Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-08-24

ting me to follow her, only to mock and
eludc.
Before leaving the cemetery offered
two policemen a hundred dollars if they
shonld succeed in OBTAINING the woman and
child whose description gave them, until
word could be sent to the office of the de-
tective police and left them, with anoti,
er on guard at the gates, pcrambulating
the grounds, peering into vaults and ghost.
ly places in search of her. When I got
out at the house on Court street found
my friend quite tired of eating chestnuts
and talking to the little man behind the
counter.
"Well," said he, the potatoes will be
roasted to death before their owner returns.
We have been led another wild goose
chase
II have seen her." answered.
"What!"
"And lost her. believe she is little
snaky, she has such a slippery way with
her."
Tut! tut so has frightened deer.
But how did it happen p
told him, and he was quite downcast
at the unlucky fortune which had sent me
to the cemetery at that particular time, 1t
was evident that she had seen me. and was
afraid to return to this new retreat, for fear
she was again tracked.
"lIowever." said he, "I'm confident
we'll have her now before long. | must go
home Tonight to see my Lenore; prom
ised her, aud she will make herself sick
sitting up"
"Got and let me remain herc.-I will
stay until it is perfectly apparent that she
does not expect to return"
at will spoil the dinner. But now that
we have sacrificed SO much, few hours
more of Inconvenience
Twill be willingly endured. will get
somc bread and cheese and glass of beer
of your friend, the penny grocer, ana re-
main at my post
"You need not stay later than twelve !:
which will bring YOU home about two, at
the slow rate of midnight travel. shull
sit up for you. Au rcVoir.''
changed my mini about supping at
the grocer's as the twilight deepened INTO
night The dim light of the hall aud stair
eases. part Of them in total darkness, en-
abled me to steal up to the deserted room.
unperceivcl by any of the other inmates of
the great building. Here put fresh coal
on the fire, and by the faint glow which
soon came from the open front of the stove.
| found Il chair. and placing it so that it
would be in the shadow upon the opening
of the door. seated myself to await the re-
turn of the occupants. The odor of roast
ing potasoes, given forth at the increased
! heat. admonished me shat had partaken
OF but light lunch since an carly and has
ty breakfast; drawing forth one from the
oven. | made Il frugal meal upon it, and
then ordered my soul to patience. sat
long in the twilight of the room could
hear the bells OF the city Ginning the pas
sing hours; the grocer and variety store
keeper closing the shutters of their shops ;
the shuifling feet of men coming home, to
such homes as they had i'll the dreary build
ings until nearly all the noises of the street
and house died away,
Gazing into the fire, | wondered where
that strange woman was keeping that little
child through those uuwholesonle hours.
Did she carry it in her arms while she how
cred, like ghost, amid the awful quiet OF
dropping willows and cleaning tomb stones
Did she rock it TO sleep on her breast in
the fearful shadow of some vault, with Il
row of collins tor company Or was she
again fleeing over deserted fields, crouch
ing in lonely places, fatigued, distressed
painting under the weight of the innocent
hahc who slumbered on IL guilty bosom, but
driven still, on. on, by the lash ut a dread
iul secret made wild pictures in the
sinking eiubers. rs | unused; were all III.
tist would reproduce them in all their
lurid light and sonber shadow; but l am
not. The close air of the place, increased
i'll drowsiness by the gas from the open
doors of the stove, the deep silence, and
my own fatigue, after the varying journeys
aud exctcmcnts Of the day, at last over
came ne: remember hearing the town
clock strike eleven, aud after that must
have slunbered.
As slept, | continued my waking
dreams | thought myself still gazing in
the smoldcring fire; that the sewing girl
came iu without noise, sat down before it,
aud silently wept over the child who lay
III her arms; that Lenore came ont of the
golden einbers, with wings tipped with III
eitahlp brightness, looking like an angel,
and seemed to comfort the mourner, and
finally took her by the hand, and passing
me, so that felt the motion Of the air
swept by her wings and garments, led her
ont through the door, which closed with a
slight noise.
Atthe noise made by the closing door, |
awokc. As gather my confused senses
about me, was not long in coming to the
conclusion thai had indeed heard sound
and felt the air from an open door-some
one had been In the room. looked ut my
watch by a match which stuck, for the
fire had now entirely expired. 1t was one
O'Clock. NcNcd beyond words that | had
sumbcred, rushed out into the empty pas
sages, where, standing silent listened for
any footstep. There was net the echo of a
sound abroad. The halls were wrapped in
darkness. Quietly and swiftly | felt my
way down to the street; not u soul to be
seen in any direction. le: felt positive
that Lccsy Sullivan, creeping from her
shelter, had returned to her room at that
midnight hour had found me there, Sleep
ing, and had fled.
Soon car which now ran only at inter
walls of half an hour, came along, and
gave up my watch for the night, mortified
at the result.
1t was three o'clock when | reached Mr..
Burton's door. He opened it before could
ring the bell.
NO success | was afraid of it. You
see have kept up for You, and now, since
the night is 50 far spent, ii you nre not too
worn out, wish you would come with me
to house not very far from here. want
to show YOU how some of the fast young
men of New York spend the hours in which
they ought to be in bed"