The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-06

L
and produced bread, cold meat, and
q bottle of some spirituous compound.
] ate few mouth-fulls of the bread,
but did not touch the other articles.
II should like to retire Us soon as
possible" I said, for my weariness
was excessive.
Certainly The woman started
up with alacrity.
"Where are you going to put him2"
asked my guide.
"Up chamber"
"Put him in Isaac's room"
"No."
"It's the most comfortable.
81 tell you NOT"
But here 1 interrupted the whis-
pered colloquy.
II am not particular-I don't care
where you lodge me, only make
haste"
The woman's smooth apologies
were profuse. "She only wished to
make me comfortable, and Isaac's
room always leaked in wet SPELLS"
So I was conducted up a steep lad
der, that stood in the corner of the
room, into an apartment ceiled with
sloping beams and ventilated by one
small window, where cot bedstead,
crowded close against the board
partition, and pine table, with one
or two chairs, formed the sole at
tempts at furniture.
The woman set the .light-an oil
lamp-On the table.
Anything I can get for you, sir?"
Nothing, I thank you"
g! hope you'll sleep well, sir. When
shall I call you?" o
"At 4 O'clock in the morning, if
you please. I must walk over to
R station in time for the z o'clock
express.
She withdrew, leaving me alone in
the gloomy little apartment. I sat
down and looked around me with no
very agreeable sensation.
Wearied as had become, I felt no
inclination to sleep-in fact, seemed
as If L had never been more wakeful
in my life. L walked up and down
the narrow room; I lay down on the
bed, trying to WOO slumber by listen
ing to the ceaseless drip, drip of the,
rain upon the roof; but all in vain;
my. brain seemed preternaturally
active.
"I will sit down and write to
Berenice," 1 thought. "That will
soothe my nerves, and quiet me, per-
haps."
! descended the ladder. The fire
still glowed redly on the stone be-
meath; my companion and the wo-
man sat beside it, talking in a low
tone, and third person sat at the
table eating-a short, stout, villain
ous-looking man, in q red flannel
shirt, and muddy trowsers.
L asked for writing materials. A
bottle Of ink, stumpy pen, and
couple of sheets of soiled paper were
brought ont of little cup. board in
the chimney, and I returned to nv
room to write to my wife.
"My Darling Berenice,"
[ paused and laid down my pen as
l concluded the words, half smiling
to think what she would say could
she know of my strange Quarters
she, my fair Italian flower, now re-
gaining the lost roses under the blue,
balmy sky of her native land. Sweet
little Berenice! She, at least, was
spared the periis of this stormy mid
night!
Not until both sheets were covered.
did l lay aside my pen and prepare
for slumber. As L folded the paper,
L happened to glance toward my
couch.
Was it the CLEAN of human eve
observing me through the cracks of
the board partition, or was it but my
own fancy? Whatever it was, it sent a
cold chill through the very marrow
of my bones. 1 took my light to
reconnoitre. There was crack there,
but only blank darkness beyond; yet
J. could nave sworn that something
had sparkled balefully at me.
took up my watch-it was /
o'clock. 1t was scarcely worth while
for me to undress for three hours
sleep; I would lie down in my
clothes and snatch what slumber I
could. So placing my valise close
to the head of my bed, and barri-
cading the lockless door with the two
chairs, I extinguished the light and
laid down.
at first, was very wakeful, but
gradually @ soft droWsiness seemed