Smyrna times., 1860-08-30

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 contain my feelings of triumph.
To think that there | was, opening the door,
little by little, and the old man not even to
dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. fairly
chuckled at the idea. And perhaps the old
man heard me for he moved in the bed sud-
denly as if startled. Now you may think that
drew back. but no. His room was as black
as pitch with the thick darkness. (for the shut
ters were close fastened through fear of rob-
bers,) and so knew that be could not see the
opening of the door, and | kept on pushing it
steadIy--steadily.
| had got my head in, and was about TO open
the lantern. when my thumb slipped upon the
Tin fastening, aud the old man sprang up in the
bed, crying out-ss Who's there p'
j | kept quite still and said nothing; for an
hour did not move a muscle, aud in the mean
time did not hear the old man lie down. He
was still sitting up 10 bed listening just as
have done, night after night, hearkening to the
ldeath.watches in the wall etl. fa'
Presently heard slight groan, and knew
that 1t was the groan of mortal terror. 1t was
not groan of pain, or of grief--oh, no lit
was the low, stiAed sound that arises from the
bottom of the soul when overcharged with
awe. knew the sound well. MANY night,
lust at midnight, when all the world slept, it
has weled up from my own bosom, deepening
with it's dreadful echo, the terrors that distrac-
ted me. SAY knew it WELL | knew what
the old man felt, and pitied him, although
Icnuckled at heart. knew that he had been
lying awake ever since the first slight noise,
when ae had turned in the bed. His fears had
been ever since growing upon him. lie had
been trying TO fancy them causeless, but could
not He had been saying TO himself" 1t is
nothing but the wind in the chimney--it is
only mouse crossing the floor" or, !" it is
merely cricket which has made a single
chrp."
Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself
with these suggestions; bur be had found all
IN vain. All in vain; because death is APP
proaching the old man, had stalked with his
black shadow before him, and the shadow had
now reached and enveloped the victim. And
it was the mournful influence OF the unperceiv.
ed shadow that caused him 10 feel--allhough
he neither saw nor heard me---io feel the pres
ence of my head within the room.
When | had waited long time, very pa
tiently, without hearing the cid man lie down,
! resolved to open little--a very little crevice
IS in the lantern. So | opened il--you cannot
imagine how steadily, until at length single
dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from
out the creEice, and fell full upon the vulture
81 eye.
II 1t was open--wide. wide open--and grew
furious as guzed upon it. | saw il with per-
feet distinctaess--aIl dull blue--wilh a hide
GUS veil over il thai chilled the very marrow in
my bones but could see nothing else of the
old mans face or person, for | had directed the
ray, as il By instinct, precisely upon the damned
spot. ..a
Il And now-have not told you that what
you mistake for madness Is but over acuteness
of the senses l--now, say, there came to my
ears low, dull. quick sound--much such a
sound as watch makes when developed il
cotton. knew that sound wells too. II wat
the beating of the old mans heart. Ii in
creased my fury, as the beating of drum
stimulates the soldier into courage. ~
81 But even yet Irefraned and kept still
scarcely breashed 1 held the lantern motion
Z less. tried how steadily | could maintain
- the ray upon the eye. Meantime the hellist
tattoo OF the heart increased. II grew quicker
AID louder and louder every Instant The ole
man's terror must have heen extremel IL grew
louder, | say. louder every moment DO yo,
r. mark me we'll! have told you that am ner
~ yors; so am. And now, al The dead hour o
ed night, and amid the dreadful silence Of tina
- house--so strange a noise as this excited mi
/ TO uncomfortable wrath. Yet fer some minute
he longer RETAINED. and kept still. But ih,
W, beating grew louder, louder. thought tn
w heart must burst 1900
lie And now new auxietv seizad me. thar IN
sound wouId he heard nv = neiphbor His las
n bour had comei Win n Ioud vsll tbre,
cd omen he IL n,srn and ls.,.d into he room Fl
&. shrIeked onee-once only. In an instant
n. drsggea him 10 ,ha aoor and nulled ,bs baav
Ter he'd over him. I ,hen sat unon The he'd an
re. smiled gaily. to End The deed a. far done r.,
He for many minutes The hear, heat ON with
nh nuffIed sound. This. however did NOT way me-
nv il wonld not be heard through the walls. A
RAJ length il ceased. The old man was dead.
of removed the bed and examined the corpse.
or Yes. he was stone, stone dead. placed N
hard upon The heart and held it there man
i'd. minutes. There was no pulsation. The o.
i've man wasSead. His eye would trouble me r