The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-17
Select Storg.
THE CEDAR CLOSET.

LIZ ObDhlb O6SS11'
Il happened ten years ago, and it stands
out, and ever will stand out in my memo
nv, like some dark, awful barrier, dividing
the happy gleeful years Of girlhood with
their foolish petulant sorrows and eager
innocent Joys, and the bright lovely life
which has been mine since, In looking
back, that time seems to me shadowed by
a dark and terrible brooding cloud bear
ing in its lurid gloom what, but for love
and patience the tenderest and most untir-
ing, might have been the bolt Of death, or
worse thousand times, Of madness. As
It was, for months after, ''liie crept on a
broken wing" il not Through cells Of
madness vet verify Through haunts Of
horror and fear" D, the weary, weary
DAYS and months when ! longed piteously
for rest when sunshine was torture, and
every shadow filed me with horror un-
speakable when my souls craving was Tor
death to be allowed to creep away from
the terror which lurked in the softest muir
mur Of the summer breeze, the flicker Of
the shadow Of the tiniest leaf on the sunny
grass, in every corner aud curtain-fold in
my dear old home. But love conquered
all, and can tell my story now, with awe
and wonder, it is true, but quietly and
calmly:
Ten years ago was living with my only
brother in one of the quaint ivy-grown,
red.gabled rectories which are so pictur-
esauely scattered over the fair breadth Of
England. We were orphans, Archibald
and /; and had been the busy, happy
mistress of his pretty home for only ono
year after leaving school, when Robert
Draye asked me 10 be his wife. Robert
and Archie were old friends, and my new
home, Draye's Court, was only separated
from the parsonage by an old gray wall, a
low iron-studded door which admitted us
from the sunny parsonage lawn to the old,
old park which had belonged to the Drayes
for centuries. Robert was lord Of the
manor; and il was he who had given
Archie the living of Draye in the Void.
1t was the night before my wedding-day,
and our pretty home was crowded with
the wedding-guests. We were all gather
ed in the large old-fashioned drawing
room after dinner When Robert left us
late in the evening, | walked with him as
usual to the little gate for what he called
our last parting; welingcreda a while under
thc great walnut tree, through the heavy
sombra branches Of which the September
moon poured its soft, pure light. With
his last goodnight kiss on my lips aud my
heart full Of him and the love which warm.
cd and glorified the whole world for me,
did not care to 20 back to share in the fun
and ffolic in the drawing-room but went
softly up stairs to my own room. | say
'my own room" but was to occupy it a'
bedroom tonight for the first time. Il
was pleasant south room, wainscoted il
richly carved cedar, which gave the at
mosphero spicy fragrance. had choseI
it as my morning-room on my arrival il
our home here / had read, and sung, ant
painted, and spent long sunny hours whil'
Archibald was busy in his study afte
breakfast. had had bed arranged Their
as preferred being alone to sharing m,
own larger bedroom with two of my brides
maids. 1t looked bright and cozy as
came in; my favorite low chair was draw
before the fire, whose rosy light glanced
and fickered on the glossy dark walls
which gave the room its name, "The &c
dar Closet" My maid was busy prepar
ing my toilet-table; sent her away, an,
sat down to wait for my brother, who
knew would come to bid me goodnight
He came; VIC had our last freside talk il
my girlhood's home and when he left m
there was an incursion Of all my brides
maids for a "dressing-gown gossip"
When at last | was alone | drew bac
the curtain and curled myself up on tn
how, wide window seat. The moon was a
It's brightest; the little church and quie
ehurchyard beyond the lawn looked fai
and calm beneath its rays; the gleam Q
the white headstones here and there be
tween the trees might have reminded IN
that life is not all peace aud joy-ths
tears and pain, fear and parting, have thei
share in its story--but il did not. TIL
tranquil happiness with which my heal
was full, overHowed ia some soft teal
which had no tinge of bitterness an
when at last l did lie down, peace, dee
and perfect, still seemed to flow in on IN
with the moonbeams which filled the room
.shimmering on the folds Of my bridal dres
which was laid ready for the morning.
am thus minute in describing my last wal
ing moments, that it may be understoo
that what followed was no creation Of
sAerbid fancy.
do not know how long | had bee
asleep, when was suddenly, as it wer
wrenched back to consciousness. III
aoon had set, the room was quite dark !;
could just distinguish the glimmer Of
cloudcd, siaFless sky through the opt
window. / could not see or hear anythir
unusual, bat not the less was | consciol
Of an unwonted, baleful presence neal
an indescribahle horror cramped the vel
bcatings ofmy heart with every instal
the certainty grew that my room was sha
cd by some evil being. | could not cl
for help, though Archie's room was clos
aud | knew that one call through Il
deathiike stiffness would bring him to m
all eeald do was TO gaze, gaze, gaze in
the da,taess. Suddenly-and throb stun
through every nerve--I heard distinct
from behind the wainscot against whi'
the head Of my bed was placed, a low, h
low moan, followed on the instant by
cracking, malignant laugh from the 9th
side Of the room IL | had been one
the monumental figures 10 the churchya
on which ] had seen the quiet moonbeai
shine few hours before. | could not ha