The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-15
A NIGHT OF HORROR.
Concluded.

Meantime, by q proper application of
the lancet, and other usual restoratives,
the ladies had the unspeakablo pleasure
OF seeing Miss Chamberlain begin to show
signs of returning animation. The ply
sician, however, gave strict injunctions
that on the return of her reason, no allu-
sion whatever should be made to the ter
rible circumstances under which she was
found, and that should she herself show
an inclination to speak of them, she
should as gently as possible be restrain
ed. The Countess of Carlisle sat by her
side, and with tender solicitude endea.
vered by every means which affection and
good sense could suggest, to soothe and
quiet her mind. In this she was SO sue
cessful, that although her lovely protege
had Hong succession of fits, she was
finally, near the break of day, lulIed into
gentle sleep, from which after few
hours she awoke perfectly rational. When
she was apparently about to speak of her
adventure, the Countess informed her
of the physician's desire that she should
refrain from mentioning the occurrences
of the night until she had gained more
strength, as it had been found that the
injuries occasioned by her fall were so
severe that her immediate restoration
could be accomplished only. by more
than usual carefulness and quiet.
On tho following day, however, the
restriction was removed, and during the
afternoon, as the Duchess of Rutland
and Lady Carlisle were sitting beside the
couch on which she reclined, she related
to them nearly all the particulars with
which the reader is now acquainted, but
added. that after her escape through the
door of her apartment, she could recol-
1ect nothing whatever except frightful
concussion, as if she had been suddenly
struck down and killed by the dreadful
spectre whom she supposed to be in pur-
suit of her. This was doubtless OCCASION
ed by the severity of her fall down the
steps, the effect of which increased ten
fold by the velocity of her flight along
the gallery, unconscious that there was
any stair before her.
A more thorough search having been
instituted in the room which Miss Chnm-
berlain had occupied, it was discovered
thot under the arras, behind tho bed,
close TO HE floor, there was small, square
sliding panel, of sufficient size to admit
mans body. Such contrivances in an
cient buildings not unfrequently lead
into secret passages, but here, contrary
to the usual custom, instead of descend
ing, it gradually rose within the massive
pile Of stone. The walls of old castcl-
lated buildings are sometimes of extra
ordinary thickness, varying from six to
eighteen feet. Tie dark passages Mt
Haddon, evidently erected for purposes
Of secrecy and safety during the feudal
times, appeared to be coeval with tho
most ancient towers Of the edifice, and
it was quite unknown to my servant, or
even to member Of the Rutland fa-
mily.
After ascending to n considerable
height, it again descended, and led into
a subterranean passage, which was fol-
lowed with much difficulty, from the
decay and falling in of the stones which
once had formed tho steps of the stairs.
There was also two or three abrupt, acute
angles, which. ut their turnings, branch
ed off and divided into others, but one
OF these was always found latter follow
ing it for some distance) to end in what