The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-04

A TALE OF TERROR.


was young man of limited means, repaired to
the apartments assigned me and threw myself
upon dsty couchette, with an expectation of re-
ceiving rest before pursuing my journey. This
hope was partially realized, when was suddenly
awakened BY heavy and continued knocking at
my door. sullenly muttered q 'come iu - but
remembering to have Dolted it, arose to open it.
A form stood before me of giant proportions,
his features marked with q savage expression his
garments anonymous both as to color and texture.
inquired his desire, when, interrupting me, he
asked II was the man who wanted T. go to the
Chateau de c., responded in the affirmative.
sum, If II was necessary for me to reach my desti-
nation that night | assented to his proposition,
more through dread of bidding him begone than
the benefit TO be accrued.
II was not long before an old, dminutiye car
rage was announced, with the identical ncognito
as its driver. hastily prepared myself for de-
parture, without having been the happy recipient
OF any quiet since my arrival at the above named
village. Previously, had asked the stranger If
be was acquainted with the route TO be taken. to
which he gave me no specific reply; but when
about to enter the cab made similar inquiry
In answer TO which he CONTEMPORARY flung out,
yes, yes; within" / obeyed, however, with
reluctance, for knew not whittier I was going,
nor what might be the results. Sad feelings
possessed me, but were soon dspelled for, suffer
ing under such physical lsssitude, sank into a
peaceful sumber.
shortly awoke much refreshed, and saw that
the moon in her full beauty had gained mid heaven.
From this knew that the drive must have been
long and slow. looked on the other side and
saw no trace of a human habitstion. Everything
appeared desoate, though the mild light of the
moon shone upon the earth. greatly feared this
man acting "a my guide, and dreaded to accost
him in any manner. and believed at one time that
would offer him the small contents of my purse,
but thought possibly might be wrong in thus
conjecturiDg doubts and fears, and that should
willingly place myself in his power. At length,
projecting my head out of the window, saw in
the distance what appeared TO be the white walls
of park Of shrubbery. / beheld trees rising
here and there, but no signs of a dwelling.
Presently the cab stopped, and | saw gate open
ing into the walled enolosure-coming up to the
door he said:
You must alight here"
Here" exclaimed, " in this plsce?'
Do as commanded" he said.
81 shall do nothing of the kind" l replied.
You agreed TO take me to the Chateau of c.,
and shall not slight until you have fulfilled the
agreement"
!" This folly is absurd" he answered, listen to
what say. We are many miles from ST. Jeon de
Luz, and from any hsbitation. None but death.
i less spirits can answer to your shrieks This is
stantly and deliver to me your purse, will add q
lifeless body to these sacred precincts.n
This cold-blooded determination curdled my
whole frame. For moments my tongue Glove to
the roof of my mouth. / was astonished to find
In a man Of such frightful mien, words which
would have well expires ed the noblest purpose.
Not hope presented itself. was at the mercy
of murderer, and there remained nothing but TO
submit. prayed and sued his mercy, and offered
half my worldly all if he would but spare my life
and take me back. But ne terms of Cancellation
would suffice. Self-reproaches rushed over my
mind and mingled with my fears.
Why was / so blind-so foolish as to accom-
pany the man? Why did | suffer my want of
courage to preventive from declining his offer in
stead Of committing myself to this suspicious
looking man?
"Oh, heaven" 1 cried within myself, "help
me-"
Becoming impatient at my long silence, which
was the silence Of despair, he roughly seized me
by the arm, and dragged me from the carriage.
Not sound was TO be heard. All the great,
great solitude was echoless and void. / uttered a
long, piercing cry. as ho huug me on the frozen
earth and bade me deliver my purse. A desire to
make myself known overcame me. | repeated my
shrieks. which he tried to stife by placing his
hand over my mouth. This inspirsd me with new
strength, and arose to my feet and fed from him
The door of the cemetery was open, and rushed
in, closely pursued by my foe.
The moon had been disappearing behind a
heavy heap of what seemed snow clouds and
now she utterly deserted me at this critical mo.
ment, for / stumbled every instant against a
mound or tombstone. traversed with prefer
natural celebrity those habitations of the dead.
But soon his heavy hand gain seized me by the
shoulder, and dragged me back. MY desps lent
me strength. We closed aud struggled. forgot
his superior power and resolved TO resist death
On bis breast be wore q piece of gold, on which
was engraved many familiar devices in Greek in
addition TO his name. Without any object in view
but that of avengipg myself, | Sc zed firmly hold
of it, and in the struggle tore il off, This cir
cumstanee he did not at that time notice. In
spite Of my resistance. he muttered between his
teeth successful issue to the combat; and, as
he sank smost exhausted on the ground in that
lonely place, heard my antagonist clasp his
knife.
With a startled bound was again on my feet,
4 =
lowed q race for life. few, rather than rum
with the piece of gold 10 my hand. | had no
scruples where trod. Now 1 went straight be-
fore him; now evading his grasp by passing in
and out the graves heard his curses as avoided
him. The darkness was deepening and all the
horrors of my position seemed to increase.
Nothing was left to me but to succumb TO my
fate and suffer the pursuing villain to take the life
be sought Every earthly interest lost its attrac-
tons in these moments Of despair. / felt my
knees failing, my steps slacken in speed dizzi.
ness came over me, and the consciousness that he
was close behind me became q certainty. when
suddenly false step on my part precipitated me
into newly drug grave OF great depth. -
! experienced a shock, and the pain suffered
was acute. ] believed myself injured to such an
extent that my life would be despaired of, but
held my peace.
In the midst Of this terrible torture of mind and
body, listened with kind of savage joy, min
gled with fear, to the oaths of my seeker, as.
stumbling at every step, be went about from spot
to spot, calling me to leave my proyidential
covert, for he intended no harm.
The sound of his receding footsteps became
fainter and fainter, and reioiced that, tired of
the chase, he had left me. .-a.ltt
In few moments l heard the sound of wheels
proceeding rapidly in the direction we had come,
and with feelings akin to happiness | felt myself
alone. How long continued TO listen to the re.
treating wheels kzow not; but at length the
sound ceased. .--- r
All was stIl as death. Then, amid the hushed
silence, arose a sound like that of a mans feet
among the grass. ] felt that he was near He
was searching low on the ground. / even heard
breathing above me. | was then impressed that
be was then seeking the piece of gold which had
severed from him, and ] listened with exulting
triumph to his protracted and frultless search.
At length he likewise became a victim TO de.
SPAR. He rose erect, and stood quite STILL to de-
tect, if possible, the slightest movement in that
desthly inclosure. Then. at first slowly and un-
besiiatingly. he spoke. He alternately made use
now of threa,s, now of persussions. Sometimes,
with tremulous voice. he besonght me TO discover
myself, hat heard even his sobs with relentless
stOicism.
As crouched there what unbidden thoughts of
eternity filed my SOUL Never did the future pre-
sent itself with such force 10 my halt crazed mind,
as when hiding from the revenge of a man uDin.