Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-17

- 49, ~ ~ 1900
loin-csNl no place a paradise till yeu see 1t
angels. For places, like people, have thei
good and bad attendant spiTits. ! found It 3
before my sojourn at the Ten Jolly DroveT
was over.
Onthe last night Of my stay, I sat late In n
little parlor below stairs. When I took M
candle 10 20 up stairs, the house was shut uF
Mrs. Ball had retired to her bedroom in ID
third story, and I could hear my friend Jil
snoring on his settee in the Kitchen where b
always slept, with the house dog at bis feel
ready to defend the place IL burglars shout
take a sudden fancy to visitit during the smal
hours Of ths night.
The dog groWied, but hearing nv voice
gave a kind Of satisfied snort, and betook him
self to slumber again. I stole cautiously u
the creakIng stairs. A gust Of air comm.
from the landing place nearly blew my ligh
out, and shading it with my hand. I saw that
small, arched door opposite the stairs. whicl
1 bad never noticed before, stood alar. I
seemed 70 lead into a narrow passsge-an.
wondering mach how 1t could have escaped ID
notice, ] stepped 10. Another door, strongly
barred with iron, was just before me. Ihesi
tated a moment-but something stronger thar
mere curiosity kind Of breathless interest
that startled me, urged ne on. ! opened it
Not easily, howevsr-till il was suddenly
Wrenched from my hand BY some one inside
so suddenly that 1 almost fell into a large
square room, hung with dark curtains, and
emily lighted BY an iron lamp, in a wire case,
that burned high up on the wall. The door
closed gently behind me-but ! could see no
person in the room. Yet something had GER
tainly wrenched it from ny graspl
/ suppose ] felt afraid. remember I was
very much inclined TO whistle, OF ug-ius as
I used to when, in my boyhood, I had to pass
a lonely grave yard at night. I walked into
the middle OF the room and put nv lamp on
the floor, because there was no table or chair
on which 7 could leave il. Then I took a long
look at my surroundings, feeling more and
more like whistling every moment.
Not a picture hung upon the Walls-not an
article Of furniture, made the place more home
like. a low divan run around the room at
one end IT widened, and was furnished with
blankets, eounterpaine and pillows, now tossed
into a confused heap. TIE windows were
heavily shattered and barred-the CRATE was
also barred IN, and wired-the shovel, poker
and tongs bad Seen Temoved-also the fender.
The hOor felt strangely beneath nv feet. and /
bent down to examine it. Il was padded and
covered over with elastic mating. I touched
the wslls-they were not hung with dark
drapsTy, as had FIRST imagined, but padded
also, and covered with a cloth looking and
feeling like leather. What strange mystery
was this, in this quiet, out Of the way place ?
Who dwelt in this room where safety was eyi-
IDENTIFY the first thing studied, where even the
solitary lamp tWinklec, like a star, far out Of
reach? I sat down on the divan and wondered
at ny discovery
At last as my eyes grew accustomed to he
darkness OF the place, ] saw something stir
near the bed-a moment after ! heard a low
sigh.
"Who sigbs so?s I asked with a beating
heart.
A tai, dark figure rose from the ground. It
sounds romantic a. his distance OF time, but
It seemed anything but romantic then. ] was
almost frightened to death, and bad no power
to speak or stir, as it advanced slowly toward
ne. Clad in a Ioug, dark robe, like the habit
OF g monk, a man stood before me, pale, wasted
and with long, white hair, and a beard like
snow. He gszeo at me a moment in silence,
and then sighed again heavily. ! gathered up
ny courage, and said to myself that I must be
dreaming, and that ny first word would scare
the Illusion away.
"Who are you, and how eame you hers2"
sskedI
81 an a lest soul,s be said, in a mslan-
eholy voice. Lost forever, and forever, and
forsFer.~
Again be sighed. Heaven knows I an as
mstter-of-fsct as any lawyer can very well be,
and have little faith to spare for visions and
authorizations but there was something so
awful in bis look and tone, that ny blood ran
cold, and for the moment / believed that what
had heard was true.
"But why do you seek ms?0 1 managed to
say.
aTou were to o You eame,' said the
sad voice. "But will you help me?"
"HoW can Eo
He drew nearer, and bent down, clasping
and unclssping bis hands in a strange, nervous
way.
There was blood upon the stairs tonight,
Isuppose, when you came up"
"Upon the stairs? Why-noi"
"Nol Are you suref"
"Quite."
az, ht.os ~ D., 49, r,,,E,r az -.--
strange. 1t is ali because I did not 60 myself.
