The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-03-05
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LFrons DE NeW Yo,,kf, Sunday Tines. ]
MY FIRST hltGHT~cAths
IcoNI4NUED.I

Z IcoNTNuED.I e"
"That," I replied, sis painful
and difficult question, which I would
rather not answer in general terms.
Such creatures, being merely cases
of arrested development,' are gene
rally very short-lived, an yhow. But,
my dear sir.p added, 'fallow me to
say, that this is an Improbable
discussion, and that 1 should prefer
seeing my patient forthwith.
zone word more, DOCTOR" he said;
'~'you shall not lose anything by the
delay. You are to assist at an ao-
couchndent; and I foresee,'I know,
doctor, that the wretched. product
will be. unfit to see the light---to
breathe the air--with common NOR
tails. Do your duty-let it die-and
,see,. here is your reward" He turn
ed to an elaborately carved oaken
etthat stood near, and, opening
a drawer, took out q rouleau of gold
coins, one of many similar packages
with which the receptacle seemed
filed. ga thousand dollars!'' he
went on to say, "all yours, doctor,
when yon tell me that the child is
dead. Meantime, take this, as
proof of my sincerity and of my per-
sonal regard"
AS he spoke, he drew from his
finger a splendid solitaire diamond,
the only ornament visible on his per-
son, and held it toward me. Think
ing best TO avoid exciting him by
refusal, I took the jewel.
just then we were interrupted by
gentle tap at the door, which my
companion opened, and gave admis-
sion to one of the most repulsive
figures 1 had ever beheld. It was
that of an aged negress, short and
somewhat bent in person, whose
white woolly hair was crowned by a
kind Of turban of yellow and crimson
silk, and whose shrivelled features
wore nm almost diabolical expression
of mingled cunning and malice. She
whispered few words to her master,
who turned to me with an appearance
of increased excitement, and said
that my services were required i'm
mediately. He then led the way out
OF the room,, across the hall, which
was adorned with magnificent statua-
ry, and up the wide oaken staircase
to a long corridor on the second
floor, at the further end of which I
was ushered into an elegantly fur
nished chamber, resembling q lady's
boudoir. This seemed to be sepa-
rated from an inner room by curtains
OF richly-worked tapestry suspended
from the ceiling. Here, at the bid
ding of my conductor, I took seat,
while he passed within, in order, as
he said, to prepare the patient for
my reception. The negro woman
had followed us, and began to hustle
about with q great show of assiduity.
Now and then I caught her glittering,
snake-like eyes fixed upon me, while
she chuckled and muttered to herself
with a sort of spiteful merriment.
Her appearance and demeanor were
so wltch-like and forbidding, thatI felt
positively relieved when my unfortu-
nate host re-appeared and signified
that 1 might at once proceed to the
scene of my duties. He held the
curtains apart, I entered, and stood
by the bedside of the expectant
mother. The movements of those I
had left warned me, at the same time,
that they had placed themselves close
to the silken barrier, where tbey
could readily hear every word that
might be spoken.
CONCLUDED IN oTrr NEWT