News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-02-12
THIRTY YEARS AGO.

ing out of the fFive Points, in Ney
York. For three years this old franz
house, with its rotten outside, had beel
untenanted-or, at least, it was though
SO. Gloomy and dark and grim ane
scowling it stood, separated on all side.
from the surrounding houses, and always
reminding people of its fixed determine.
ton to fall and demolish those who
passed beneath its shadow, for it was
crooked, crazy and seemingly falling
apart.
There was deep mystery about this
old house, and we proceeded to unrayel
it.
The church clocks of the city had
tolled out eleven one dark, starless night
in November, as man, dressed in deep
black, ascended with noiseless footsteps
the rickety stoop of this old house, and
applying key to the door, entered and
closed it behind him.
Not a living soul had observed him,
The quiet court was deserted and partly
wrapped in deep slumber.
Gaining the dark and dusty hallway
the man proceeded onward, going up .
fight of stairs and then into a musty.
smelling passage, narrow and dark as
Hades.
Here he produced large lantern from
some corner, and striking a match, he
lighted candle and unlocked strong
ly-barred door of room situated, it ap.
pesred, in the very heart of the old
house, and surrounded by rooms Oh all
sides. Into this apparently secret room
the stranger entered.
By the rays of the candle in the Ian.
tern we see round, wood-paneled room,
cold and chilly, three-legged stool, an
old fireless hearth, and straw tick laid
on the dirty, dust-covered floor, and on
this tick reclines a pale, emaciated man
of perhaps five-and twenty, tied with an
iron band around his ankles; attached
to the band was a chain four feet in
length. The other end of the chain was
fastened to heavy ring in the wall.
This man is prisoner. The stranger
is his jailer.
so, Robert Grantly P' says the
stranger, laying his lantern down and
then seating himself on the three-leg-
ged stool. '1've come back again, you
see Come, you aia't sleeping I"
$50 away from my sight, you demon
in mans form ~ cried out the prisoner.
''Your presence is a poison to me |
Curse you, what has brought you here
again !? Let me starve to death, but do
not torture me by your fiendish pres
ence p
Come, now. Grantly, you know why
/ came here again. 1 want you to an
swer, yes or-Or no.
mo, you plotting scoundrel mo, to
your teeth, and for the last time"
''You are quite brave. amt you?''
sneered the stranger. ''You'H never
leave this place; it shall be your tomb. -
Perhaps" replied the prisoner; shut
I'll not give up my life without strug-
gle, ] can tell you. You false, treacher,
Gus Judas"
''Yes, that is rightly your name.
Whom else but an assassin and Judas
would have played the vile and double
part that you have enacted. Why am j
here, weak and starving man? Why
have been imprisoned here for twelve
months? You are penniless man. /
was paying my addresses to Marian
Mandrake, loving girl, whom you dis
covered to have had boundless wealth.
You wished to gain her for your bride
God help her should that be her fate
stood in your way. You played the
part of friend to me, and late one dark
night, after drugging me, you enticed
me into this grim and lonely place, con-
signed me to this dreary and dark room,
and for one year have not seen the
light of day."
"You can purchase your freedom by
just"
"By signing a paper drawn up by
You, Ralph Langly, renouncing all
claim to Marian Mandrakes hand, and
leaving her for you to win. by consent
ing-by swearing to leave New York till
after you have married her. and never to
mention-never to breathe to living
soul my imprisonment here"
Exactly, my dear Robert, these are
the conditions whereon you gain your
life and liberty, my fine fellow"
''I scorn your offer; l utterly and
firmly refuse them, and defy your
threats, RalRh LangIy."
"This room shall be your tomb, then,
do you hear me?" in a rage, "your
tomb, say--your tomb p'
''You said that before, there's no use
repeating it. Now go, and leave me-"
ST shall return again-to-morrow
night, for your last answer, and then
you shall be left here TO die. And !
shall win Marian Mandrake for my wife
her gold, her fortune shall be mine
mine |"
With a meek bow and a sneerine
laugh, Ralph Langly passed out of the
secret room and out of the old frame
house.
1t was the night after the above scene
in the old house, and past ten o'clock
The November night was cold anC
windy, with a starless sky, and th
streets partly deserted. In the seere
room in the old frame house, sitting il
gloom and darkness on his old straw
tick, was the prisoner whom we saw tn,
Dight before-the victim of treacher
Gus man.
'I must make an effort to escape" h
groaned to himself ooh, were [ bu
free from these terrible irons, then ther
might be chance. Oh, Marian, Marian
what must you think of my long ab
sence from you?"
To the outside of the door cam
familiar footsteps. The key grated i
the lock and the jailer's lantern threw it
Pickering candle-light into the room
and on the prisoners form, laying o.
his straw tick.
"You see, said Ralph Langly, as h