The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-30
Ghe1ntelki9susr.
AFOREST MYSTERY.


IpsnezIenslye forest in one Of the sou.
bsrn provinces Of France l had been for
.oue hours taking q solitary ramble, de.
d5ips much enjoyment in the contem.
nation Of lho,e beauties which, In the
mos, pleasing torm4 and varieties, met
nv gsze at almost every step. Their
IoyeIipess .hone in the fullest light by the
morning sun, which was then dArtiDg It's
r,rs through toe thick foliSge above me;
Wien finding that inle had passed more
osickly than had reckoned on, was
Iboa. to re,rsce my steps. But here 4
difficult task presented itself; for, as
had taken no note oil time, 80 also had |
failed 10 oR.erve the course or direction
in which | had been wandering. PAusing,
therefore, Tor the purpose Of deciding
which path 10 take in order 10 return,
nv attention became suddenly arrested
bya rusliin. noise At short distance be.
bind me, and on turning around to ascer-
tain the cause, | saw, emerging from a
dark tAickes OF brentwood, the tall and
stout figure Of man, OF very Wild and
savage aspect, which was in no slight de.
gree Increased By the rough habiliments
xhch covered him.
Ga perceiying me he suddenly stood
still, and gazsd on me with a look Of
seemingly graIiGed auazsment.
Advancing lew PAGES toward him, l
asked him i, he could direct me the way
to the nearest village. He made no re-
ply, but reckoning to ne with his hand, /
IOOE ode OF the paths which tho ught
must necessarily lead in a contrary direc.
ton to that part OF the forest 10 which
hal entered.
/, However, followed him until We arr.
we'd a, an open space, apparently in the
central and least ireqnented portion Of
the forest. 10 this there stood very
Old aud somewhat dilapidated building,
Ehich M strange guide was about 10 en-.
ter but observing as he turned upon the
threshold that | stood still, as il heaita.
ting to advance further, he assumed a
look and tone Of friendlinesS and desired
ne to come ia. therefore followed him,
and As We paced the long and gloomy pas.
sIses, and asCeHded winding and broken
.tIirclaes, began to feel appreheusive
TIA; NY personal security ws becoming
rather hazSrdously involved, especially
AL was at the time unprovidei With any
Eeapon Of defense.
At length We came TO door that open.
d into an apartment which, but Tor the
hint glimmering Of light that was bur.
Mug in distant corner, would have been
in entire darkness; and from athick mist
with which the room at the time was
alied, no object could be distinctly seen,
not even in that part where the light was
burning, Experiencing, therefore, i dtti.
Gully in breathing, l was anxious 10 quit
50 disagreeable and nhiRviting spot
but "A turned back toward the door BY
which entered l found it strongly fast.
eaed on the outer side, and to my increa.
ssi Amusement perceived also that my
guide hal LEFT me.
/ nov began 10 consider that his des.
igus toward NE could be no less hostile
than they had been strange and nysteri.
Qua, bu; was determined not to submit
INTERESTINGLY TO any restraint he might
impose, or indeed to any act at all inim-
icai to my feelings or desires. there.
fore began to call loudly for assistance,
and to demand immediate release from 20
miserable and loathesome q place, at the
sane time cropping about the room for
s0ue instrument by which might be en-
ASleI to effect a forCibls exit. While do.
ing this the apartment became suddenly
Illuminated by the light of day, which
nov shown in at broken but strongly
barred window, from which the shutter
had by some strange proCess been quick
y removed. was hereby enabled 10
discover the nature OF my position, and
90 looking around Isaw, to my extreme
horror, the bodies OF eight persons lying
apparently hfeless on the floor. They
we're devoidot clothing, and their skin
which scarcely served as n covering for
their bones, exhibited those marks and
di:coloraltons corpses generally assume
when they hsve ceased TO be tenanted BY
Vitality. A groan, which proceeded from
adeeP recess on the opposite aide Of the
apartment, drew my attention thither,
where, ona wretched pallet oil straw,
lay stretched an aged female, whose body
seemed fast yielding to the effects Of star
VAtion and disease. On seeing me she ut
tered in most faint and pititlI tone:
Another victim!"
Startled at this expression, | was
about to question her concerning her own
situation and condition, and the meaning
OIL What | saw around me; for what pur-
pose also had been lured there, and
w! thus made prisoner. But, raising
neF hand aSa check to the interr0gations
she saw By my looks | was desirous OF
proposing, the only words she with diff
Guilty made use Of we're, Z" While you
have strength, lesist, and escape that
death which has here beiaIlen many, and
WHICH inevitably awaits me-" Icould
neat no more, bat it was enough 10 arouse
me 10 a full sense Of the danger that
threatened the, and felt determined by
vigorous effort TO free myself at once,
OF to lose NJ! lite IN the attempt, In tbs
easerness, therefore OF this resolution, !
resumed my search for some weapon
VIA which nigh. be aided In my pur.
poe. But atlercaretully examining eve.
itypAFloi the room, aud finding nothing
70" could possibly prove available, in
!ui!ol my despair began to stamp iur.
loa'Iy upon the door, when, BY such act
Peteelving that one Of the boards yielded
o@y loot lsucceeded, after Little difi-
suIty, In raising il, and found, olsss to
!lly than aslOnishment, q naked sword
mat had lain concealed beneath il.
lie blade was in some parts rusted, but
" edge was still keen aud point IN.
G,Gnied. Grsspiug, therefore, is hiIt
HEuuy In my hand, my whole frame
.Tem:d to receive an amount Of strength
iLao't supernatural, and my very soul
%Sathed with the desire Of exercise it.
Sof Tas Ii long permitted to remain IN.
,~IPtoyedi Tor, on turning to listen TO
"aasseeued 10 be the tread Of some one
approaching, my eyes encountered those Of
.us man by whom I had been induced TO
sG'et thisabode Of horror and misery, but
vac then regarded as my worst and
Siilal!e,t foe. Advancing, therefore,
~" a determined step, Keeping at the
e ny sword pointed toward him, / ex.
sa'@ed IN the Jury Of my resentment
Il, Villain! lead me Immediately from
NJ N. place, or for one or both Of Us
'aiS hour IL the laat!p
\. VI Al' peFcslVing that | was armed, he