New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-29
THE STORY or THAT NIGHT,

"'Yes' began poor Nelly in her weak voice,
which sounded 80 far away rs If she were ALREADY
| IN That beautiful spirit world to which she WAS 80
fast fastening Yes, think il will be best for me
10 tell II to yOu, and to-day when II ~ so bright,
and tue sunshine is all around us. when feel you
| two dear ones arc near to me, seem To nave
more courage. Ralph. yOu must not loosen your
arms from round me while talk; yon will let your
! dear lace come between me and ltT The look OIL
! terror came into her face she spoke. though
ESQ longed To know her story. we begged her not
TO tell t rs the least alluson to 1t scercd to hurt
her so but size was resolved though her palIseS OF
VIA agitation while relating it were most distress
! ing to witness
"'Whcn YOU left me. Annie, on that night was
| 'ot so brave "a appeared longcd, would nave
! given wor u.s. to have gone with you, but my fool
lsh PRIDE forbade mo was determined to prove 20
! yOu All now brave was; so made up my Tnlnd 10
get through the night az well As could. ana not
feel sleepy; aud shrank from getting into that bed
! which bad been placed under the shadow OF the
EVIL cabinet, that those grlnning knocking heads
! would almost have bent over me as lay there.
"'N"! | could not 20 to bed, so thought Nonld
| slt by the fire and get on with the book had
brought with me to while away time. The book
was Villetc.' and | was deeply interested in 1t,
though peLh'p+ Lucy SHOWS nervous trrrors were we're
not Just the wsest things for me To study III that
place and at that hour. suppose had been read
ing tor an hour, v it'll that sort of halt attention
! which is not comfortable reading. | heard all
sounds die away in the house and knew every one
must be IN bed. | looked at my watch, it waS0rly
hlli past twelve. What 4 long might stu! before
through the room before | settled myself to read;
and since then had never glanced at it again, for
hld Kept my liked OIL book or on tine llfe
Anniel Ralph! From the first moment sat
there, did not dare TO look about me, and eould
not have told you why. Ii one oil yon had come to
me then. would stil have braycd 1t ont still have
laughed mt my own fears; but there by myself so
horribly alone, so far from human help Gblil was
cre"ping over me-. n chill OF the Tear when mas
clung 10 me since. made no moro pretence oil
reading, but turning my char still more INTO the
hearth, booked into the burning embers The iire
was getting low, and the coal boz was quite near
but dared not rise even to replenish It,
1'Why did you not leave the room, my darling
when You felt this fear. Why did you not come TO
MS asked Rail- ia pIte'us,ly. ,,.
a. Because love- could not movo, because was
like one fixed in that chair. IL was horrible. saw
nothing bur the fire. and yet began to feel, that
peoplcd, that though | was alone. yet ! was not
alone in that awful room. Then, Ralph. tried to
think of you. of our bright wedding day, when the
completion of 10Y was 10 come into our lives: anu
love- | could not think even OF YOU tvGry
thought was being dragged away from itself. was
being concentrated into one focus, the focus of
unuttcrable dread. | wanted To put my hands be
fore my fare and 10 shut ont the fire which fright
encd me, st | should see something come between
and its dying brightness, but could not move
my hands dared not.
al now thought heard sound far far away
and slowly. very slowly the s2unl came nearer ht
became re- distinct 10 was like step nut not
a human step there was M life IN ITS dull morse no
echo came from H. II did not come from the door
but seemed to proceed from the oaken press. he
air waa no on ger still and warm AS II had been Tor
| felt an icy breath stirring through IT, Then Il
shadow came between me- and the lights. "A blight
ing shadow for the candles burned lower iiickrrcd
bl1Led up once then sank into darkness. only the
fire now i,lumned the room and that had curious
dimness over il. II like unto tine shadow of
death which now compas1od me all AROUND and
still did not dare to move or raise ms head, AZ
conched still lower down surely the Sprit ol evil
was abroad No COOL or holy thing WAS II when
WA shutting ont ght and warmth, which was BRING
ing such agony VI dead 10 me!
