The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-02

be done, and all my questions were
answered, and my orders for the
morrow reiterated and vowed ohcdi
ence to, and the clock on the turret
struck one. Then Mary, yawning o
little, asked If l wanted anything
more, and was obliged to answer
No, for very shames sake; and she
went. The shutting of the door, gen
tly as it was closed, affected me un.
pleasantly. I took a dislike to the
curtains, the tapestry, the dingy pic
lures - every thing. / hated the
room. felt temptation to put on
a cloak, run, halfdressed; to my sis
ters' chamber, and say had changed
my mint, and come for shelter. But
they must be asleep, thought, and |
could not be so unkind as to wake
them. I said my prayers with un.
usual earnestness aud q heavy heart.
| extinguishcd the candles. and was
just about to lay my head on my pill
low, when the idea seized me that |
would fasten the door The candles
were eXtinguishetL but the fire light
was amply sufficient TO guide me. l
gained the door. There was lock,
but it was rusty or hampercd; my ut
most strength could not turn the key.
The bolt was broken and worthless
Baked of my intention, I consoled
myself by remembering that | had
never had need Of fdstenings yet, and
returned to my bed / lay awake for
n good while, watching the red glow
Of the burning Goals in the CRATE.
was quiet now, and more composed.
Even the light gossip Of the maid,
full of petty human cares and joys,
had done me good--deverted my
thoughts from brooding. l was on
the point of dropping asleep, when 1
was twice disturbed. Once, by an
owl, hooting in the ivy outside--no
unaccustomed sound, but harsh and
melancholy; once, by a long and
mournful howling sst up hv tho ,,,s-
tiff, chained in the yard beyond the
wing occupied A long drawn,
luguhrious bowling, was this latter,
and much such note Ms the vulgar
declare to herald q death in the fam
Ily. This was a fancy | had never
shared; but yet l could not help feel
ing that the dogs mourniul means
were sad. and expressive Of terror,
not at all like his fierce, honest bark
of anger, but rather rs if something
evil and uuwouted were abroad But
soon l fell asleep.
How long l slept | never knew
| awoke ut once, with tha. abrupt start
which We all know well, and which
carries Ms in q second from utter uu
consciousness to the full use of our
faculties. The fire was still burning,
but was very low, and hair the room
or more was in deep shadow I knew,
| felt, that some person or thing was
in the room, although nothing uu
usual was to be seen by the feeble
light Yet it was sense of danger
that aroused me from slumber. eX
perlenced, while yet asleep, the chill
and shock of sudden alarm, and
knew, even in the act of throwing of
sleep like mantle, why I awoke, ant
that some intruder was present. Yet
though listened intently, no SOUND
was audible, except the faint murmul
of the fire--the dropping of cindel
from the bars--the loud irregular
beatings of my own heart. Notwith
standing this silence, by some intui
/ tion knew that | had not been de
ceiyed by dream, and felt certain
that was not alone. / WAITED. Ny
heart beat on; quicker, moro suddel
grew its pulS1tjons. rs bird in
cage might hutter in presence Of tn
hawk, And then l heard n sound
faint, but quite distinct, the clanll 0
iron, the rattling Of a chain! Iven
tured TO lift my head from the pillow
Dim and uncertain as the light was
l saw the curtains Of my bed shake
and caught q glimpse Of somethin,
beyond, a darker spot in the darkness
This confirmation Of my fears did no
surprise me so much ms it shocIle,
me. l strove 10 cry aloud, but coul,
not utter a word, The chain rattlt,
again, and this time the noise wa
louder and clear But though
strained my eyes, they could not pen
citrate the obscurity that sllrouded tn
other end of the chamber, whenc
came the sullen clanking. In mo
ment several distinct trains of tho
like many. .colored strands OF threa'
twining into one, became palpable Z,
my mental vision. Was it q robber
could it be supernatural visitant
or was the victim Of cruel tricl,
such rs l had heard of and whicl
some thoughtless persons love t.
practice on the timid, reckless of it
dangerous results? And then new
idea, with some ray of comfort in it
suggested itself, There was a fin,
young dog of the Newioandlan,
breed, a favorite OF my fathers, whicl
was usually chained by night in m
clubhouse, Neptune might have bro
ken loose, found his way to my room
and, finding the door imperfect,
closed, have pushed it open and en-
tered. | breathed more freely as thii
/ harmless Interpretation of the noist
forced itself upon me. 1t was-i
must be--the dog, and was distress
ing myself uselessly. l resolved t
call to him; Istrove to utter his name
"Neptune, Neptune;" but q secre
| n N tApaI, A pn1tpafnA1