Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-09-18

and the many palaces of the nobility. un
til we reached charming little villa Of
the outskirts Of tho city. He led the wa,
! thrsugh the shaded grounds until We cam
to the rear OF the building. near littl,
stream that skirted the west portco Of tn
villa. Here my companion paused. at tn,
same time command < me to obey the i'm
pulse of my mind and return to him will
whatever should beentrusted. CONTROL
ed by that mysteriols influence. l obeyed
and. saunteriug down the bill, crossed
over the brook. alont the border Of which
l walked until reached thick cluster o
vines. Obcying the same power that wa,
over me, removed q lit le layer of earth
where there was laid lpre large square
of marble, with a ring fastened to the cen.
tire. Upon lifting this, a fight of steps wal
disclosed, down which l passed until
reached solid floor. Mechanically pass.
cd over this. and took from mantle a
lamp. which having lit. passed on through
an aperture that gave evidence of excava.
ton, until reached a masonricd wall.
Removing o few stones. there appeared a
hole large enough to enter. through which
clambered and found myself within what
appeared the cellar of the building. Pass
ing upa rise OF ground caot'oas'y !ais-
sda si'ding Panei ana euteleo d'm'y
iisnteu apartment. r""' 'ne ce",!e :! o.
tue ce!i'hg was suspended Z" Cha"uensr "
e1qusite Workmanship s''Aeh c"!'a'n
fields lying in rich meshes on the thick
carpet. The walls were adorned with
paintings Of unrivalled beauty. while near
the wi"dow 'narGle oas'" anoroed tne
'ecePtac'e q! 'he .!,, .'nh"ng wase! " nn'ua-
ture iouhta'n. Gun ooey'hS tue strange
VIII OF ano,her' cau'ious'y Passeu through
an open door into tne a0!"h'og apart
ment. 1t was deserted. Inc moonlight
struggled through the venetian W'nds'
Throwing long lines OF silver iight across
the moor. suspended ny goiaen eha'a
from the ceiling was vase nall h!ied with
water containing wh"t appeared 10 DC
rare ana heautiIal sea paul. FROM tn's
there seemed to issue a low melody dis
tinct nut sweet az the sea-song OF the s!ren.
AS approached IT, l was selzed with an
almost irresistible longing to possess It, 1t
was at this moment that l made an
effort to throw OIL the subtle influence tn It
SO strangely surrounded me. For a
moment my head swan anu dcath'y
:angor possessed me- hut gaining new
strengh h made one more desperate effort:
into which | threw my whole strength oi
will. and. thank Heaveh again breatlled
a free man. No longer under the evil pow
or Of my companion, set about to awakea
the inmates of the dwelling and humbly
acknowledged my situation or course at
first l barely escaped punish ment as
burglar, butthe nobl man who lived here,
having heard my story opened the door
leading ont in the rear of the fouse' ard
upon going to the spot where Espanza
last stood we found him still there but
prone upon the ground anu fast asleep:
The influence he possessed had reacted
and rendered him insens'ble. had been
mesmerizcd, and had become. for short
time, the slave Of his will. Having
coveted the Vase Of flowers. and desiring
to possess it and yet not t" run the risk OF
detection. he had mad, m, to CONFORM to