Whatever Il was II now seemed everywhere.
and though covered from IL, though struggled
to raise my trembling hands as II IN prayer 10 be-
seech its mercy. still tho thing came ever nearer anu
| knew must look upon u. ielt nay sirenEtH. ny
Will were leaving me. ana knew not what horrible
power this was which was taking mo INTO us
session For few minutes Nelly could not
speak but Law shaking from head to loot. lhen
q. DO not ask me what It WAS Ike can never
tell any more than this That from the race
which pcerei into mine proceeded wicKodnrsS,
awful sin. hrndish cruelty. There was no hope
anywhere none for me,uone for 10. felt rs II had
entered info the very blackuc~- of darkness. In
obedience 10 this unspokrn WILL | rose pushed
aside tho chair aud went to the window. | think
once. lq~t once. made lrrblc Gi@It L, urn Dirh
evil Thing was taking me. but II approached with
threatening gesture, and never ~ ain resisted IT,
49, We this Thing ani !. went out into the cold
darkness: invisible hands tried 10 pluck me back.
To- dotain my dress aud hair 10 hoid me IA th"lr
gra,p Int | had to follow always To follow, this
fnim VIII ch went before mo INTO the gloom ~ last
We stood beneath a tree. ! was 50 weary. Iohgcd
for Death. kindly Death. 10 take mo IN lts gentle
grasp away from this uusp'aktbl" Horror
Is. But rest was not yet come for me. The Thing
stopped and with IT. hands tore mp the grass sigh
ing me 10 de- the same, rs II II anu must sec WlhJ
lay bcue ih 4, IN III deep earth. NlruNr 10 obey,
ht nv weak hands refused their oincr and tel 10
the ground. and as fell | saw that Face pressing
closer down on mine. iet tho o cy fingers on my
brow, and ! knew no more NclNs voice sank
away INTO silence. which ut Last WAS broken by
Raph's loving words Is lac stro'e to bilng comfort
10 her. ,t..
Whether some awful vision had really appeared 10
Nelly or whether she had fallen asleep over her
book. had dreamed all this and then in her sleep
I.I la l,t Harm tue %
which we had iouud her. We should never hhow
I!ut We knew Que th'nR alas too well W. tnat
she had suffered terribly, ana that she WAS ny ING
because she had 80 suffered.
Presently Nelly again spoke, Ralph, would
like the ground under that tree to be seaicHed'
Perhaps there was some reason i9r nv beng ti"rn
there lou will see to this love- lie promised he
would. An. what wOuld he not have piomiseu 10
bring peace 10 the poor disturbed NINA fHc
thanked hun with her old sweetness. men iI'.int
her head she looked, as Was her sad won't INTO th't
corner where She said II dim pale Outline was
always watching her.
But Oh, what JOY and rest came into her face,
~ after in:cntly observing sh" cried. lt - gone;
Ralph. IL ~ gone" and Only light and Gods blessed
suush ne are there he rrvulsiou was too great IN
her weak state: she snnH back ialntng' ana II was
long before consciousness was restored 10 hcr'
From that hour sho sank rapidly. And soon,
very soon, within two short days AliclNart'
our daring went from among MS hey were daNS
of Great peace t0 her. She was glId to die, and
when Ralph suffered because she wished 10 leave us
AMI him. she tried 10 soothe him. S2y'nL Hhe
wanted rest she sotred, and abo' all she wanted
10 be whore fear cOuld como 10 her no M. re-, ana
She added shall be- waiting for you. dear one,
always waiting lOu will come hy-Aud-Dye ana
then we shall be together for cyrrmore.
d" think she WI, right Her nerves we're 80 sh2t-
tered by the fright. her health SO injured 10y IN"
nirhts exposure, that sine never could nave hetn
strong AGAIN 40 il was hest for her that she went To
her Heavenly Home; hut for M who loved her So
words cannot express the grief We irlt when Ier
pure spirit returned t. the God who gave H. talph
will never recover his loss, and always eel he Is
waiting Only waiting. till he can meet ms dear |
sweet Nelly once more My aunt was silent, ana !
even felt ! would rather not speak just vet but |
th state of things never lasted with me- so persist
emily asked. &" Was anything ever found uhdor
that tree Aunt Nan ~