The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-08-03

er, shone very brilliantly. 3@ @ls'a'. g
i found was standing on a kind of
heath or moor. / had wandered So far
that the lights of the city were entirely
invisible and yet, according to my COM
putation of time, it did not appear to have
been more than quarter of an hour since
left the hotel ..'i 20 -
a peculiar feeling gradually crept over
me it was not fear or terror, but kind
of superstitious awe, with which / vainly
endeavored to combat. 1 seemed to be
under the influence ofsome invisible pow-
er. felt inclined to return to the city,
but something superior to my viii made
me advance. L continued to press for
ward. For short time there was kind
of struggle between my own inclination
and the unseen power my feet were
pushed forward, not in a walk, but ii
appeared as if were skinming along the
surface of the ground. / soon saw that
it was useless to contend further, and re-
signed myself to my fate. Then my pro-
grees became more rapid, and hedges and
trees fitted by me as if they were moving
and 1 was stationary.
do not know how long this continued,
for my mind was SO bewildered that had
no means of computing time. Suddenly
/ found myself in front of large white
house. This mansion was entirely isola-
ted. 1t was huge building of peculiar
kind of architecture, such as | had never
seen before. 1t consisted of innumerable
gables and many painted towers the
windows were very small, and the upper
ones appeared to be securely barred
While was gazing on the dwelling, l
suddenly heard a loud shrek. One of
the lower easements was quickly opened,
stream of light issued from it, and al
most Immediately afterwards the head of
beautiful girl appeared in the open win
dow. Her countenance expressed the
greatest alarm, and in voice of almost
supernatural anguish, she cried out, ssHelpl
help! help !''
In moment had rushed to the wins
| dow, and in another moment l was In the
| apartment by the side of the fair girl. 1t
was a magnifcently furnished room, and
| a large chandelier shed flood of light
! through the whole apartment. With the
exception of the beautiful creature before
| me the room was anoccupied. had just
time to notice the extraordinary beauty of
| this lady. She could not have seen more
than twenty summers. Her hair was a
! glossy auburn, and fell in natural ringlets
on neck and shoulders as white as the
driven snow. Her form was modelled in
the most graceful and charming manner.
! Her eyes, which in repose | should inn
agine were a heavenly blue, were lighted
up with intense fear. saa.
The moment 1 entered the room she
seized me by the hand, and, pointing to
a corner of the room, exclaimed, IN ac-
cents of terror, "Oh, save me! save me
from that monster -
l looked in the direction she pointed !;
the space ,Oos empty. l thought 1 was
dreaming. rubbed my eyes, and gazed
first at the girl before me and then at the
empty corner. The young lady's fear
was too natural to be simulated. Then
the idea struck me that this unfortunate
girl was a lunatic and / proceeded to ad-
dress some consoling words to her.
- She appeared to pay no heed to my
words, but kept shrinking further back,
dragging me with ner.
''!Save me !" she calculated; che comes!
he comes! See he is creeping along the
floor ! Oh, heavens he will murder me,
and you stand calmly by, and will not
help me! He comes. he comes J" -..-
She now retrea:ed to the furthest ex-
tremity of the chamber, and pointed with
her finger to the floor. There was nothing
I tn ha To
heard strange rustling, as if some one
were dragging himself slowly along the
floor. s5s
81 see no one - exclaimed in hoarse
whisper.
"There-there he is! Do you not see
his large, bony hands ? Look look
Protect me from him Save me !"
Her countenance now expressed such
mortal agony, that it presented horrible
spectacle. She continued to gaze on the
invisible monster, as if fascinated. Sud
denly felt her shiver in my grasp her
throat all at once appeared to be constrict-
ed, her eyes protruded, and she uttered a
fearful groan. l placed my hand on her
neck and oh, horrors of horrors could
feel long, bony hand encircling it /; and
yet, when / gazed there, could see moth
ing. l could distinctly trace the fingers
of this hand, the knuckles and even the
nails.
felt that was losing my senses the
poor girl before me was evidently expiring.
A sudden resolution seized me 1 threw
myself in the empty space where l sup
posed the fearful thing might be, and al
though nothing was visible to my sight
my arms were clasped around some ma
terial body. 1t was soft and yielding to
the touch, and struggled in my grasp.
To my joy, discovered that the attack
had caused the monster to release his hold
on the poor girls neck. She uttered a
cry of Joy and rushed out Of the apart
ment.