Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-02-10

bound to protect all who enter this
house. / propose that you remain
here until morning, for / can accom-.
modate you with room where you
can sleep with safety. Take a glass of
Madeira with me ? tits of the best quail
ity."
I weighed his words carefully, and
determined to remain all night. TITS
true the house was in very desolate
part of Paris, with its rear shadowing
The Seine, but his pOliteness and frank
manner convinced me that there was
nothing to fear. We sat up until all
of the guests had departed, and feeling
the effects of the wine, l concluded to
retire. At his urgent request l con-
scented to drink another glass of Ma
deira, and Immediately after / became
quite dizzy and could scarcely stand
erect.
1 was assisted up stairs and ushered
into a room comfortably furnished
After locking the door / put the bag
of money on a table and began exam
lining the apartment. The room con-
tanned an old oaken bedstead, which
stood in the centre of the room. 1t
was the most singular riece of work
manship / had ever seen, as the head
and foot of the bed rose to an equal
height, both made of massive wood, at
least three inches thick. If they had
hinges II thought) at the ends they
would Ifleet perfectly when let down
On the walls were hung three pictures,
one representing the execution OF Lou
is XVI. the CORY heal. staring eyes
and matted locks, dropping intoa bas
ket, with the tiSher-woman seated
around laughing, taking stitch in
their knitting when head fell into
the basket.
The other was the death of Rob
espler the inventor of the intrument
of man $ depravity; and the third pic
ture, which hung at the foot Of the bed
where the light fell upon it. seemed to
me like jumping jack, with his hand
about to lift off his hat which had
large plume stuck in it. threw my
self upon the bed, thinking of the illus
trations upon the wall of the blood
stained past, which conspired 10 create
feeling of dread, / endeavored TO
keep awake, "A | now had serious sus-
picious regarding the keeper of the
house. I felt myself being carried to
the land of dreams, and tried to cast off
the spell. ] would open my eyes and
gaze languidly around, but at last
fell asleep.
How iOog slept / know not. /
had a faint recollection of feeling
something giving way under me, and
waking, with a start Of terror, L lis
tened. All was still as death. | heard
the faint sound ola hell in the distance
strike two O'clock. My eyes wandered
to the picture OH the wall at the foot
of the bed. Good heavens. the figure
in the frame is moving! the hand is
lifting the hat from it's head, and can
see the elumes move! What can it all
mean?
Ny attention is so absorbed in the
movements of the figure, that notice
not the sinking of the bed. / see the
foot of the bed failing,- aud feel the
head almost crushsng me. One her
culean effort, and | manage to free
| myself and regain the floor,
The bed by this time looks like an
| immense sofa, the bottom has fallen
| out, and the cushioned sides takes its
! place. Lifting one of the ends up /
| can look down III the dark and murky
| Seine. | turn away with an icy
| sAudder, and thank God for my mar
row escape. While meditating upon
the means of escape panel in the door
| Opeans, and hand thrust though 10
| unlock the door.
III moment have one of the PIC
lures down and snap the cord, and
| quick aS lighting lie tile hand 10 the
| door knob, taking out the key. a
smothered oath reaches my ear; but |
wait no longer; l snatch the money
| from the table and jump from the Side
window in TO the street. Bruised and
| bleeding | manage to reach the no.
! tel.
| The next day, followed by several
stout gensdarme, | reach the place of
my terror the night previous; but the
| birds had flown. The door had been
battered down in order to eXtricate
the individuals hand which l had
tied so firmly.
To this day the vividness of the
ordeal which al passed though is
strongly impressed upon my memory.