The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-04

talHmens IL 70 De VafleQ Qv pedestrian ex
cursion. Have we far to go?' he asked a
he assisted his bride from the boat.
Gas far as you please. have never beer
to the end Of this part of the cave"
"Well, then, Emma, we may as we'll taks
our lucheon with us, and eat it in one of tn,
grottoes that are so plentiful here Now, MY
man. we are ready" the traveller cried, ane
holding basket in his right hand, his wife
leaning on his arm, he followed the guide OF
through the first Of the glisteping arches.
Il would have thought that was human
the walk exhicrated her spirits.
THAT ghostly figure, warning US with out
stretched hand to seek to penetrate the mys-
teries no farther! We seem, indeed, enter
ing forbidden realm" responded the gentle
man.
''She does not warn us back, she bids Ill
go on. answered the harsh voice Of the guide
1T was she babe lie accompany you and
lead you whittier you are gong"
"What did he say He talks strangely
What did you say Z"
Il say oE-on. We shall reach the spot, y
and the speaker laughed long, idiotic laugh
ending in yell that seemed to make the
stones tremhle, and caused reyerheration, up
ON reverberation.
sIhere, Edward I knew it. The man is
mad We are lost-lost y
'.What nonsense Emma even if he be
mad, he is harmless If he were to proceed
to violence, you have strong arm to pro-
tect you"
lit is not that fear, but we may never
again see the light OF day. We have ad-
vanced far into the cavern. The guide says
there is no end to this succession of grottoes.
Wesre in labyrinth. We shall perish Of
starvation and despair
Pshaw what weakness is this ?" said the
husband, seeking to disguise even from him
self the alarm now stealing ever his soul
. All we have to do is to reach the boat; then,
though long has been our journey, we know
the current flows outward We have but to
follow its direction we are safe"
Not so; we could not fud the boat That
is what fear Why did we leave it7 If we
lose sight Of the guide, We are lost. If we
follow him-oh, Edward, | feel SO faintp'
Courage, courage; there is no certainty
of such an event have dealt with mad men
before | know how to manage them"
| AS they thus communed with each other.
the guide moved more rapidly, and across the
tortuous pathway.
The husbands alarm admitted Of no desire
to advance further. Much as he now desired
| to bring matters to the crisis he saw impend
ing, he felt himself obliged to compel the guide
to do his bidding In jovial tone he called
| to the man to stop.
9 There, there, my good fellow, that will
do You may consider our journey ended J;
the lady is tired. We will return to the boat
cat our luncheon, and depart from the cave"
Impossible, impossiblev'
"And why impossible? You are under
my ORDERS believe. Turn about instantly;
[ wish to leave"
The stern command was spoken in loud
voice. 'You cannot go back until you have
seen it; she bids us on" "Until we have
seen what? Who bids your" My resting
place-my grave. You must proceed! Do
you not hear her calling 2"
I" Hear who? wish to go back p And
the speaker grasped the man by the collar Of
his coat and shook him savagely. 'Come,
sir, will you obey me. Turn about instantly,
or it will be worse for you"
I" Let go, sir, or I'll You cannot COM
pei me to lead you back to the boat You
are in my power. Do as I order and all viii
be we'll" AS he said this, the guide stood
with clenehed fists, trembling with rage and
glaring Economically from beneath his bushy
eyebrows, while his features worked convul-
sively. ;" Follow me, say, and all will be
we'll. The place is near a few steps further.
She orders. it, | tell YOU Let GO
With sudden exertion Of his strength, the
mailman wrenched himself from the grasp of
the traveller, who stepped back to support his
trembling wife.
"Dont give way, darling see way out
of our troubles, but we must humcr the poor
fellow little. He says it's but a little way
further We will follow little further; then
l shall know what is to be DONE"
" We can do nothing else; am resigned, .
was the faint response.
They had now entered narrow hall, down
whose sides they could hear water trickling.
Suddenly, the lantern carried by the guide a
few PAGES in front Of them was lost sight of ;
at the same moment rushing Tapping sound
was heard above their heads, and something
cold yet odiously soft, brushed by their faces.
"Oh, merciful heaven = shrieked the lady.
"They are only bats; they will do no harm
I've heard they are plentiful in parts of this
cave" declared the husband, consolng, and
half carrying his trembling wife, he made a
dash ahead to again catch sight Of the guide.
Three strides carried hin, within small grot
to, ten feet in diameter There, in the iull
blaze Of the l1nteru, knelt the mailman beside
lifeless skeleton.
81 a! ha! la You know me now as a
murderer, but shall do penance-l shall be
saved. Yes, killed him, but he shall have
vengeance I shall rot beside him. So she
orders; she must be obeyed You may leave
when you wish, bat stay here forever. -
Thus wildly cried the wretch, as he wound
his hands about his grissly locks and gazed at
, them with demoniac determination.
A thrilling scream burst from the lady
and she fell against her husband in state Of
Inconsistencies
The unfortunate traveller kissed her on the
brow, and still tcndcrly supporting her, sank
, himself upon the ground, where with one
hand passed over his eyes, he sat long time
wrapped in thought,
Ills brain was in confusion for the first few
! moments.