Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-20

ancient comedy. Ha! ha! ha! 1t was
| true: and devils were to be the actors.
Iarrived at the Park. The City Hall
lOomed up dismally i'm the midst Of few
withered trees. The clock had stopped
and pointed to the hour of IL. The great
bell was mute, and the wind, as 1t h0wled
around the dome, essayed in vain to move
that iron tongue of warning. 1t had ceased
to speak.
passed by the Nevs office and saw ex-
tras posted on its Bulletin, announcing:
A GREAT AND ALARMING CRIsIsi
SEvENTY-FIvE BANKS BROKEN UP ST.
MULTANEOUsLYi
THE FIRST MERCHANTS IN NEW YORK SUSPEND
ING PAYMENT
DKsERTIoS OF THE CIrY!!!
ETC, ETC., ETC.
These papers were dated six weeks pre-
viOus. How they gloated over the wreck
| i'm huge capitals and how they would
have gloated if they could have detailed
1.-THE of what have witnessed.
Ipassed by churches, and their doors
alone We're closed-firmly closed-as if
they had been swung to with giants
force. Instinctively looked up at Trini
| ty's spire. fancied that 1t moved-that
| it shOOk-tottered-was about to fall and
crush me. 1t was only fancy; yet hur-
ried my pace for strange chill crept over
me at the thought of halting beneath its
gloomy shadow. The wind Kept me COM
pany all the while, and swept up every
street to greet me as i went along.
| At length | reached the Battery, and
| there ii blew i'm fitful hurricanes, rushing
out madly over the water. could scarce
ly hold my footing the rough waves rose
angrily to where / stood. Even to the
distant shores of Jersey and Staten Island
ships, or rather hulks, covered the surface
of the sea and drifted hither and thither,
without helm or rigging. Not one was
moored-not living creature could be
seen upon their decks. They looked like
an army of battle horses let loose. They
charged-they recOiled-they rallied-they
hurled themselves furiously one against
the other; splinters were flung high in
the air-they Observation-Disclosures
ed-srlnk. and rose again in fragments
The unbridled storm, snOrting In its pride
and power, careered nadly round and
round the bay, directing its wrath now
here, now there, so that the ocean repre-
sented one gigantic wreck.
Over this scene was spread yellow,
sickly, faded canOpy-the reflection Of a
setting-ad dying sun; for, in truth, never
thought to look upon its rise again. In
the west heavy clouds lifted themselves up
| i'm fantastic shapes. Anon they took the
form of the golden treasures in my vault
even as had often piled them up-mag-
nified now into mountains upon noun
tains. They shOne like pale virgin gold.
| The two scenes were alike-identical /;
except that here visible sea of destruc-
ton rolled and roared at my feet. A hor-
rible fear seized my sOul-I gazed awe
struck-spell-bound and, as
l thus gazed, behold the shadow of a man
standing out in dark relief against the gilt
tering sky! 1t approached. My destroyer
us was more fOrcible than ever. 1t was
Bumpus transformed into devil!
His sardonic smile was changed into a
look of fiendish triumph. knew that !
was lOst-utterly lost.
There was pause.
"HOw like you my powerr' he said al
length, "yOu have used it well-my de
mons power of gold"
''Back, fiend! your time has not come
yet"
"Ha! ha! ha!' and his mocking laugh
sounded shrilly above the storm that en-
circled us, and the noise of the waves that
beat against the quay beneath our feet.
turned to go, but he caught me by the
wrist, saying:
"Not so; you are mine now. What
you don't like me unmaskedT' His form
seemed to dilate as he spoke.
made a desperate effort to free myself
and succeeded in releasing my arm; but
he grasped me again and again. strug-
gled with all the terrific energy of despair
With our arms clasped round each others
waists we wrestled for victory. To me i
was strife for eternal life or death, ant
the thought lent me superhuman strength
/ felt his hot breath upon my face, ant
could see his eyes, like burning Goals
flashing with Internal malice. Neither
spoke, and for some moments neither
gained any advantage. soon discovered
that surely but safely, he was dragging m,
moment brought us clOser-cioser-clo
We were on the brink now. The roaring
of the storm sounded family in my ears
A moment more--during which recollec
tons of the past came up with startling
reality before me-a moment more, and
lost my balance. Still holding ON to m,
enemy with death-grip, / felt myself fall
ing-falling, down-dOwn-down-
seemed to unfathomable. depths!
did not die; did not even lose con
sciousness. For long. long time TIN
water rushed around my head, and int
my mouth, ears, and eyes, giving m
agonizing sensations of pain. Anon tn
peculiar noise of waves, bubbling an
splashing about, changed to sounds Q
. music. / knew then was drowning but
strange to say, with that knowledge al
suffering passed away. The passions {
. my soul were lulled at last. Borne alon
by the undercurrent Of the ocean---lyin
on my back, with eyes staring fixedly uT
; ward-I could see the golden light stream
, ing down through the water, interrupte
, now and then as swept beneath som
t drifting wreck. Again there was changt
/ The music ceased, and In its stead hear
, a Gathering of tongues very Babel-a
{ talking together confusedly. The fir,
words ] could distinguish were spoken |
J loud voice
} Its all over.''
THANK God" calculated.
You may consider your life saved,
! was the rejoiner.
$ "Surely," thought, "tIiat must be tn
: voice of my old friend Didymus Dra
4 ackes -
= "Didymus, DEAR" said /, timidly, afts
1 L.r IL