The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-06-23

been very profound old man, indeed, to
suspect that every tight. just at twelve, !
looked in upon him while he slept
Upon the eighth night was more that
usually cautious in opening the door. A
watch's minute hand moves more quickly
than did mine. Never before that night,
had felt the extent Of my own powers
of my sagacity. / could scarcely con-
tain my feelings of triumph. To think
that there was, opening the door, little
by little, and he not even to dream of my
secret deeds or thoughts. fairly chuck
led at the idea; aud perhaps he heard
inc; for he moved on the bed suddenly,
as if startled. Now you may think that
! drew back--but no. His room was as
black as pitch with the thick darkness.
for tho shutters were close fastened,
through fear of robbcrs.) and so / knew
that he could not see the opening of the
door. and Ikept pushing 1t on steadily,
steadily. reE
had my head in. and was about to
open the lantern, when my thumb slipped
upon the tin fastening, and the old man
sprang up in the bed, crying eut-"Who's
lhcrv?n y. s
I kept quite still and said nothing
For u whole hour did not move mus
Gle, and in the mean time I did not hear
him lie down. He was still sitting up in
the bed. listcning--just as have done.
night after night, hcarkening to the death
watches in the wall
Presently l heard a slight groan, and
knew 1t was the groan of mortal terror.
It was not groan of pain or of grief
oh, nol--it was the low stifled sound that
arises from the bottom of the soulewhen
oyerc harged with awe. knew the sound
we'll. Many night, just at midnight
when all the world slept, it has swelled up
from my own bosom. deepening, with its
dreadful echo, the tersors that distracted
me. I ssy knew it well. knew what
the old man felt, and pitied him. although
chuckled at heart. ] knew that he had
been lying awake ever since the FIRST slight
noise, when he had turned in the bed
His fears had been ever since growing
upon him. He had been trying to fancy
them causeless, but could not He had
been saying to himself--"It is nothing but
the wind in the chimney--itis is only mouse
crossing the floor" or "it is merely .
cricket which has made o single chirp."
Yes. he has been trying to comfort himself
with these suppositions: but he had found
all in vain. an /. cain; because Death,
in approaching him, had stalked with his
black shadow before him. and enveloped
the victim. And it was the mou-nful in.
anence Of the uuperceived shadow that
caused him to feel--although he neither
saw nor hesrd--to feel the presence of my
head within the room.
When l had woited long time, very
tpatiently. without hearing him lie down,
resolved to open q little--a very, very
little crevicc in the lantern. So opcned
it--you cannot imagine how stealthily,
stealthily--until, at length, single dim
ray, like the thread of the spider, shot
from out the crevice and fell upon the
| yulture eye
Itwas epen--wide. wide open--and /
grew furious as l gazed upon it. saw
it with perfect distinc.ness- all dull blue
with ahideoas veil over it that chilled the
very murrowin my bones; but could see
aotlhng else of the old mans face or per-
son: for had directed the ray as if by
instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.
And now have not told you that what
you mistake for madness is but over acute
ness Of the senses?--now, I say, there
came to my ears low. dull, quick sound
such as o watch makes when enyefoped in
cotton. I knew that sound well, toe. It
was the. beating of the old MANS heart.
II increased my fury, as the beating of /,
drum stimulates the soldier into courage.
But even yet refrained and Kept still.
scarcely breatlled held the lantern
motionless. I tried how steadily could
maintain the roy upon the eye. Mean
time the hellish tattoo of the hoart in.
creased. 1t grew quicker and quicker,
and louder and louder every instant. The
old mais's. terror mast have been extreme!
II grew alouder l say, louder every mo-
lnentl--do you mark me well? have told
you that I am nervous: so Tam. And
now at the dead hour Of the night, amid
the dreadful silence Of that old house, so
strange noise as this excited me to IN.
controllable terror. Yet, for some min
utes longer | refrained and stood still.
But the beating grew louder. londer!
Thought the heart must burst. And now
q new anxiety seized me--the sound would
be heard by q neighbor! The old mans
hour had come! With loud yell, threw
open the lantern and leaped into the
|room. He shrieked once--once only. In
an instant / drngged him to the aoor, and
fpulled the heavy bed over him. ! then
Esmiled gaily, to find the deed so far done.
But, for many minutes the heart beat OH
! with mnfied sound. This, however, did
net vex me; it would not be heard through
the wall. At length it ceased. The old
man was dead. / removed the bed and
examined the corpse. Yes. he was stone,
stone dead. ] placed my hand upon the
heart and held it there many minutes.