The Placer herald., 1872-01-06

A NIGHT OF TERROR.

The following curious adventure happened
in BATH in the yea 49,, and the lady who
narrated it TO the writer was in those days a
young lady staying in the house. 1t was in
the palmy days of Bath, when that now
fallen city rvaled London in brliancy and
dissipation, and when all the rich the gay
and the high born of England coogregatcd
there in season and graced the balls and
assemblies.
Mrs. R, once the belle of the court OF
George III, but at this period gradually re-
firing from general society, possessed one OF
the largest of the old houses, and gave in il
entertainments which were the most popula,
of the day. She was celebrated for three
things (once for four, but the fourth-her
beauty-was of the days gone by; these
things were her fascination, her benevolence
and set of the most matchless amethvsts.
Her house contained tapestried chambers
The walls of the one in which she slept were
hung around with designs from heather
mythology, and the finest piece in the room
was that which hung over her dressing table.
1t represented PhGbus driving the chariot of
the sun. The figures and horses being life
size, it filled up the whole space between the
two windows, and the horses were concealed
behind the high, old fashioned Venetian
looking glass, while Phpbus himself, six
feet high, looked down by night and dav
upon his mistress at her toilet.
One evening Mrs. R had an unusu-
ally large party at home. She wore her
amethysts. On retiring to her room about
four O clock in the morning, she took off all
hpr Inwplc laid fl,a,, to a.
missing her weary maid, intended to put
them away herself, but before doing so knelt
down, as usual, to her prayers. While en-
gagged in her devotions it was a habit with
her to look upwards, and the face of Php-
bus was generally her point of sight, as it
were, and the obec, on which her ewes most
easily rested. On this particular night, as
usual, she raised her eyes to Phpbus-
What does she see? Has Pygmaon been
there at work? Has he filed those dull silk
eyes with vital fire? Or is she dreaming
No. Possessed naturally OF wonderful
courage and camness, she continued TO
move her lips as if in silent prayer, and
never once withdrew her gaze, and still the
eyes looked down to hers. The light of her
candle shone distinctly on liquid, living obs,
and her good keen sight enabled her, after IA
cleverly managed scrutiny, to see that the
tapestry eyes of Phebus had been cut out,
Sahts III peg III Fnuf 9ns anFaf f..qnd tue ser
all her jewelry spread out before her, she
was not alone in her room.
She concluded her prayers with her face
what those last prayers must have been.-
She knew there was some one behind that
tapestry; she knew the bells and screams
were useless, and she lay down in her bed
as usual, and awaited the issue, her ouly
omission being that she did not put away
her Jewels. ''They may save my fife, said
she to herself, as she closed her eyes.
The clock struck five before sound was
heard, and then the moment arrived. She
heard rustic, descent from behind the
tapestry, and man stood at her dressing
he secured the jewels beneath his wastcoat,
What would be his next move? Would it
be to her bedside, or TO the door or window?
He turned and approached her bedside; but
by that time she had seen enough, and,
again closing her eyes, resigned herself to
the Providence whose protection she had
just been craving. The man was her own
coachman.
Apparently satisfied by brief glance un
der his dark lantern that he had not disturb
ed her, he quietly unlocked her door and left
her. For two hours-they must have
seemed two days. she allowed the house 10
remain unalarmed, her only movements hav
ing been TO re-lock the door, which her living
Phnbus had left ajar. AT seven in the
morning she rung her bell, and ordered the
carriage around Immediately after breakfast.
All this was according to her usual habits.
On the box was man who had cost her
nights rest, and most probably all her
jewels. However, she drove off, going
straight to the house of magistrate.
"oeize my coachman,' said she; "secure
him and search him. have been robbed,
aud can hardly think he has had time to
disencumber himself of the jewels he has
taken from me.
She was obcyed, and she was right; the
amethysts was still about him, and he gave
himself up without a struggle. Al! he said
was 81 wish now had killed her. meant
to do it, only she was so good, hadn't the
heart"
1t is most probable that after this exciting
episode the tapestry of that bedchamber was
remorselessy condemned, and the eyelcss
Phoebus was consigned to oblivion.
"SIR," said little clustering man to his
opponent, sir, to what sect do you think !
belong?" "We]l, don't exactly know, D
renlied the other thut to iudoe from yOur