The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-06-24
ssGrac1ous God but two hours more,

There was but short road separating
us nov from wall which surrounded q
large mansion, and along this we hast
ened until we reached small door.
Passing through this, in a few minutes
we were stealthily ascending the private
staircase to splendi dly- furnished apart
ment. which left no doubt Of the wealth
of its owner. Ali was intensely silent,
however, through the house: and about
this room in particular. there was still
ness that, as / gazed around, struck me.
almost CHASTITY.
Ny companion glanced at the clock on
the mante1-sheH and sank into large
chair by the side of the fire with shud-
der. "Only an hour and half longer"
he muttered. ssGreat Heaven I
thought I had more fortitude. This hor-
ror humans me-" Then, in fercer
tone, and clutching my arm, he added,
Ha! you mock meyou think ne
mad; but wait till you see wait till you
see r.
put my hand on his wrist; for there
was now fever IN his sunken eyes
which checked the superstitious chill
which had been gathering over me, and
made me hope that, after all, my first
suspicion was correct, and that my pa
tient was but the victim of some fearful
ilallucination.
ssMock your answered soothingly.
Far from it; sympathize intensely
with you, and would do much to aid you.
You require sleep. Lie down, and leave
me to watch.
He groaned, but rose, and began
throwing off his clothes, and, watching
my opportunity, [ slipped sleeping
powder, which had managed to put in
my pocket before leaving the surgery,
into the tumbler of claret that stood be-
side him.
The more I saw, the more felt con-
WINGED that it was the nervous system Of
my patient which required my atten-
ton; and it was with sincere satisfac-
ton I saw him drink the wine, and
then stretch himself on the luxurious
bed.
ella, y thought I as the clock struck
ID, and, instead of a groan, the deep
breathing of the sleeper sounded through
the room; "you won't receive any sum-
mons tonight. and may make myself
comfortable"
Noiselessly, therefore, I replenished
the fire, poured myself out glass OF
wine, and, drawing the curtain so that
the freight should not disturb the
sleeper. I put myself in a position to
follow his, example.
How long I slept I know not, but sud.
denly I aroused with start and as
| ghostly thrill of horror as ever re-
membered to have felt in my life. Some.
th51g-what, knew not-seemed near
something nameless, but unutterably
awful.
I gazed round. The fire emitted 6
faint blue glow, just sufficient to enable
me to see that the room was exactly The
same as when I fell asleep, but that the
long hand of the clock wanted but five
minutes of the mysterious hour which
was to be the death-moment of The
summoned man!
]. Was there anything in it, then ANY
truth. in the strange story he had told /?
The silence was intense. could no
even hear breath from the bed and
was about to rise and approach, wlSs1
again that awful horror seized me, anl
at the same moment my eye fell upo1
the mirror opposite the door, and
saw
4. Great Heavenl that awful Shape
| that CHASTITY mockery Of what had beer
humanity it really q messenge
from the buried, quiet dead? It stoot
there in visible death-clothes but tn
awful face was CHASTITY with corruption
and the sunken eyes cleaned forth
green, CLASSY glare, which seemed a yer
l .%o1,1 Il +, INFO lao
low. To move or utter sound in tina
hideous presence was impossible; an,
| like statue I sat and saw that horri'
Shape move slowly toward the bed.
What was the awful scene enacte
there know not. I heard nothing, es
cept low, stifed, agonized groan, and
saw the shadow Of that CHASTITY messen
ger bending over the bed. Whether
was some dreadful but wordless sentenc
its breathless lips conveyed, as it stoo
there, I know not; but for an instan
the shadow of a claw-like hand, fro1
which the third finger was missing, az
peared extended over the doomed man
head; and then, as the clock struck on
clear silvery stroke, it fell, and a vii
shrek rang through the ROOM deaf
shrek.
I am not given to fainting, but / cel
tainly confess that the next ten minute
of my existence was cold blank ant
when I did manage to stagger to NJ
! feet, I gazed round, vainly endeavorin
to understand the chilly horror whic
still possessed me.
Thank God! the room was rid Of tn;
awful presence II saw that; so, gulpin
down some wine, I lighted wax-tap,
and staggered toward the bed. al
how I prayed that, after all, I migl
have been dreaming, and that my ON
excited imagination had but conjure
up some hideous memory Of the dissec
. ing-room!
But one glance was sufficient to answ
that. No! The summons had indee
i been given and answered.
I flashed the light over the dead fac
swollen, convulsed still with the deaf
agony; but suddenly / shrank bac
Even as I gazed, the expression Of Il
/ face seemed to change; the blackne
r faded into a deathly whiteness the CO
vulsed features relaxed, and, even as
3 the victim of that dread apparition st
I lived, sad. solemn smile stole over t
/. i nola line