The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-03-14
4 HORRIBLE TAKE

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tempting viands before me my attention was
suddenly arrested BY the appearance Of d re-
markable parsonage who had quietly seated
himself at the table nearly opposite me-
The new arrival seemed = cut out = for a
young man, his countcnance and general ap-
pearance certainly not indicating person over
80 years Of age at the farthest But in strik-
ing contrast with his youthful face was his
hair, which was white as the driven snow.
There was mild, pepsive--indeed, I might
say, almost melancholy expression about his
classic features, that at once enlisted my SYM
pathies aud preposscssed me in his favor.
My curiosity was intensely stimulated to
learn his history, and especially the cause of
this evidently premature blanching of his hair.
Idrew up a chair in respectable proximity,
and lighted q cigar, resolved to engage the
mysterious stranger in conversation, and, il
possible, draw him out into the story Of his
past life.
For some time my efforts were unavailing
He was reserved and taciturn. But, after
several ingenious attempts, succeeded in
thawing him out
Drawing his chair very close to mine, the
stranger began the following strange and
thrilling story:
J" | am a commercial traveller and young
man, being just in my thirtieth year. Previous
to the horrible events am now about to de-
tail my hair was blacker than the ravens
wing, and the events of a single night blanch-
ed these locks.''
The speaker paused-glanoed fearfully
around him, as If the dreadful scenes and
images Of that terrible night had again fash
ed upon his view, then resumed his narrative:
:" am of a highly susceptible, impulsive
and nervous perament--inheritng these
peculiarities from my mother Ia fragile. spirit
uetle creature endowed with an exquistely
sensitive nature but she passed beyond the
dark river many many years ago.
:" On the evening during which the horrible
incidents am now about to detail transpired,
was on my return from q Southern business
tour, and stopping off for few days rest
and recreation at Louisville, being guest at
the Gait House, in the princely daps of
Throckmorton and George ID. Prentice.
was to proceed East, via Chicago and the
Northwest, on the early morning express,
next day, and feeling remarkably we'll, and
looking forward, with pleasurable emotions,
to the time when should reioin my friends
in New York, after a separation of moro than
six months.
I" In order to pass away the evening, being
almost stranger in the city, | went to the
theatre to sec Miss Charlotte Cushman in her
wonderful personation of Meg Merrilies.
was accompanied thither by two gentlemen
also guests of the hotel-one major, and the
other, like myself, commercial traveller for
an Eastern house. On emerging into the
street, thirsty convivial crowd was surgng
into the Shades BY what strange, fascinat-
ing, irresistible influence, l know not how, l
was waited with the crowd; drifting, feeble
powerless, impressive as forest twig in some
remorseless, ever-wlirling giant eddy
" Inside there was great glare of lights,
wild wave of human voices, confusion of
comingling sounds, profusion of jnleps
and cocktails an ocean Of foaming lager,
and what else know not now.
Duuu6nlyy Wuuc buc Cllukiii1 Vi klitbSco
fell on the ear while the hum of myriad
voices iloated up to the frescocd ceilings, there
was darkness, there was oblivion "
The speakers voice grew faint--a visible
shudder vibrated through his frame, and the
cold icy drops stood out like beadwork ON his
com posed.
" How long remained in this condition."
continued Mr.. Eli Jones, I" cannot tell but
at length slowly, and by degrees conscious
ness returned. There was dim light as of
wax taper in the room--there We're low, sub
dned, whispering voices, a moving softly to
and fro, with stealthy, cat-like tread of
ghostly, indstinct, weired figures around me.
Where was 1? How desperately struggled
with consciously impaired intellection--
to grasp tho shadow, intangible, dreamlike
things around me? But NIL in vain
"a lethargy--a feebeness can never des-
cribe--had settled hopelessly over me. WINS
conscious of the fact that was very, very i'll;
that the surroundings were those pertaining
to the apartments of the sick. / was aware
Of the presence Of some one by my bedside
a pale, thoughtful, intellectual face bending
over me. Light fingers were on my pulse,
and a handsome gold watch, with it's dial
plate upturned to the calm, blue eye of the
face bending over my couch these were the
objects that aawned on my half-waking, half
conscious, bewildered vision.
"Poor fellow so handsome and so young =
1t was like the murmur of some far off voice
out of the mystic depths of some frightful
abyss
(" is there no hope for him, Doctor?' in
quired voice, which recognized as that OF
the Major. N& &8
g Not the shadow Of a hope = responded
the M. D., and then very sympathetic sigh
from the group around my bed.
'Oh, sir, continued Mr.. Jones, in a shud-
dering voice, ''you can have no idea of the
wave of sudden horror that surged through
my breast when those fearful words fell upon
my soul. Cold, icy tremors yibrated through
my frame, and there was dead, sickening,
mountain-like weight upon my heart. But