Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-23
knew not which way to turn, lest she
should make some false step, and so
stood perfectly n1otionless

|
stood perfectly notionless
And now. there arose on Der ears the
most terrible sounds that could pain
and alright a tender maiden's ear.
From beneath her very feet seemed to
come horrible cries. groans ANA shrieks
of pain; while her nostrils were Offend
ed by dreadful sickening odor, as if
arising from some horrible pit. Then
she saw dim light descending from a
great height above her, and presently
could family discern car being let
down towards her Ere long it reached
her side, and from it stepped a hideous
creature, in whom she could not but
| recognize the terrible dwarf, Pukket.
The imp instantly seized her by the
arm, and raising blazing torch above
their heads, exclaimed: "Behold the
fate of those who fall into my power!"
1t was terrible sight, indeed, that
met her eyes. She found that she was
standing upon narrow ledge overs
hanging a gloomy abyss, and down in
that dark and horrible pit, which was
of immense size, she could just distin>
guish the figures of human beings;
some cropping and crawling about like
reptiles, some fighting furiously, aud
others stretched upon the ground
writing III pain.
Here in this dismal abode were all
the regiments Of soldiers who had dis
appeared 50 strangely, as well as all
the other persons who had been enticed
into the castle, where they had been
LETT blythe cruel dwarf to pine and die
by slow degrees, So scantly were they
supplied with food that The poor crea
lures were forced to struggle with one
another for every mouthful, and every
day beheld the release by death s.oi one
or more Of these victims for their mis-
cry. And zach fate will be thine the
dwarf went on to add, Except on enc
condition-that you consent to be my
wife and the mistress Of my castle"
But she felt that she would far sooner
die than become the bride of such q
wretch, and did not hesitate to tell him
so; whereupon hereplied that he would
give her twelve months to decide final
~, and if she did not then consent she
should be thrown headlong into tie
PIT. Then he drew her into q small
chamber built into the wall, and HAYS
ing clasped about her neck gold col
lar, to which was attached to a chain
connected with an iron ring fastened
in the massive stones, departed and left
her to her thoughts.
So this was the way poor Christabel
spent her Christmas eve, and her
Christmas too, and many a weary
week and month afterward. Each
day she was visited by beautiful mai
dens in silks and jewels, and having
lights like myriad glow worms togeths
er in their foreIeards. who brought her
the most elegant dainties served ID
golden dishes (Which they presented
Oh Bonded knees,) and never ceased to
paint in glowing colors all the splender
and happiness which would be her lot
as the wife OF the master Of the great
castle. These fair creatures were the
daughters Of Puisket, and their mother
was wicked but beautiful fairy named
Mal!oia. The grosns and cries Of des~
pair that continually rose TO the ears
did not allow her to forget for an in-
slant Whist must be her doom should
she refuse to comply with The demands
Of the dwarf.
When Chlistabel's father found that
his daughter had not come to the
town Oh Christmas eve, he set out for
his fathers house on Christmas morn
ing, taking roundabout way, as he
did not care to gel into the vicinity of
Castle Curious. What vas his con-
sternation on arriving at the cot to find
that his darling Christabel had started
for the town as usual the day before
Christmas, and that since then uovning
mere had been heard of her. There
could be but one surnlise-that she had
fallen victem 10 the wiles Of the Graf
ty Pukket. The heart broken father
INN diately determined to go in search
OF her, hgppen what might to him. Her
grandfather eutreated that be might be
allowed to 50 il bis place, because it
had been through his carelessness in
permitting her TO 90 BY the castle alone
that the evil had betalen her, but his
son weuid not heal Of such thing,
aud at once set out himself. Having
once come in sight Of the eye OIL the
castle tower the poor carpenter soon
found himself in that great pit Of mis-
cry of which we have been reading.
where he Of course looked il vain for
his daughter among the wretehed
crowd of sufferers.
And when the good old woodman
heard nothing now OF either bis son or
his granddaughter he was SO grieved