New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-25

PerSon, tnOugh, thought III. Brum.
those two rsscak have escaped, they arc
just bold enough to steal Il when an
out" And he put poor Mrs.. WhiSehurSt's
mortgage carefully in his pocket and sallied
forth.
Mr.. Bruin, Tor greater eatbty. had locked
the prisoners up in the second story Of tho
jail. Soldiers had been posted around to
watch. When the guard had gone to re-
ieve the sentry under the window. they
had found him lying senseless on the
ground. As soon as he sosld speak, he told
them, in tones Of terror, that q hugo black
cat. "a big ga bear, with eyes that emitted
flames of FIRE, had rushed BY him and gone
up the wall. He had been unable to call
out, and remembered nothing more, until he
found himself in the jailor's room.
Tho guard Immediately rushed to the
prisoners room; it Vas empty. On the
wall, In large old English letters, was the
inscription which the servant had repeated.
The men were in an Undesirable state of
terror. and Mr.. Bruin found that it would
be impossible to organize, that night, a
proper search. He started at once for the
castle, determined. if the women seemed to
know Of .he escape, to remain there oil
night. He found the widow and her
daughter alone, and seated silently over
little fire Of few chips which Edith hnd
picked mp.
/ "Well. Edith" he said abruptly, Is he
sat down unlimited, "are you still obstinate,
and bent Oh murders They are both con-
demneG, you know
II can not marry you, SIR" replied the
poor girl. in o dreary, hopeless tone.
"You mean you VIII not Now look at
your old msther, and tan mo if you ara not
ashamed Of yourselfS One verd from your
lips would give hey back her son, give hey
wealth. and every comfort she needs.
Surely. dear Edith, you viii not so forth
With the curse Of Cain Oh your brow, for
you will kill your brother.> Why not find
shelter in these arms p and needless Of her
mothers presence, the miserable wretch
strove to clasp her in his arms.
Edith started back. Her eudden move
mens aroused the old lady. She turned her
pale faos toward her visitor. and e. she
eyed him, rose slowly, and drawing her tall
figure up to it's full height, pushed back her
dishevelled gray locks from her face, look
ing. In the flickexiag freight Like some
Pythoness of old. She slowly raised her
hand. and pointing TO the oil painting ofthe
McGregor. said, in q hoarse, a1e-inspiring
whisper:
"Man of sin he silent here, Ia that pres
ence, and ia this, the last stronghold Of our
race. Last night, for the first tine in many
nights, l slept. He; my ancestor. MoGregor,
the strong and true, came to mo. BY the
hand he led the protecting spirit Of our
house. my Grand-Aunt Oliver"
"Ohr groaned the magistrate, trembling,
"Aunt Oliver, again"
Needless of the interruption. the old lady
went on:
"He babe me not to Fear. He told ne
that the wronged should be .righted. the
prisoner freed. Man of blood. await the
tulfnment Of the prophecy. So do not dare
to insult this maiden, for those wto have
ever cursed or oEeredinstlt to tho lnaidens
Of our house have met with terrible puniSh-
ment."
Az the old lady stopped, sudden and bril-
liant red tongue OF fame haped from the
expiring embers, and threw q ruddy. pre-
ternatural glare over the whole room, and
lighted up the oil painting Of the MoGregor
90 feartully that be looked a. if about to
step from his frame. The terrified ,ragis-
- r.
snatching up his hat end cloak. fed from
the room. But fate had not ordained that
the worthy judge should reach home
without further adventure.
The night was cold, and dark and stormy;
tho times we're troublous, and few peO-
pie cared to be abroad after nightfall. and
Mr.. Bruin met no one. As he approached
the churchyard he became suddenly con-
scious that some one or something was fol-
lowing him softly. He glanced timorously
around; two fiery eyes glarod at him
through the darkness, and "a he reaohed
the ehurchyard gate, dark object brushed
against his legs. He looked down. Horror
Of horror could he believe his own senses
There. at his feet, rubbing against him, pur-
ring and looking At him with fiery eyes,
was o monstrous animal. which, conscience
whispered to him, was Miss Oliver's cat.
His hair bristled on his lead, his knees
knocked together, his teeth chattered. big
drops Of sweat rolled down his fsce. His
first thought, as he found the animal did not
tear him. was to seek safety in fight. "But
what chance should 1 have against cat,
and diabolical one, at thats' he said.
"Avsunt thee, Sathauas" he cried in fall
tering tones, al he made the sign Of the
Cross.
Anew, new" answered the cat, rubbing
harder than ever against his legs.
The wretched man heard slight rustling,
as Of long garments dragging on his other
side. He looked around. A tall female fig
ure, in white robes. which glowed al over
with sulphurous light, stood there. He felt
that it was Aunt divers spirit; he glanced
behind him and there he saw the redoubted
McGregor M he had looked that night when
the freight flashed over him, as the old
lady spoke of her dream; one eye seemed to
stand cut, and glowed fiery red, far back in
the socket, where the Enslishman's bayonet
had been plunged, 10 saw tho other glow
Ing with q paler light. Tho two ghosts
joined hands behind him and slowly edged
him toward the grave yard. Tho McGregor.
tomb blazed with sulphurous tight.
"Oh!" cried the terrified wretch, "Mrs.
Whitehurst warned me; she saw them both
last night, and now my turn is come" He
tried to fall on his knees; tho cat with its