The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-18
CHAPTER v.
AN USAcC0UNTABIE PHENOMENON,

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wsaried BY the exertions Of the day. Arden q
hours slept heavily BE left his lamp burning, ana
his letter open the table; for in spite Of the e.
forts made to intmidste him, he fearless Of NJ
trwion In that secluded spot and he had no Thoughts
lines he had traced.
Before lying down he examined the strong boltg
lie had himself put upon the door, and saw thai
they were in place. The windows on the side q
the room, by long misuse, were SO firmly imbcdde4
In their frames, that it was impossible to move
them; and the bay window, which let in air and
light, overriding the stream in such manner that
any one who attempted to enter the room through
it would risk falling upon the rocks below and being
dashed to pieces.
1hus in iancied security from intrusion the young
adventurer slept dee Fly for many hours dreams
visited his pillow, but after the weary frame had
sufficiently rested the mind began to play strange
antics, and the nervous sensibilities to shadow
forth weird vision which possessed all the vivid
ness of reality.
Arden was conscious that he lay motionless upou
his couch. and saw by the Pickering Light Of tho
expiring lamp tall figure standing over him, an
waving his hand in very mysterious manns:
to follow these motions, and species Of dreamQ
languor stole over his senses. His body seemed -
lose its mundane qualities, and float away in space
with sense Of delicious enjoyment such a. 10
imagined must be fels by disembodied spirits
when first conscious of being freed from the clog
of mortality. Then he seemed to soar upward, and
look down into the desolate room. transformed int
a temple of taste and elegance The walls were o.
vered with gilded scroll work, enclosing medaloas
flied with pictures Of sensuous beauty. The floor
glowed with flowers of brilliant dyes, scattered Over
ly carved furniture stood against the walls, and il
the deep recess OF the curtained window
sat naughty, bardlooking man, exam
lining bundle of papers, Upon his fee
and his thin lips were compressed with an express
sion of iron determination. His dress was of the
fashion Of . past day. and his gray hair was
drawn back from the lofty brow and braided
into a cue behind His coat was of dark velvet,
and rufles of delicate lace fell his slender
aristocratic looking hands. On the left one was
worn ring contsining large diamond OF singular
and Is the nand mat bore
noticed the antique setting Of the stone. 1t was
wide circlet of massive gold, which q wreath a
forgetme nots were exquisitely enamellsd.
observed, came glding over the floor with noseless
tread; he drew pear the reader, and looked over
his shoulder. As he thus leaned forward, his dark
strongly marked features seemed to glow with ma
ignant passion. The new conner was young uan
Of powerful frame, and his dress was of different
era from that by the elder one; it also Il
coarser texture and more slovenly make, and his
dark hair was cut short to his head rsrs
After few moments, he slowly raised his hand
until it was fixed above the shoulder Of the alb
sorbed reader; then making q swift plunge, no
seized the papers, triomphantly held them aloft,
started up, and fierce struggle ensued-no sound
was uttered, though the lips Of the two moved -
if they were bitterly revling each other. The
robber bore of the papers, leaving his father. fer
such the resemblance between the 70 proclaimed
him to be, lying stunned and bruised upon ths
floor. ~
Arden dimly saw two other figures fitting around
the old man, who seemed to raise him up and ou-
deavor to restore him to consciousness; but his
vision seemed to be violently turned from them
and compelled to follow the movements Of the
elder brother -e
BY some incomprehensiblc power, without voli-
ton Of his own, he passed in spirit from that room
to the octagon one, and saw the dark browed man
eagerly examine the records he had SO violently
appropriated, and then search for O safe spot u
Which to conceal them. W
Beyond this the vision seemed broken into co.
fused fragments. He was conscious of violent
effort on his own part to discover in what spot tho
purloiner concealed the papers, but his staluart
form seemed suddenly to fade into dimness, and the
dreamer only beheld him again with distinctness
as he issued from the door Of tho room with
an expression Of malignant triumph on his face.
He Was met there by his two brethern, and again
q fierce pantOmIne was acted, in which this time
he did not come off conqueror. The struggle WAS
ended by the pale father tottering among them
and throwing his feeble body between the comba-
tants Again the figures foated dimly before the
mind of the sleeper, and he conscious that his
mind was forced to return to the doomed room-to
roam around the walls in search of a clue tot
spot in which the distracted deeds had besn 81 \
cealed, and thrill Of angry disappointment pssse
through him at each failure. So
A sudden blow was then dealt upon the side OF
his head and the dreamer lay in utter unconscious
ness for many hours afterward. When be at last
aroused himself from this condition, the sun was
shining cheenully in the window, and on looking
around be saw no change in any part OF the room.
There was singular aching dizziness about his
head, but this was in measure relieved by bathinx
in cold water; he easily accounted for that by sup-
posing that his late exposure to the damp air risng
from the waterfall on the previous night, had given
The vivid dream which had fitted through his
brain came back to him, and he half smiled as he
thought this was merely the result Of the tales he
to indulge feeling Of Contempt for those Who ssd
thus attempted to play upon his fears, and an emo
ton Of selfgratulation that he had been deaf "a
them all, for the scene on which his eyes rested.
bathed in the clear light Of morning was one cal
culated to fill his artist soul with delight.
With wrapt vision tho eye of Arden roved ovc6
the quiet valley and follow the graceful unduIar
tons Of the rising mist as it slowly swept upwards
from the hlsides like clouds Of incense to the god
Of day The birds were filing the air with their
melody, and the deep undertone Of the falling va
ter formed fit anthem for the heavenly morning.
on which the artist gazed. --~ ae...
The impulse to sketch the scene seized him, and
he turned rapidly toward his table. Drawing Il
forward to the right position, he was about to take
up his portfolio, when something he saw thsre
the open letter he had left there the night before
lay strip Of paper on which q few lines wero
scrawled, In an almost ilegible hand. With strange
perplexity, Arden Lifted It, and read this warn
ing Hr9tfs#
"You thought yourself safe, because bolts defend
ed your door, and he only accessible Windows
overhaDgs precipice. How easily I might have
killed you q you slept! but forbore from coaai
deration for your youth and daring. command
you to leave this house forthwith and if you value
life or peace Of mind, you will obey; seconf
time be OF my mercy, and you will not SO lightly
escape." -
There was no signature, and Arden examined
the writing in state of tremulous excitement he
would not have cared to acknowledge. After al
his precautions had he really lain at the mercy a
nocturnal yister, who might be actuated by mo-
lives Of deadly hostility toward the bold invader Of
his haunted realm?
The above is all Of this story that WIN be pub
lished in our columns. We give this as sample