The Osceola times., 1876-07-22

4
that rose and fell intcrrup.cdly along
the shrunken water-ceurse. The cabins
under the cliff shone white and sharp I;
the iron on the metal switch flashed with
million gems the,rails upon the trestle
recedine, turned TO silver, and the foli-
age of early summer glittered on the
trees. A few passionless stars blinked
feebly in the yellow light, where the
hill tops cut against the sky, and sank
below the verge. Calmly and peace
fully. as though the spirit of evil had
not stalked abroad, plotting the death
and ruin of mems bodies and seuls.
That narrow spot of ground with the
houses down in the valley formed the
world for four hundred people. The
furnace hands and their families saw
nothing beyond the hills and rocks that
hemmed in their village e--knew moth
ing of the mad tumults outside. An
untaught, sturdy race of men, they diff
fered little one from another. Every
day when the sun rose they went forth
to toll, and every night when the great
furnace over the creek cleaned red they
lay down 10 sleep. But ignorance and
superstition filed their hearts, and
anger, hate and jealousy were as rife
among them as in the crowded cities.
Another day passed, and the night
which followed it was dark and cloudy.
Near midnight the great bell signaled
for the last run of iron. Occasionally
blue flames leaped up from the furnace,
lurid IA the fiery tongues of volcano
The long and narrow roof brooded over
the sand-b bed like the black wings of
some monster bird lowering in the air
Under its shadow groups of men were
but wavering, dusky figures. Suddenly
as an electric flash dazzling yellow
glare broke out, and fierce, scorching.
withering blast swept from an opening
that seemed the mouth of hell itself
Slowly out of the burning cavern a
Kissing stream of molten iron came
creeping down. 1t crawled, and turned
and crawled rib after rid, until il lay like
some huge skeleton stretched upon the
ground A thin vapor flosted up in the
sulphurous air, and quiycrcd with re-
flected splendor. The scdrlet-shirted
men looked weird in the unoarthly bright
ness. The yellow glow faded TO red, that
deepened to Il blood-colored spot in the
night. The bell rang to discharge the
hands, and squads of men broke up, scat
tering in the darkness.
Monk went to his garret room, hesi-
tated moment at the door, then passed
in and shut it 20 violent that the door
shook. lie struck match. In the
birthstone light horrible daemon coun-
tenance wavered, blue and CHASTITY; but
when the candle famed, it grew into
Monks face, covered by the black scowl
of rage that had dis6gured it once before,
a rage that was freshly reused.
"lf I'd had my knife I'd done it Just
now, when | stumbled against him. But
he dies tomorrow night at"
The words froze on his lips, and his
black, scowlng face was suddenly over
spread by strange pallor. He stood
motionless, as il chained to the floor, his
eyes darted quickly about and he seemed
to suspend his very breath.
A clear, distinct, tickling sound oc.
CURED at regular intervals for minute,
and left profound silence.
Monk raised his head.
"It's a sign Of coming death. That's
lHtTt IL Is tvtln
The strange sound like faint, metallic
tick, repeated itself several times.
"D-n It'll don't like TO hear the
thing. But there will be sudden
death"
Time after time Monk heard at in
tervals the same faint sound, like the
ticking of watch for a minute, and
it mape his blood run cold. He found
himself listening TO it with terror, and
in the long silence, always straining his
ears to catch it, always expecting
dreading its repetition, until the thing
grew more horrible to him than
nightmare. Sometimes he would
fail into a doze, and, wakening with a
start, hear it, while cold perspiration
broke in drops on his forehead.
1t grew intolerable. lie swore he
would find the thing and kill it, but il
mocked him in his search. The sound
seemed to come from the table but
when he stood beside the table, it tickcd
50 distinctly at the window that he
thought he could put his finger on the
spot but when he tried to, it had
changed again, and sounded at the head
Of his bed. Sometimes it seemed close al
his right, and he turned only to hear il
on the other side, then'in front, then be.
hind Again and again he searched
and swore in his exaspcrations and di.
appointment.
The sound became exaggerated by hi.
distempered Imagination, till he trem-
bled lest some one else should hear this
omen which so plainly foretold his antic.
ipated crime. Once an hour dragged by
and his unseen tormentor was silent.
His eyes, that had glittered with deadly
hatred, now wore Il startled look and
wandered restlcssly about the room.
An owl that pearched on the topmost
branch of a high tree near by, screamed
loud and long. A bat flew in at the open
window, banged against the ceiling and
darted out.
Monk shivered. Leaning his head be.
tween his arms, he drummed neryously
on the table with his fingers. Instantly
the clear metallic click sounded again
He looked up, and a strange light broke
into his jace-a mixed expression OF
amazement and fright. For a momen,
he seemed stupefied, then raising hi,
hand, he tapped lightly against the wood
with his finger nail The last tap had
not died until ii was answered by wha,
seemed like fainter repetition of itself
Uttering fearful oath, Monk recoied
from t he table, but as if drawn back anc
held by wierd fascination, he sat an
hour striking the hard surface with hi.
nails, and pausing for the response tha,
| each time cameclear and distinct
Gray streaks crept along the east, anC