Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-03-25

paI!or and haggardness of the inmates of
my dormitory. They might have been
scholars Of Dotbeboy's HALL
Nearest my window slept Saunderson.
The old impression that had attracted my
notice seemed to have given place in sleep
to an expression Of peaceful innocence
more BETTING his years, and as he lay
with one arm stretched over bis quilt,
thought him even nice looking.
had not been in my room five minutes
before was attracted by sound in the
dorm'tory, ard looking out through the
window, | saw Saunderson rise from his
bed and approach that of his nearest
neighbor. He ieant over him, and-oh,
heaven!-the sight seemed to paralyze
me! saw him with some sharp instru.
ment open vain in the boys neck, and
applying his lips, he drank very long
drausht Of blood
In a moment all was explained the
pallor of his companions, and his own
strange manner. Saunderson was VAN
pire
had read Of those monsters, and had
regarded them as the creations merely of
a popular superstition. I now, at the
midnight hour, found myself face to face
with one-one who was destined to be nv
companion, perhaps for years
Meanwhile, the vampire-boy had quilted
his first victim, and, to my incxpressible
horror, was smacking his lips and rubbing
his stomach after the manner Of drank.
ard who has taken draught of more than
usually generous wine. He passed on to
the next bed, and repeated his loathsome
operation.
Five beds did see him visit in this
manner, while the power of motion seemed
dried up in ME with very horror. I es.
sayed to shout, but the sound died upon
my lips. | struggled to leap through the
window ard fall upon the monster, but,
luckily for me, or murder might have been
the result, an unseen power seemed to
rivet me to the spot. Suddenly turned
and fed down the corridor like maniac.
To arouse the doctor was the work of a
moment. tried to explain it to him in u
few hurried words, bu. my agitation was
so great, and my speech SO incoherent,
| that | must have appeared to be wander
ing. | dragged him into my room, and
pointing to the open window, | left the
terrible facts to speak for themselves
A moment afterwards l saw him leap
through the window and alieht at Saun.
derson's feet. saw the boy raise bis lips
from the sixth victim and meet the gaze
OF the doctor. / saw him fling him self at
his feet, and heard him crave in pitcous
accents for mercy
The impulse was upon me" said he.
land | could not resist it. Doctor, |
loathe, | hate myself more than you can
loathe or hate me but cannot resist it.
Oh, l am miserable miserable!"
His wall was 80 pi.eous that felt my
loathing fast turning into commi seration.
Yes, | pi,ied this monster. This was the
terrible secret he had borne about him;
this was the curse, more surely than the
!eprosy Of old, which separated him from
lis fellow beings. aud made bis inmost
soul cry out, " Unc! can unclean!' Sure.
ly he was to be pitied.
looked into the doctors eye to read
there if his feelings were akin to mine;
but he was little accustomed to allow his
face to be an index to the soul within |
could see naught He merely said. This
must be seen to- Then he added "Mr
Merton, you are agi!ated you had better
retire. He left the room with Saunder-
son, and heard the key Of the turret
chamber turned.
The vampire was in solitary confne.
ment, with no blood to prey upon but
his own
turned into bed, and tried to compose
myself to sleep; but it was not to be.
felt shock of an earthquake, aud the
next moment | woke up in the coach,
which was goggiug over the rough stones
of High street, C.
II fear you have been dreaming, sir"
said an opposite neishbor.
had indeed. But the most curious
part is yet TO come.
In due time really did reach N.
The coach put up at the White Heart, 90
l bad no need of n ooy, vampire or other,
wise, to show me the way to the Grammer
School. | met with kind welcome, and
supped with him and his wife in private
In the pleasures Of the social meal could
afford to laugh at my strange dream, mer,-
ly noting that the doctor was sipgu'arly
like the doctor my fertile brain had con.
jured up, aud that what | saw Of the