The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-23

TO nave my uOnptS cleared ny per
sonal explanation the following
morning.
Duff had vacated my apart
mcnts during my absence, and
thank Heaven! | was alone with
nay thoughts and my sorrows. l
went to bed and dreamed. Ny
dreams were in the last degree aw-
ful.
| awokc in i cold sweat, and
found that it was daybreak. |
rose, dressed myself, and then,
early as it was, hurried to Dith-
mars. Judge of my surprise on
approaching the house to find it
open and lights Of the night be-
fore all still brilliant burning; the
.'housc had evidently been opcn
ever since the sudden exodus Of
the guests. I shuddcred, and a
namclcss presentiment Of evil f;ls-
tened on me as went up the steps
and entered the mansion. 1t was
deserted. | went into the ball
room; it was silent and empty, and
the flaming gas:jets but increased
its horror. | ran up stairs and
searched chamber after chamber
ali vacant, all void. | called
alcnd on Mary, on all the late oc-
cupants OF that splendid dwelling;
no response, not even an echo to
my own voice, and I threw my
self down on 4 chair and groaned.
Just then 1 heard a heavy step
near me. and in marched the in
trudcr of last night in Dithmar's
dressing.gown and slippers, calm
Iy smoking short, black, stunt
cd-Iooking clay pipe. lie took the
pipe from his mouth and surveyed
me coolly and deliberately, but
said not u word. All Of the anger
in my nature was aroused at the
sight of this accursed wretch, and
I went toward him with look of
rage. He put his pipe back into
his mouth, and folding his arms
over his breast, continued his sur
vay, still without q word.
"Devil!" | cried "who arc you,
and what is your fendish power
over this house and this fanny ?"
The smoker smiled, and only
said.
"Do you like music ?"
Was ever such a question asked
ut such 4 time7- was thunder
stuck, and remained with my haDd |
clenchcd silently staring.
''Do you like music?"
The question vas repeated; and |
without waiting. this time for an
answer, the strange being glided TO
the open piano, and sitting on the
stool, the pipe still in mouth,
played gracefully and elegantly |
some of the wild, stormy music Of
"Robert lie Diab!e." Then, having |
concluded his Instrumentation, he |
sang, in soft and almost feminine
voice, "Robert, Robert toi que
J J'aime" from the same great work
Of Mcyerbeer. The man was evil
dcntly entirely forgotten. in tho
musician; for when the performer
opened his lips 10 give vent to the
first words Of the song, his pipe
tumbled from between his teeth,
and was dashed into fragments on
the floor. | remained wonder
smitten and still. At length, the
song being concluded the man
turned TOWARD me as if for appro-
baton.
Among my other qualities | was
an enthusiast in music; and full of
horror for the Individual before
me as 1 was, l could not help in
wardly admiring his mastery over
the science Of harmony but this
feeling gas bnt momentary, and as
as soon as / could suMciapt!y cll-
lect myself, demanded whore the
Dithmars had gone to so suddenly,
and reiterated my inquiry as to
who he was. lie wheeled round
the piano stool and looked at me
fxedly.
as it possible You don't know
me I" he said; in . tone Of quiet
surprise.
l assured him that he was u per-
feet stranger to me. He appear
ed puzzled, and then replied:
II am the real Joseph Dith-
mag."
"Who then, pray, vas he who
until last night was known by |
that name p
"Bogus, bogus answered the
man, turning to the piano and
drumming with his right hand.
Where is be, and where is his
family ?"
GLOW shopld | know? They
treated me i'll but nov that ain
restored to my rights they may
escape-yOa, they may escape"
He said this with a draamy aiF,
and still drumming.
l kuew not to think, what to
do. Could this mans story be
true? Certain it was that the
Dithmars, one and all, had flown,
an4 thst was in favor Of its truth;
besides, Remembered tlia eReot
on the family OF the intruder's
frst oDrearo nca-fka h a n |, n-