The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-14
A NIGHT OF HORROR.
CONTINUED.

Cautiously and gradually she withdrew
one of her arms from under the silk
coverlet, and began, with care, to draw
aside the clothes, pausing every second
to listen whether there was the lenst
irregularity in his respiration; but, find
ing it still uniform, she became re.as-
sured, and, at length, succeeded in so
far disengaging herself as to be enabled
to place one foot on the matted floor.
By degrees, she Withdrew the other also,
and leaning on her left arm, began to
glide softly from the bed, in retiring
from which the slightest rustic of her
drapery seemed to her strained ear like
crash of thunder. Well nigh did she ex-
pire with terror when. on finally with
drawing herself, the heavy breathing of
her detested companion stopped Already
were the long, boDy fingers around her
throat; she felt herself struggling, qui-
vering, tugging in the agonies of death,
and her eye-balls starting from their
sockets. She felt all this, at least in
imagination, as the heavy breathing
ceased. ProvideDtially for her, although
the moon now shone in full upon the
arras which covered the door, the heavy
velvet curtains, which fell in large folds
from the frieze of the canopy overhead,
threw deep shadow where the trem-
bling fair one stood, and she was also
partially hidden by one of those large
and high old-fashioncd screens, which
were then so much in use, and indeed
indispensable, for intercepting drafts of
air from fiom the huge chimneys and
1ll-closed windows. There, in breathless
anxiety, she stood, as immovable and as
cold as marble statue. Although the
dreaded giant appeared to rise up, she
soon had the inexpressible delight to
hear that he only turned on the bed, and
that it was toward the opposite side to
that she wished to gain. Loug did she
stand riveted to the spot, petrified with
fear and shlvering with apprehension,
but she was every moment gathering
fresh courage and resolution, (now ihut
she was relieved from such near contact
with the mysterious visitor and deter
mined, with an almost preternatural i'm
pulse, that, if assaulted, she would
defend herself to the last extremity
At length she heard the breathing be-
to struggle against fear and hope, she
stepped silently but determnedly to-
ward the door. Cautiously and slowly
was the arras raised and put aside with
the left hand, while in her right SHE
firmly grasped the bolt. Who con feel
or describe the rapture which futtered
her heart. as she now bravely, fearlessly
and rapidly drew the fastening from its
staple! But as it loudly started back,
she heard the bedstead crash, and the
tall figure of that monstrous being leaped
from it toward her. The blood rushed
to her heart IS the door gave way to her
concentrated strength; she rushed from
the room, and flew, with wild speed and
dreadful screams, along the corridor and
into the long gallery.
If any one has ever heard the quick,
sharp. piercing shrek of woman in the
last extremity of peril, he can easily con-
ceive the terrible energy of Miss Cham
berlain's screams to escape from her
pursuer, and awaken the Duke of Rut-
land and his gallant son. The deep
shrillness of her angnished cries pierced
every ear throughout the towers of Had
don. At that still moment, in the dead
hour of midnight. there was not crea-
ture within the walls but started up ap-
palled. The dogs sat up most dismal
howl, and the castle bell quickly rnng
out its deafening tones on the night air.
Upward of 130 persons, who had been
reposing in confident security, were fly
ing in every direction. The wetchmen
in the entrance tower seized their iron
lamps, flew across the lower quadrangle,
and rushed up the stone steps leading
to the state apartments, which they
renched almost III q second, and to their
inexpressible relief found the Duke bur-
rying toward the long gallery, accompa-
MED by his intrepid heir, who grasped
cleaning sabre i'll his hand. The aw.
full screams. they knew. proceeded from
that quarter OF the building. but alas!
if those terrific sounds had arisen sud
denly. they had Us suddenly ceased, for
all was now hnshed and still
Lord CRANKY, preceding his father,
hew toward the gallery, joined at every
step by his numerous friends and SER
wants, bearing lights. and arriving at the
foot of the well-known circular steps,
which led mp to the gallery, he found to
his horror and dismay, the body of Miss
Chamberlain. lying on her face, in a pool
Of blood, which was streaming from her
mouth, while her long, beautiful hair
and dEess were in the widest disorder.
Groans of mingled pity and Indignation
burst f.om all present, bnt it was no
time 20 stand still. The Marquis threw
asi:ie his sword, and kneeling down,
raised the bleeding victim in his arms;
but oil animation was extinct, and life