Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-01-31


atmosphere. His cigar finished, he un-
dressed leisurely and got into bed the
wind, such as there was, came from the
south, and he heard the great clock of
Westminster strike twelve. BY and by
he heard the quarter, and then the half
hour, and then he fell off into n dose,
from which he was awakened by repeated
knocks at the door. He called out, "Who
is therc?' but the answer was unntelli-
gible, though he heard voice in reply.
He hastily lit the candle and opened the
door. In the passage he found his SER
want, half dressed, looking frightCully
pale, and shivering violently from head
to foot.
Why, Warren, what on earth is the
matter?" he exclaimed; F; "are you ill?"
81 don't quite know what is the mat
ter" was the reply. "Please sir, may |
come in?"
Certainly" said the Colonel, who
was one of the kindest Of human beings {;
Come in, Warren you must be ill?"
The man entered, shaking as if an ague
had seized him, and the Colonel hastily
took his flask from his dressing bag and
gave him some brandy and water. This
seemed to do Warren good, and then his
master asked him what was the matter.
81 don't rightly know, sir" he an
swcred. " | went to bed all right, and
went sound asleep. | thought pale
faced man came into my room, although
| knew | had locked the door, and he
stood beside my bed, looking for all the
world, sir, us if he should like to eat me;
and the air in the room became so OPP
presive that it seemed to weigh upon my
face and head, and then this terrible
shivering came over mo as if was lying
out of doors in bitter frost, though
knew at the same time how hot it was"
" lncipient fever" said the Colonel ;
y" let me feel your pulse"
The man held out his wrist and his
master the pulse.
"Strange," he muttcred, after Il min
ute or two. Have you ever had maa-
ria fever, intermittent, or that sort of
thing?"
" No, sir, never that am aware Of"
But you must be ill. Shall go and
fetch doctor2"
"Oh, no thank you, sir ! fell much
better now.n
" Well, then, Warren, think you
had better go back to bed again"
The man became pale instantly, and
another attack of shivcring seized him,
and he exclaimed almost in agony:
Oh, no, sir, not in that room tccl
certain that | should sec that white faced
man again, and feel that weight upon
my face and head. Oh, sir, do lot me lie
here upon the floor"
The Colonel locked gravely at Warren.
lie had, i'll Italy seen good deal OF de-
lirium tremens, and he entertained II
very strong suspicion that this was the
real cause OF Wnrrcn's strange behavior;
and yet the man had been in his employ
for some time, and he had never had any
reason to suppose that he was not thor
We'll, you can take this blanket and
lie dowE upon the floor or lit up III /,
chair as you please. / expect you will
be heartily ashamed Of yourself to-mor-
row morning, Warren"
:" think not, sir; | shall only be most
grateful to YOU"
SO Warren rolled himself in the blank
ct, and Colonel Somerville put out the
candle and got into bed again, and tried
to 60 to sleep.
His efforts were in vain. lie knew him
self to be provokingly wide awake, and
| though he counted numberless sheep GO
ing through II gate, and rcsorted to all
those devices which are popularity sup.
posed to encourage sleep, he remained us
wide awake rs ever he had been in his
life.
Every body knows how pretcrnaturally
acute the senses are when after midnight
they positively refuse to be lulod to slum-
Der and the Colonel felt as terribly on
the alert as he had felt sometimes in tho
Indian mutiny. Warren had quite go
over his bad dreams and indisposition
aud snored in the most comfortable man
ner.
Suddenly some noise within the house
made the Colonel start up in his bed an(
listen attentively. Yes, there could be NJ
doubt about it; there was the sound Of /
football upon the stairs. lie hastily ii
his candle again, and his gnze was turned
turned toward the door, which he baC
locked, alter it was settled that Warrer
should remain. He saw the handle move
In fash Of thought he asked himself
what this could be? London thieves
would never dream Of running the risl
of entering house in which there wa
absolutely nothing to steal. To physlca
fear Colonel Somerville was stranger
and 50 he had at once snatched up TIN
short, heavy poker from the fireplace
and without waiting to arouse his servan
whom he saw was sleeping heavily, h
went quietly TO the door, unlocked ant
opened it suddenly, prepared to captur
the intruder. But the passage outsid
was vacant and silent.
Being man Of more Shan ordinar.
strength, and throughly accustomed t
danger, he did not hesitate about contin
uing his search. There were only tw
other rooms upon his floor. These he en-
tered, and as they were destitute OF furni
ture, glance was sufficient to show hin
that there was no one there. Then h