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

were set at defiance. 1t was a consumma-
ton in which silently exulted.
; Unsuspected, remained concealed in
my secluded home, waiting for the end.
1t did not arrive fast enough. People, ii
is true, were leaving i'm thousands, but
they did so quietly. could not see them
Il could not mark the diminished num-
bers remaining-I could not gloat suffi-
GENTLY over their alarm and their suffer-
ings. could only hear the uproar with
olit-the riot and tumult that day
and night shook the heavens. The bodily
pain | now endured excited this fe-
verish suspense, and reused it to a pitch
of frenzy. My passions were beyond all
restraint. This ruin," 1 said, ''must be
consummated at once;'' and my desire to
drive every living soul from the metropO-
lis rose with the difficulties that stood i'm
the way. How could it be done? There
was but one answer-by disease.
The idea came to me at first as a whis-
pered suggestion. 1t was possible, and
might be tried. Nay, as l thought the
matter over. it seemed feasible, and must
be tried. The promptings of my black
heart assumed bOlder and more daring
tone, and the words continually rang in
my ears-lOud and louder with every mo-
ment's refiection-'' Poison the CrotOn
reservoir. ~
..Poison the Croton reservoir pa dew
ilish scheme.
| But money did it. Ha! ha! From
mems souls downward money can buy up
all. | could tell how l went up to the re-
ceiving reservoir, and cautiously broached
my plan to a dark-looking individual SUI
perintending the works. The proffered
bait was too tempting for his virtue. At
first he refused. and even threatened, but
bnly held up the gold before his eyes. He
turned pale and trembled, and l doubled
the amount ofmy bribe, already enormous.
He hesitated, and-succumbed. Ha! ha.
Gold can work miracles.
The deed was done, and that same night
sickness and death began to spread black
pail over the city.
One night when had gone out to note
the progress of destruction and desertiOn
searched long and i'm vain for any human
creature. Becoming bolder as proceeded
traversed Fifth avenue, walked along
Broadway as far as Union Square, and
there sat down on one of the benches. II
was an unearthly sort Of night. The
trees dropped, and the whole scene looked
wan and sickly i'm the moonlight.
Ha! What was that-creeping-cree
ing stealthily through the trees? A rust.
ling sound startled me, and sent an Icy
shiver through my bones. i retreated, or
rather, tOttered back to the shade, out o.
which had ventured, and glared at form
that, all unconscious of my presence
moved assassin-like along. 1t resembled
some uncOuth beast more than man-yei
man it was. Presently another, and
another, and then many more appeared IN
sight-all gliding onward in the same quiet
way. Suddenly they bounded in the all
with one accord, whOOping and shriekins
i'm manner that made the echoes ring
again. / was i'm the midst of troop o.
maniacs-stark, staring maniacs!
Like prisoners just escaped from captiv.
ity, they danced madly about in exuber
ance of their joy. They shouted and glib
bered unmeaniningly one mt the other, ant
so often approached the spot where, only
half-concealed, | was crOuching, that
fancied detection inevitable. 1t was hid
eous midnight merry-making. My owl
, instincts were yet partially human, and
recoiled with horror from such sight.
After had endured an hour of terrible
suspense they passed on. But long aftel
they left the square could hear their yell
far, far down the dark streets, nor did
care to stir until their voices were lost II
, the distance. l wiped the dank perspira
ton from my face, and as touched my
: forehead methOught 1t had become wrink
led and shriveled, as though years hat
worn themselves out in those passing mo
! ments of terror.
| did not stir out for a week after thi
adventure. Day after day | listened fO
some token of life without. The occasion
[ al patter of rain was the only noise tina
broke the monotony of that awful still
ness. From the housetop tried for hour
to peer through the sullen mists that huns
like shrOud over the city and when TIN
wind swept them away, among the vas
J misshapen mass of chimpeys there was N,
/ cloud of smoke to tell that solitary dwell
Ter had been left behind.
. The railway whistle was hushed; no
! even the sound of a horses hOOf strikin.
the pavement, or the barking of a do.
5 could be heard; the rolling of car and ON
! nibus had long since ceased. New 1orl
5 was wholly deserted.
Satisfied of that fact, ventured out.
| was clustering sort Of day. The win.
: came tearing along the empty streets as
: it was possessed with devils. Then, dis
gusted at finding no living object WHEREOF
E to vent its fury, It would, In sudden freaks
= turn abruptly into by-streets, and moal
{ passionate1y down their narrow chan
nels toward either river / began to fee
e that the very blasts of heaven would b
: companions. / was suffering from tn
E same racking, rending pain. 1t had be
come settled now, and was almost beyon,
: enduring; it animated me with the spiri
of demon.
4 reached what had once been the grea
e thoroughfare of the metropolis; and / d
!. remember that it was with something aki
: to delight that, standing near Grac
: church, noticed the complete desertio
D of Broadway. As / walked onward
J. found that the stores on each side wer
!. open, as if business were yet being carrie
e on. Silks and satins. rich and rare cloths
b and costly merchandise Of every descriI
1 ton adorned the windows, into which n
5 eyes save mine were ever destined to loo
s again. The latest fashions, the newes
t style of hat or coat might still be seen j
E conspicuous places, and laughed aloud
D think that such dainty garments would rc
2 and molder where they hung. Some ha
s been torn down; and the broken window
] testified that arms had been thrust In {
/; carry off the booty; but the plunderer'
!. in their hurry to escape, had relinquishe
II