The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-26
aderso's gutelIigeaeer.
.AM UMsoLvAD lEYsTERY.
A etors lola BY q nlodloa, Gentleman.

Side q winter 6tOFm pelfOWed over the
chimneys, aud beat seriously at the win.
3 dow panes. Afar off we could hear the
gust roaring among the naked hills, now
plunging shrilly through the skeleton
branches of the trees, and again whirling
over head with weird shouting sound
that might well hays proceeded from the
throats OF evil things riding upon the
wind. The ghostly spirit of the storm
seemed to have penetrated even into our
comfortable circle, for We had got, know
not how, upon shat most dismal of all
subjects, Death.
We had canvassed the theme pretty
thoroughly before we discovered that two
1f car number, the Professor end the
Doctor, had taken no part in the convef-
sation. They were sitting little re-.
moved from the rest of us, gazing gloom
lily into the fire. Their ordinarily cheer
ful expression Of co1ntenance had given
place to sober, troubled look, and more
than once we had detected the exchange
of a strangely significant glance between
them.
AS may be readily supposed, we were
not slow to press them for an explanation
of their conduct. But for considerable
time our efforts were fruitless. AT longth,
after much persuasion, 1t was the Profes.
sor who spoke;
Gentlemen" said he gravely, "no man
cares to gain for himself the reputation
; Of liar or o maniac. Yet that is exact
ly what you are pressing us b. y to dc.
s I have no doubt that the experience
which am about TO relate, and In which
my friend, the Doctor, bore no unimpor-
tant part, will appear absolutely incredi-
ble to pernons Of your advanced views"
There was touch of sarcasm in the
worthy Professors tone, but in our eager
ness to hear his story We found 1t con-
y senienG to disregard this.
Moreover" he continued, 81 shall
risk It. If you chooge to disbelieye it,
why i shall lendeayor to have charity for
your ignorance and conceit. Now, Doc.
tor, If you will hand me the tobacco and
one of those pipes--the ranker and
blRcker the better--I will proceed"
Hlr ring filled his pipe and settled him
self comfortably in chair, he began
!, thus:
ait must be fully ten years ago that
Inc Doctor and myself were engaged
part OF this State. We had labored dill
igently during the summer and fall, when
to, Tds the close of o cold November
day, we ehnnldered our knanaacks and
turned onr faces homeward.
"Our way led through chain of black
and rugged hills toward o frontier town.,
twenty miles distant, where We intended
to take the railroad. A more forbidding
region it has never been my fortune to
see. It was perfect chaos, blackened
and warped by primeval hreo and deati-
tute of the smallest trace of vegetation.
Tall cliffs lowered thousand feet above
our heads, shutting out the light of the
6uii November SKY. SS!!:::ssss.sssti. SS!!:::sss ssssssi. straan.e
filtered between the creulces Of the roeks,
and poured noiaelessly into deep and
motionless tarna. Il seemed that the
blight Of death had fallen upon the
whole country.
"Well knowing the peril of attempting
to proceed through such region after
g nightfall, we halted at sunset, and build
ing o fire at the foot of crag, disposed
ourselves to rest as we'll as we might.
Exhausted with the tolls Of the day, the
5 Doctor was soon asleep, and was not
long in following his example.
How .opg / had slumbered knew
a not when iound myself aitting upright,
Z peering neryoasly into the darkness
aronnd n5. It seemed 60 me that somo
one had uttered q Sild appealing cry in
4 the very portals of my ears. For como
{ moments | eat go, wondering and anx-
icns. Then 7 Eaaeatea that aa there could
- -: .ssa.gs t.eing in tha neighhorhood
besides ourselves, tho SOUND which had
alarmed me must have been the shrek
of some night bird or animal. Explain
ing the matter thus, ! was on. the point
of laying down age;1i, when ( was arres-
ted by o repetition of the cry, This
time there conld BE no mistake. Wild.
long-drawn, and, it appeared to rue, full
ofintolerable anguish, Il re- echoed kmo,g
the orags with fearful shriilness. With
an uncomfortable stert I turned and
y 7hcok the Doctor tc awake him.
'Bs quiet he muttered, 4 am awake
aud have hes..ssssi. ;t aii.'
What can it be Z. asked anxiously.
Surely, nothing human: no one lives In
y this region for miles around. Perhaps
it 10 wild cat
"sNo,' he said between his teeth, Such
4 o sound never came from tho throat of q
s wild cat. There it is again. Listeni'
Z S. 'SThe cry was repeated. Itwas wo-
mans voice, but it expressed such su-
prenie misery as I believe woman never
felt before. II came ringing up The gorge
: with O weird and mournful intonatlon
that chilled the blood In my heart. BY
the Doctors quick breathing could tell
5s that he was IS strongly affected as myself.
Neither OF us spoke or moved; both
! waited for o renewal of the cry in the
hOpe Of arriving at some rational expla.
sstion of it.
Again It came; but now like o luw
Il trenui5us sob. I all s. f5s q superstitioua
man, gentlemen, but confess that I sat
there shivering with species of horror
that WAS utterly new 10 yrie JVhnk cnulH