American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-11-15

|
bert, as his handsome face flushed with
indignation, "and have never made them
a butt for sport. And that is the only
reason | have never entered that bugbear
But if you, John Bioof, will go with me,
| will stay there any night you may ap-
point"
John Bloof turned pale at the idea and
took to his heels as his young comrades
vowed the challenge was fair; but Albert
declared that, he alone, would dare the
unknown horrors of the place that very
night.
"For," said he glancing at the sky,
athe clouds that scud above, ,foretell stor-
my night to my eye"
His word was as good TO all who knew
him as their eyesight, and none would
have questioned its truth, had he return
ed next day and said
"The skeleton is a jovial lad, and treat
ed me to pipes and ale--using each like
a hero himself absurd the
statement might seem to men who held it
as a firm belief that lungs were indis-
pensable to smoking, and bowels to the
relishing of spiced beer.
Albert Vandemeer cautioned his CON-
panions to conceal his purpose from his
fond mother, who, though she would not
be alarmed by his absence from her roof
for night, wouldIundoubtedly have call
! ed in the aid ef her stout and stern broth
er, the rich ship owner, had she dreamed
of his perilouS undertaking.
Aiming himself with his fathers trus-
ty pistols, and good old cutlass that had
cloven the scalp lock of some dozen or
more red savages. Albert was soon on
his way towards the awful spot; nor did
many hours pass ere he found himself
before it, despite the roughuess of the
journey and the tangled maze of forest
asd underground that then covered the
now welleleareS park.
"The Skeletons House" was Of one
story and a half, square in shape, and
built in the midst of dense wood, here
and there broken by the ragged backs of
huge rocks that seemed like stony giants
70 rcing their way to the upper air. One
Iron bound door in front and two strong
oaken shyttered windows, all as firmly
closed as the entrance of Il tomb, met the
youths frst glance as he paused before
it. lie walked cautiously around it, and
foupd similar entrances in the rear; but
the door yielded to his touch, snd cutlass
in hand he entered-not fearing forty
skeletons, though brawny sinews might
coahe them. At first he could discern
nothing, but when his eyes became ac-
customed to the gloom, he saw the silent
and feshless sentinel still gripning in
terrible mockery of NOR rtality over the
worm eaten table, while many a moulder-
ing bone of its frame lay damp and dark
around it, Looking closely, the youth
saw that wires had been used to keep its
ghastly skull erect; and as his keep eye
roved sharply around, he noticed part
of the earthen floor much more beaten
down than the remainder and following
this slight path as his sight grew clear
and true, he traced it to corner where
he saw row of great iron spikes driven
into the wall, and ending at small trap
door above in the oaken ceiling. To
loosen his pistols in his belt and ascend
with his ,cutlass ready for anything un-
expected, man or demon, was bit the
work of an Instant with the active Albert.
A steady pressure forced the trap, and
flood Of light poured in upon the small
apartment above, from window there
wide open. Entering stealthily, Albert
stood erect, and looked about him. A cot
bed was in one corner, and several rude
articles of furniture were scattered about.
Perceiving door near him, Albert bold
ly opened it, and found himself in the
presence of most lovely girl of some
fifteen or sixteen years, whose look of ter
ror and disgust, as he entered, immedi-
ately changed to one of joy, hope, and
surprise, as her beautiful black eyes gaz-
ed into his frank and manly face.
"Ah iSou have come to take me awsyv
she exclaimed, grasping his hands. "But
where is he--the monster? 2"
he? Who? What monster ?" said
Albert.
1.-The Dwarf! The Red Dwarf! The
monster that my uncle has placed over
me to keep me in this horrible place"
II have seen no such animal, said the
| hewildered Albert; 'but if you wish to
escape ] will place you in safety in spite
of every dwarf, red, green, blue, or black,
that ever breathed."
A shrill yell like the ryqfsome fierce
beast, thrilled upon the ear; and as AL
bert turned to greet the utterer, the door