The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-13
A NIGHT OFF HORROR.

The following extraordinary circum-
stance, which occurred to q young lady
while on a visit to the residence Of an
English nobleman of the highest rank,
is, it is believed, unparalleled for acute
anguish and excitement during the hours
of its continuance. Il has been related
by the descendant of person who re-
sided in the hall during its occurrence,
and there is every reason to believe it
to be substantially true in all its main
featnres:
Itis now very many years ago, dur
ing the life of one of the Dukes of Rut-
land, who was facetiously termed "John
of the Hill," from his perpetual resi-
dence on the moors and ardor in the
chase, thnt large party had assembled
tumnal sports. Among the guests was
young lady named Chamberlain, of
good birth, but impoverished fortune,
owing to lamentable reverses in her fami-
~. She was the companion of lady of
high rank, and as such, of course, pos
sessed of sdperior accomplishments
Miss Chamberlain was mistress of extra
ordinary requirements, added to an en-
ergy of mind and force of character sell
dom to be found in girl of eighteen.
She with the Countess of Carlisle whose
protege che was, arrived at the hall on
the evening previous to the night of the
terrifying scenes about to be related
The house being full of company, the
room which the groom of the chambers
appropriated to Miss Chamberlain was
that particular one still shown at the
eastern angle of the inner, or rather
upper quadrangle, overlooking the ter
race garden. That particular room had
not been occupied for many months,
and as it was then October, Miss Cham.
berlain found when she retired good
wood fire, blazing on the hearth She
had found in the library the earliest
known edition of the immortal Dante,
and being well versed in its language,
she carried the volume to her room.
Having carefully bolted the door before
letting fall the arras which covered it,
she sat long reading the divine work.
In such place, at such an honr, there
is no doubt that the terrific pictures pre-
sented to the Imagination by the power
of such an, author as Dante, had much
effect IN imbuing her mind with greater
feeling OF awe for what was to come.
Having closed the volume, made her
toilet, and. imprisoned the last ripglet,
the innocent girl turned to. the antique
mirror to take a last smiling glance at
those charms which had that evening
called forth many a delicate compli.
ment from the young and gallant Mar.
quis of CRANKY, the dukes son. She,
then, with profound piety. commended
herself to the Divine protection, extin-
guished her lamp, and by the light of
the still, clear fire, retired to the further
side Of the great o'ercanopied bed. She
lay long awake, recalling the incidents of
the day, and Illuminating on the fearful
drama she had been perusing. Sleep at
length assumed his dominion over her,
and the last sounds of the numerous
domestios about the hall had long died
away, ere she woke from her first slum-
ber, during which she had dreamed
fearful dream. The moon, which was
then in its last quarter, had just risen,
and shed faint pale light through the
mullions of the Gothic window, the glass