The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25

Aler II little while We ngrerd 10 play nj chess,
and arranged u small sidc-tublc in front of the
fire. sat in the armchair with my buck 10
the bcdroOm-dOor, us ON the previous night
s. was seated opposhc to me, consequently
facing the door, which | had closed, locked,
and boited, on completing our to!ir OF inspcc-
toni S; who was in high spirits, joking mt
uncomfortable tendency IL had TO open on It's
own account, and determined that IL should bc
us securely fistencdas good lock and bolt
would admit of WS.swcrc both fair chess
players, and equally matched.
Two hours, perhaps, had elapsed, when the
interest oi the game eliminated, and we were
considering it with an intcntncss known only TO
chess players. The move was with me-
Knowing il to be Il critical one, was consider
ing IL III length, In all It's aspects my decision
was just formed, and was on the point Of
moving piece, when gradually. surely, be-
came aware Of the same extraordinary Scnsa-
tion of cold us OH the night before, Just us II
the surrounding atmosphere were becoming
iced into solidity. felt that the bedroom
door behind me was opening | looked up
with the intention of calling SIS attention to
the phenomenon, but my movement was un-
necessary hc was equally conscious OF il with
myself. lie had risen from his chair, and
can never forget the expression of his face,
which was livill and distorted. His eyes were
wide open, and turned full on the door that
was behind my chair. All his features were con-
ruscd, and his appearance. rs lie bent for
word, rs In M Intensity of horrlflcd cxpecth-
tiOn, was perfectly t. 'nc. actually saw his
hair liit from his hc and the great beads Of
perspir'silon burst fir his forehead. He took
not The slightest notice Of my movement, but
slowly raised one hand, rs If pointing To some
thing in the room behind me then suddenly,
ana without giving HE n moments warning,
dashed I 10 % tho door Sor leaI @ into o'I the nass
passage, through the passage, and out OF the
main door, which slammed heavily behind
him. ] hurried after him into the passage.
Then remembered t.,at the outer door closed
with sprng-lOck, and that the key was in
the pocket Of my grcat-coat, which was hung
Zip In the bedroom. We hal inadvertently
LEFT The door open on coming In, aud thus $
had been enabled to escape. 1t would he i'm
possible for me TO describe my feelings nj find
Ing myself alone In the passage. How long IL
was before ! mustered sufficient presence OF
mind for reflection, cannot tell, but at last
realized to myself the fact that to leave my
chambers II was necessary to get the key.
with desperate courage, returned 10 the
sitting-room: The lamp was eXtingulshed
the lire was burning with slckly glare. With
closed eyes l advanced into the bedroom. |
quickly felt my WHY TO the peg on which my
cont was was hanging, when something hap,
s DS my very hssr1 senra ana
ment Ill the passngc,--a strange, heavy, shuli-
Ing sound, rs of body dragging itself along
the noor. An Impulse seized me, unaccounta-
Bile as all the other events OF that memorable
night. T felt npccd to follow the thing thut
mas painfully, slowly dragging itself down the
passage. stepped through the dressing
room and as moved, heard IL move on be-
lore me, Keeping nt the same relative distance
fom me. i quickened my pace, ran !; but
still could not Ovcrtakc that which l still
heard dragging itself along.
Alter three or four hcudlong rllshes from
room 10 room stopped III the middle of the
sitting room TO recover breath. AS I stood,
rcvulsion of feeling came oyor me. My
eaSerness TO confront and discover the cause
OF the sounds | still could hear, gave way TO
horror. felt my life and reason TO depend on
my escape. As moved TO the bedroom door,
1t closed in my face. l franticauy endpayOrcd
TO force the lock. The thing was dragging It.
self along the passage into the room In which
was. Again the nauscating stencil of the
nlSnL before rose Into my nOstrlls; l rushed
IL ollrn anu jumping into the space beneath;
Dut It was too late. turned my eyes down
wards. IL was close 10 me, und behcd It,
a man writhing on The floor, his features blue,
bloatcd and dccomposcd tile cycballs turned
up, yet bearing full upon me, dead and glassy,
nm impure phosphorcscent light cmanaling
from the body itself AS gaZed, one discoi-
orcf hand was raiscd to the throat, In which
perceived hideous gash. 1t drew Itself grad
sibe. When was discovered In the morning,
my friends, who were telcgraphed for, re-
moved ME TO the country, where, amongst
cheerful scenes and people, soon recovered.
the night on which he sat and watched with
me.
have never cared to make any INQUIRIES rs
TO the previous inmates OF the chambers IL
is true have heard that an Inmate OF one set
cut his throat under peculiarly horrible cir
CIV the SCENE ~ u nWg nW2S 2SSesXes G9Rl 'wlh te
chambers occupied for so short time; In-
decd, nothing would induce me ever again 10
enter Grny's-inn-squarc.