St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-06-04
A Strange Story.

commonly called the He'll Club.
Besides their nightly or weekly
meetings, they held one grand an
nual saturnalia in which each tried
to excel the other in drunkenness
blasphemy; and on these occasions
there was q star amongst them
whose lurid light was brighter than
that of Mr.. Archibald B., who en-
dowed with brilliant talents and a
handsome person, had held out
great promise in his boyhood, and
raised hopes which had been com
pletely frustrated by his subsequent
reckless dissipations.
One morning after returning from
his usual festival, Mr.. Archibald b.,
having retired to bed, dreamed the
following dream:
He fancied that he himself was
mounted OH a favorite black horse
that he always rode, and that hN
was proceeding toward his own
house-then q country seat en-
powered by trees and situated upon
hill, now entirely built over, and
formerly part of the city-when
stranger, whom the darkness of the
night prevented his distinctly dis
cerning, suddenly seized his horses
rein, saying, "You must go with
me!n
And who are you ?" exclaimed
the young man, with volley of
oaths, whilst he struggled to free
himself.
"That you will see by and by, re
turned the other i'll tone that eXcit-
ed unaccountable terror in the youth,
who, plunging his spurs in his
horse, attempted to fly, but in vain.
However fast the animal flew the
stranger was still beside him, till
at length, in his desperate attempt
to escape, the rider was thrown ;
but instead of being dashed to the
earth as he expected, he found him
self falling-falling-falling still,
as if sinking into the bowels of the
earth. @.-
At length a period being put to
this mysterious descent, he found
breath to inquire of his companion,
who was still beside him, whittier
they were going. "Where am |.
where are you taking me?' he ex
claimed.
"To hell" replied the stranger
and Immediately intermlnablt
echoes repeated the fearful sound
:" To hell to hell ! to hell y
At length a light appeared, whicl
soon increased to a blaze; bu
instead of the cries and groans
and lamentings, as the terrified
traveller expected, nothing met hi
ear but sounds Of mirth and iolllty
and he found himself at the EN-
trance of a superb building, ia
exceeding amy he had seen con
structed by human hands. Within
too, what scene. No amusement
employment, or pursuit of man OF
earth, but was here being carrie'
on with a vehemence that eXcite'
r his unutterable amazement. Their
the painting stead still bore hi
brutal rider through the eXcitemen
of the goaded race. There, owe
the midnight howl, the intemperat
still drawled out the wanton SON
of maudlin blasphemy. The gamt
ler carried on his endless game an
the slaves of Mammon toiled throug
eternity their endless task; willis
all the magnifcence Oh earth pale
before that which now met his view
He soon perceived that he wa
among old acquaintances whom b
knew to be dead; and each, he oil
: served, was pursuing the objec
whatever it was, that had formerl
ensrossed him; when, finding hin
: self relieved from the presence
, his unwelcome conductor, he vel
tured to address his former frient
Miss D., whom he saw sitting, {
had been her wont on earth, al
sorbed at loo-requesting her
rest from the game and lntrodut
him to the pleasures OF the plac
which appeared to him to be vel
unlike what he had expected, an
indeed an extremely agreeao
.plaee. But with a cry OF agony 81
answered that there was no rest
hell; that they must ever toll on
those pleasures; and innumerab
voices echoed through the inte
minable vaults, "There Is no re
in lell!n whilst throwing opt
their vests, each disclosed i'll Ii
bosom all eyer-burning flame. The
they said were the pleasures OF hel
the choice on earth Was now the
1e inevitable doom. In the midst
the horror this scene inspired, i
conductor returned, and at /
earnest pnIeaty, restored him aga
to earth but as he quilted him,
ID said, q Remember, In a year and
ts day we meet again."
At this crisis of his dream, t
y sleeper awoke, feverish and i'll al
- whether from the effect of his drea
or of his proceeding orgies, he W
so unwell as to be obliged to ke
D. his bed for several days, duri
which period he had time for ma
A. serious reflections, which termir
ted in a resolution to abandon t
club and his licentious companio