Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-27
Mortester @ailp SPY.
From Temple Bar for June.
A HAUNTED LIFE.

found myself next morning in my own room,
tried to think the whole thing CHASTITY
dream, and had almost succeeded in doing so
when one of my companions OF the preceding
evening called upon me. The moment our
eyes met, | was sure it was no dream, and
spoke accordingly.
"What happened last night after fainted?"
"Oh, the devil johnson, ask nothing about
it: think hell was let loose last night l
shall never go there again"
"Nor % / said 81 shall leave for England
as soon as possible"
/ was determined upon this, and wound up
my affairs speedily L wrote to my friend that
though the business was not entirely settled,
circumstances had occurred which obliged me
to leave Mexico at once, and that | should see
him very soon after he received my letter,
when might be able to explain more fully
what had TRANSFERRED
/ lost no time in making arrangements for
my return, and three weeks after that terrible
night was on my way to England.
1t was dreary voyage home, and yet l was
in no haste to reach England. | tried to rea-
son myself out of my fears, Thought over and
over again how unlikely the whole story OF
Temples haunted life was, and resolved that
it was impossible that he should receive actual
blows from what he himself called vision
But no sooner had done this than | remem-
bered his attack in my rooms he had been
struck then beyond all question,and when re-
called the midnight scene in Guandano's room
reason was of no avail, and returned implicit
in the most miserable belief in all that he had
told me. So was obliged to content myself
by cursing the day on which l met him, and
the still more evil day when l had listened to
his story meanwhile time passed, and in due
course found myself in London.
Much as | was disncined for it, felt it was
my duty to call upon Temple at the earliest
opportunity and accordingly one day, about
a month after my return, walked over to
Brompton.
The door was opened in answer to my knock
by Temple himself, who said
81 felt sure it was you, johnson l have
been expecting you"
GLOW so 2" l asked.
81 cannot tell for L was not certain that
you were in England, but all day have been
expecting to see you"
We were in his study by this time, looked
at him carefully by the full gaslight, and was
shocked to see the change in him his hair
was quite gray and his features sunken and
fixed in stony expression l asked him if he
had been ILL., and he answered, Ono"
1t was strange meeting between two men
calling themselves friends, who had not met
for nearly two years. l was unwilling to
l wondered that Temple should have the same
feeling.
We spoke of things we felt little interest in,
OF politics, of The weather, and felt that each
moment was bringing us nearer to what least
wished to speak OF. Presently came an inter-
val of silence, and during its long moments l
made a resolution that, cost what it might |
would no longer avoid Temple on any subject
ofconversation which he might choose to ill.,
troduce and l determined too, that hence
forth, if my society was OF any consolation, he
should have it at any time he might WISH and
L W0nld keep my promise faitlifIill.5 nnd ...~i;
lily. ] was brought to this resolution by
careful study of his face, with its sad, patient,
careworn expression !; it had what l can only
describe as lonely look, and my very soul
was filled with compassion. l realized clear
ly the bitter injustice of his fate, the punish
ment so much too heavy for the transgressiOn,
and this thought threw me at once back to
the supe natural character and power of his
victim and tormentor.
rose and held out my hand to him; he
gave his as though instinctively, and with a
look of some surprise.
tsTemple," said, 81 now renew the prom
Use made in this room two years ago.
made it then reluctantly, and though inten-
ded to keep it, l should have done so in a very
seli-hearled fashion and now make it will
lingly y and repeated the solemn words of
the oath.
We shook hands in silence, the compact was
fully made. l sat down again, and continued,
still urged to speak by the expression of Tenn
pies face.
81 confess that l left England to escape you,
your confidence oppressed me till life here
seemed unbearable. II did not think you
were a mailman, at least regarded you as a
monomaniac but now am sure that every
word you spoke to me was terrible truth, and
if you can find help or strength in my friend
ship, bid you use it unspa' tingly, for give
it to you freely"
There was evidence Of intense and painful
emotion In Temples OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
which for time prevented his speaking. He
found words at length.
'sThank God, johnson, and thank you.
Since you have given me your sympathy and
friendship, l no longer utterly despair shall
not go out of the world wholly desolate and
who knows if this may not be given to me
as an emblem of the rest and comfort which I
may find in another 2"
"God grant it |" l said solemny and the
words were prayer.
no longer dreaded to speak of my Next
can visit, and told him all that l could remem.
Der of Guandano's house. When | began to
tell of the picture and its fascination he stopped
me abruptly.
''N0t that, johnson. | know that tender
pleading look so WE'LL" He pressed his hands
against his eyes, SIS though striving to shut
out some agonizing sight. 'My curse grows
heavier, Johnson; and l sometimes think it is
because, spite of all my knowledge of her I'M
worthiness and my suffering, love her still.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can
the floods drown it, Perhaps Guandano is
jealous still, he added with a bitter laugh
''the dead man jealous OF his dead wife p
L went on to tell him of the midnight scene
and 1t affected him in way l was not pre-
pared for
"Poor lover' he said, "does he bring her
there for one sad houra Then indeed / am
avenged" He seemed moved with pity.
I felt this to be wrong, and said SO. sDo
you forget?" l asked
"Oh, forget nothing. But see you are
uneasy at the turn our conversation has taken;
we will change it. do not wish to make
unnecessary demands upon your goodness
promise in my turn not to distress you need.
lessly."
He kept his word sending for me rarely,
but always, l found, after one of his strange
attacks, which now were not only more vio-
lent, but more frequent
The year passed and | agreed to spend
the night of the 31st of December with Tenn.
Pile; we were to watch the new year in to-
gether.
found my friend looking very weak and
i'll.
II have had a terrible attack this week,
Johnson" he said "and 1 am afraid OF an
other tonight. l feel certain that this coming
year will be my last; indeed, do not think
shall live to see many days of it."
'Pooh, Temple, you are nervous" l said,
as ! tried to rally him upon his low spirits.
But failed to do so and in his solemn pres
ence my own spirits lost their lightness, and
was not able to do or say any cheerful thing.
| wished the NIGHT over as the hours dragged