
gush of water could be very plainly dis
tinguished at but little distance off, and
close upon the mansion, evidently between
him and the river, rose black copsewood
of low alders. Into these at once dash
ed, bearing his load, aud in fifteen min
utes he stood upon the borders ofa great
rivera river which he felt assured flowed
towards the town he had left.
He deposited his burden, for he had no
a moments time to waste, in dense thick
ct close to the rivers edge, and marking
the spot by suspending his pocket hand
kerchiet from an overhanging branch, h'
hastily retraced his way and arrived il
safety in the vault. Drawing forth hi
watch--the little silver watch which haC
been his dead sisters and which no earth
! ly need could induce him to part with
| ~ thot - mac ,,oar.txvn oiolOoL r.,