The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-16

| ltous descent TIL 1t reached a cliff, where
in shower Of foam mingled with drivins
snow, it descended into some unknown val
ley lost to me in the darkness GE1 IL
stood for some moments contemplating
this scene. Drear it would have been al
all times; but now, in the silence of thi.
winter night, clad in its snow garment, with
that cold, still moon lighting up its chill
desolation. it had to me some thing appall-
ing in its ruin. r. The fear of some hidden
shaft, or open adit, deferred me from cross
ing this place, and determined me to skirt
the embankment which indeed scarcely
deserved this name, as ii was in fact but
heaps Of stones and rubbish flung here from
the mine
The great shaft lay almost at my feet
By the light of the moon could see some
way into Its depths, and mark whore the
snow speckled its dark sides. AT the edge
of the yawning pit lay pile of heavy
stones covered with snow. Against this
the moonlight shone brilliantly. / was
about to turn and descend, when | was
struck by the strange appearance of my
shadow on this pile. 1T had its arms folded
as had, it gazed into the pit al did, it
was not larger, or colder, or grayer than
other shadows, and yet it filled me with an
Undesirable sensation of strangeness l
do not know what possessed me to do it
but flung my arms inro the air, and as the
figure did the same, there was such an ex-
preston of measureless despair in the ac'
ton that, unable to bear the sight, | turned
and fed,
In this flight, which had fear in it that
words cannot express, lost my footing in
the treachereus snow, and fell heavily
As arose from tue ground fancied L heard
cry, like the sound of human voice,
arise from within the embankment, mingle
with the rush of the stream, and die away
in the roar of its fall. stood still and
listened, but all was silent save the dash OF
waters; and then reassuring myself, | essay
ed to continue my journey. The moon lay
at my right hand, the wall S tationed on
my left, and On its glittering surface of snow
my shadow stood out distinct and clear
For moment my shadow only; but in an
instant | saw, with sensation that lifted
every futtering hair on my head, the
shadow that had stool on the brink of the
shaft, creeping steathily behind my shadow,
mocking every motion of mine, and OF IT,
even to the terror that my own feelings
impressed on the gray image of myself.
had been spectre haunted man all my
life long; but the shadow that had ever
followed me had come in the shape of q
murdered woman, sometimes accompanied
by pale sweet face I knew too we'll But
this was strange, unlocked for; so, with bei
wildered, fascinating gaze, l turned and
faced my tormentor EI.
This shadow thought was none of my
raising. In the sharp outline of that bag
gard profile there was no likeness to my
spectres. The pointed beard, the old fash.
ioned dress, the waving curls, spoke of a
by-gone period. l marked it we'll, as fora
moment the shadow aud stood face to
face; then, setting my steps toward the dim
tree, strobe resolutely forward.
The thing followed. In vain turned
and faced it, or dashed rapidly to the right
or left. IL was always behind me, always
mocking nv movements I gathered up
snow aud flung at it; in horrid inockery il
repeated my action. Then nerving myself
for the effort / sprang on it and tried to
grapple with its impalpable form. only
graspsd the cold snow, while it stood by
with its unchanging face, ever expressing
that one look of dire, boundless despair.
In face of this thing, was powerless, and,
feeling this, resolved to fight; but when,
on turning my head, saw it gliding on,
without apparent movement, and yet close,
to me, | lost my self possession, and ran
hither aud thither on the moor. until sense
failed me, aud fell headlong on the snow.
When recovered myself the shadow still
stood over me like a sentinel; the same
despair in the sharp lineaments, the strange
appearance of life in its grey form.
arose sick and numbed with cold. /
began to feel that if could not soon reach
some human habitation / should die. In
this new fear l almost ceased to regard the
spectre; was l not used to strange sights
hidden to othersl
All my energies were concentrated on
reaching the tree, whose snow laden
branches cleaned distinctly before me. |
had small flask of brandy in my pocket
putting il to my lips, drank all 1t con
tanned, and then, less paid, less numbed
with cold, walked on with a surer step.
Often turned to look at my companion
Some new demon surely possessed 1t; a
thousand wicked lives were in it. On that
haggard profile, with its deep lines of des-
pair. new malignity sat triumphant. 1t
Knocked no motion of mine now; it had a
hundred of its own. 1t seized my shadow,
and seemed to shake it, as it laid its thin
long hand, of which marked the bony I'm
gers, on its shoulder, making nay flesh creep
at the touch, though it was not on me that
gray ihand rested, but only on the dim
similitude of myself on the snow. Some
times it flung its arms upward with same
GESTURE of measureless despair that | had
marked when first saw it standing by the
old shaft.
went steadily on, an iuexpressible feel
ing of relief stealing over me as | neared
the gsant tree. For hours its rugged
branches had loomed before me, as an oh
ject to be reached by an effort thous
and fancies had sprung up round its figure;
bono, ,,c rast ond rafraShmpnf visions of