II had been cut, I should have cut her throat
from ear to ear, you know: and that would
have made e beautiful path to walk in
] nodded, though my heart died within me.
"You know, her blood is like csrmine,D be
went on. 81 cut Der onee-befors she put me
here-and you might have painted a house
with it. You would be charmed with the color
would Fou not ?"
"No doubt. siT.D
@Well, then-I promise you some. ] can
ind nv way 10 her, only you must lead me
through The passage. l can't 20 through there
sloBe-I always see him IL ] do"
"Who?"
"Charlss-my brother Charles, you know.
Il is very odd,o be added, in an injured tone
0the minister said he was 10 heaven; and If
that is the case, I don't see why be should al
ways stay in that passage and keep me from
going out.
"EuaM I 20 ana see II re II LleLt uoMfF / ]
said, fancying a chance Of escape
"NoiD be answered, in a terrible voice,
while his eyes began TO CLEAN. "On second
thought 7 will not 20 to her-sbe shall come
70 us. know how I can bring her"
He snatebed Up the lamp I had left on the
floor, and held L 60 that TIE fame touched the
padding on the wall. In another moment it
would have been on FIRE, but the real danger
drove the imaginary one out Of my head, ans
800 ~rrw hin ua F~rwnaH the lam awH Il
caught me in lie powerful arms ] managed 10
trsmDle out the flame. and then gave al my
strength to thr task Of keeping bis talon-like
fingers from my throat Up and dow the
paddsa room we struggled, fighting for life and
death, vet making no noise, and uttering no
CRY. b stiffness terrified ne. What would
not have given 10 have heard the sharp bark Of
ToWser below
It seemed an houri I suppose It was not
really more than FIVE minutes. But the mani
ae's strength seemed to increase as mine gave
way be held one Of my hands behind me, and
though I kept him of Tor a time with the other,
be fastened upon my throat al last We had
efruggled down 10 the barred door-it was not
quite shut. and in utter desperation I screamed
aloud for help. The maniac ground bis teeth,
and muttersd q strange cry-the blood rushed
to nv bead az bis cold hands frightened around
nv neck my eyes seemed starting from their
sockets. was lust gssping out a last prayer
o. MENELm II = AE&a /. 49, @N1A ~
etairs-the door was burst opeh-the great dog
few IN with a low growl, and after him came
jim. who flung himself upon the madman, and
loossned ms grasp in an instant. l saw no
more, for I went into a long swoon that was
almost like death.
When, With msch pain and anguish, sense
and reason came back 10 ne, ! Opened ny eyes
and found jim Bending over me, bathing my
lips and temples with brandy and water.
was living upon the kitchen settee-the gray
dawn was stealing through the window, and
TowBer sat bolt upright 10 the middle OF the
floor, watching for ny recovery with an anX-
ious eye. He Whired and Wagged bis bushy
tail when spoke. Dim held the brandy to my
Hps; be was pale, and a confused mark over
bis eye showed that be had not rescued me
without danger on bis part.
sIn the name Of heaven, who was it JimfD
! ssked.
srTake some more brandy, sir. How in the
world did you come to be 10 there with hin p
told him how the outer door was sjsr, and
bow the othe- one had been opened FOR ne.
He gave a long. low whistle, and shook bis
aTf's missis's fsult-and I often tells Der
we shall all be killed In our beds some night,
81 she will 20 on visiting him It always
drives him wild. And tonight she must have
gone Of crying, as she often DO, poor Thing
and 80 forgotten TO see that the doors were
quite safe. It's q living mercy / heard you,
SIR
aBat wB6 lie be, Jiin2 And why is be here,
instead Of being in a proper mad house27
aTbsrs bar fault, too, a. I tells her, often
enough. You see, sir, be vas taken this way
not loug after hey were married.
GOOD heavens, is se Der husbandsn
aYessir-I may say ii 10 you-though every
else thinks he's dead. Except the parson-
III kpoWs. And tbe doctor-he knows, too.
10 : long story, and not over and above pleas
AMI. He went mad two years after bis mar
-sge. and killed his brother Chsrles-ieast
wavs be stabbed him IN that little passage and
bs never gef over it. But it was al hushed up,
ans peonie tboughth be was sent away TO a mad
house. 8herTard they thought be died Bat
mfssis bad that room fitted up, and has always \
kent him here. I mean % see 10 the bolts NY
after this. He's fast enough BoW-and fVe
got tbs KEY Of the passage 10 ny pocket. Pm
,,fssie aian5f hear von though. -