Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-28
NOrtester Daily Spp.
THE DWARF OF THE OLD OAK CHEST.
Complete In Three Chapters.
IC0ntinued.]
CHAPTER III.

vi NNOu htidI vi lllG week.
He perceived by the change of temperature
that the winter had passed away, and by the
increasing warmth of the suns rays as they
penetrated through the sky-light for a brief
space each day. that the summer was advance
ing. Beyond this he had nothing to guide
hun, and but for the hope OF being soon liberia
ted he would have sunk into a state of utter
dependency.
One thought tormented him necessarily. His
Mary-what would she think of his long ST.
lence? Would she believe he had deserted
her; and if she doubted him, would she still
remain true
gas undated, and if he asked any questions
a 20 the termination Of his captivity, the only
answer he could obtain was
You are just one day nearer to it than you
were yesterday"
Wolfe, who was tall, powerful fellow, was
rather jocose in speech, and after awhile Ever.
ard began to look upon his visits as relief from
the monOtony of silence and solitude. Nor was
the man unmindtul of his comforts He
brought his meals regularly, and supplied him
with sufficient change ofapparel as also with
the means Of making his toilet, which he did
not neglect, thinking that if he should be sud
denly set at liberty, it would be as well not to
re-enter the world looking like wild man of
the woods.
But no such chance presented itself. and
the summer was wearing away, for the days
began 10 look gloomy, and the nights grow
long and cold. Again the fire blazed on the
hearth, the sun ceased to send his light into
that dreary chamber, and Everard felt that the
winter was near.
His fortitude was fast deserving him-he be.
gan to give himself up to despair. The only
source OF enjoyment left open to him was the
lxl.,, - l., ,tr.
far more precious In his eyes than gold and
jewels would have been. The chest itself, too,
had become an object of interest, for it was
carved with grotesque figures, which he some
times fancitully endured with life, and held
with imaginary conversations.
One night, lar on in the winter, and, and as
it seemed to him, about midnight, he retired to
his pallet bed, leaving the fire still brightly
blazing on the hearth. His eyes rested, as
they often did, on the old oak chest in the op-
posite corner, on which the red glare of the
embers threw a brilliant light, SO that the
figures on the front were seen with remarkable
dlsunctness. Among these was one to which
he had taken a particular fancy 1t was a
dwarf monster, with misshappen body, a
huge head, an ugly, uncouth features, but
pleasantlooking withal exhibiting more of
mirth than mischief in its strange, unearthly
countenance.
He had so often gazed on this fantastic OBJ
ject it had assumed the character of a familiar
acquaintance almost a friend, and he had fire.
quently amused himself by tancying that it
smiled benignantly at him, and seemed dspos-
ed to be upon quite intimate terms. On the
the night in question, this impression was
stronger than usual and he kept his eyes fix
ed on the image as if fascinated by some ire
sistible spell, and as the light of the fire glow
ed on the dwarfs face, he could almost have
declared that the lips moved and the eyes roll
ed in the head.
He looked more intently, and presently the
arms stirred then the teet-then tine whole
figure becoming animated, stepped forth into
room where it appeared three times the size
OF the carved image, which was only a foot in
height.
"Who and what are you 2" demanded Ever
ard, who felt neither surprise nor fear at this
extraordinary phenomenon.
II am the guardian Of this chest" replied
the dwarf "For three hundred years l have
kept watch over it, and have rescued from i'm
prisonment and death many a wretched victim
OF oppression by disclosing its secrets. Do
you think, oh, foolish young man, that it con-
tains nothing better than tile worm-eaten
books you have been porting over for the last
twelve months 2"
81 have often looked into it, said Everard.
81 have taken out all the books many times,
but can find nothing else"
Seek farther" answered the dwarf; the
search will well reward your pains.
"Then," returned Everard, "since you seem
so well disposed towards me, can you not tell
me what this treasure is, and how | am to find
t?"
"No, no. lie who would benefit by the dis.
covery must have wit enough to make it for
himself"
And so saying the strange figure dwindled
down to its original dimensions, and went
back to its place, where it resumed the immo
bility Of a wooden figure.
Everard lay in state of dreamy bewilder-
ment, tue vision, as it were still floating before
him, till daylight began to appear through the
window above, and then he reused himself,
and looked out on the apartment, wondering
whether the adventure OF the night was a re-
aity or only dream. Reason told him it
was only creation Of his brain during sleep,
yet it dwelt powerfully on his mind.
AS soon as Wolfe had lett him, after his Gus.
tomary visit that morning, he took out all the
books from the chest, and got in to see ii he
could find any spring or crevice where there
might be some secret opening. But he had
not enough light for very close inspection,
as Wolfe had taken away the lamp with him,
50 after feeling every part with his hands, and
, Z =, ling nothing, he set about examining the
WI ade, and made an effort to move the chest
1.nns its place. but it was fitted into the corner
~ w firm as a rock, and then it struck him that
:, was no movable piece of furniture, but part
the room itself, and ON rapping with his
knuckles on the two sides that were against
the wall he found that one sounded more hol.
low than the other, and concluded there was
an opening behind it,
That side Of the chest then might possibly
be moved if he could but find out the way,
81 odor trv;ntr in vain 10 el;Ia /, r;,,bt All