The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-03

illness that had rendered me wholly incS
pable of mental exertion, sat in my xfm'
chair by the fire, while ON the tsbde neal
me lay volume of Eugene sues Wan.
dering Jew; and another containing 9
portion Of the history OF the renowned
Pantagruel. / had been dreamily turn.
ing over the lesves of both, and had been
much impressed by q chapter in the one
last named, that described how Alcofribas
las Rabelais called HIMSELF assembled the
giants outstretched tongue, and thus en-
tering his mouth, discovered therein q
new world, the inhabitants of which had
the vaguest notions of everything that
passed beyond their own sphere.
Is not every one in London" asked
myself "much in the condition OF the
man who planted cabbages within the pre-
cincts of PantagrueIs jaws, and only had
the faintest knowledge that there was
another world illumined by Q sun and
moons I have lived at least six years in
this house, and what do know of GER
tain Miss Thugleigh, who lives next door,
and of whose ugly name should never
have heard, had not letter, directed to
her, been brought to me accidentally by
the postmanf She has never left home at
any time when have been looking out of
VIZ WkAaOW bAlC 10 ACNCA AZ @ASA 81 AASAAS
which, by the way, is in a most neglected
state. / am only reminded of her exist
ence BY an occasional noise. In London
and its suburbs, save by some rare acct
dent, is not every one in pretty nearly the
same position as am with respect to Miss
Thugleighs / know rather more of the
man who is her next-door neighbor on
the other side, and whose name seems to
be Bubblesworth, for the artist who comes
to shave me tells me that he has his hair
curled every morning, evidently intending
to hold up good example before my eyes.
But knowledge like this is the very re-
verse of exhaustive"
The pursuit of this foolish train of
thought had caused me to rise from my
chair, and was staring vacantly into the
glass on my mantel-piece, when my atten
ton was suddenly arrested by a remarka-
BILE phenomenon. The movements of the
reflected figure did not correspond to my
own. If stirred it remained still, or
moved in different manner. The eyes
alone, which were fixed on mine, obeyed
the ordinary laws of reflection. Presently,
my own arms being folded, the figure ex-
tended one of its hands. / extended a
hand too, and the figure, slightly inclining
forward, grasped it firmly. Instinctively
1 endeavored to extricate myself, but 80
far was from succeeding, that felt my
self pulled towards the glass. The figure,
then, was reality, and very muscular
reality too, for I could not resist it.
Whittier was goings 1t was soon evil
dent that there was no glass at all, but an
aperture in the wall surrounded by gilt
frame, behind which was a room precisely
corresponding to my own. The position
was alarming.
Onion was pulled, and for few Sec
onds found myself enveloped in darkness.
seemed conscious of nothing but vacuity,
when suddenly the grasp ceased, and l
was once more in the light, seated at a
table, opposite to a venerable old lady,
whose white hair, neatly parted from the
middle of the forehead, was surmounted
by the most respectable of caps. She was
absorbed in the perusal of large book,
which lay open before her. Not knowing
how / should be received, | refrained
from interrupting her studies, and took g
leisurely survey ofthe room.
In shape it was prism. The ceiling
and floor were equilateral triangles, and the
walls were consequently three in number.
The table too, was triangular, so were the
seats of the chairs, each of which had
three legs, and huge birdcage containing
vulture, was in keeping with the furni-
ture. Door, window, or fireplace, there
was lone; the only admission to fresh air
being afforded by triangular ventilator,
Immediately under the ceiling. On the
few shelves, which broke the monotony OF
the walls, were placed some old books,
two or three bottles, and several knives or
daggers of Oriental fashion. But the
most singular object was a hideous Indian
idol, like those that represent the horrible
wife of silva, which stood in a corner, and
before which was prismatic stone, exact
ly similar in its proportions to the room
well, George" said the old lady, sud-
denly raising her eyes from her book, and
looking at me full in the face, so you
have condescended to visit me at last"
Though my name is not George, l felt
that L was the person addressed, so l be-
gan politely to deny the cendecension.
"Pooh-hooh never mind compliments
You are here, and that is the great matter
j see you are rather sstonished; but then
it's very snug, and quite good enough fol
a simple body like me-"
Unique in its structure, at any rate"
said, endeavoring to admire. 81 an
rather curious to know how one enters it.
Indeed, l wonder at that when you
yourself found your way so readily" SHE
replied, with slight laugh.
/ felt uneasy, for did not care to de
scribe my passage through the glass, bu
the old lady did not seem anxious for al
explanation, since she Immediately added
at would not do to have room too easy
of access, when things of this sort are fly
ing about"
With these words, she opened drawe
in her table and took out printed hand
bill with the formidable heading, "On,
Hundred Pounds Reward" This sh,
placed in my hands, and learned from
its contents that butcher-boy had beel
missed by his employers, under circum
stances that led to the suspicion of muir
der, and that the reward was offered TO
the apprehension of the supposed assas
sins
Luckily he did not live in the neigh
borhood. But en- the. whole it is bette
not to venture beyond beggars and ticket
ofleave men"
"Venture whatf" inquired.
Immolationr" was the reply.
'cImmo-" l faltered. Then it
your opinion that the unhappy boy wa
really murderedr
REALLY immolateds OF course / dc
1t would be very absurd if thought Other
wise, when performed the sacrifice wit
my own hands,"
"Atrocious wretch -" began.
Hoity-toity r. interposed the old lady
"Don't let us lose our tempers"
And really when looked at her cali
face, felt that wrath was impossible. Sh
was some harmless lunatic, who owned t
crimes she had nevey committed.
al bore the boy no ill-will;' she prc
ceeded, abe was as well-behaved lad q
one would wish to see. l would gladl
have given the preference to a mischie,
ious little vagabond, who rings my be
regularly every Saturday afternoon, i
celebration, l suppose, Of his half holiday
but the butcher-boy came handy, an
when one can't have what one wants, on
must take what one can get"
But why mur-that is, immediate any
bodys" / inquired, intending to hume
her delusion.
"That / can easily explain" she reptile,
"You have doubtless heard that there
in India a secret sect of dcvotees, VIII
term themselves Thugs"
az have read of that detestible fratern
ty in the Wandering Jew of Eugene Sue
/ responded.
"Your strong expression, at which
take no offence, shows that you are M
unacquainted with our principles. / am
Thug, and veil the fact by assuming Il
name of Thugleigh."
1t struck me that thicker veil migl
have been afforded by the name of Smit
or Brown, but did not interrupt.
Il therefore, on principle" she pr
ceeded, "offer at least once a month hi
man sacrifice to the Goddess Bowane
In, Lot