Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-11-18
through endless labyrinths until my


liantly- lighted room, still and silent as
the tomb, that dazzled my eyes like
flashing gem setin a heavy, darksome
JET That it was very old was evident
both to the eyes and to the nostrils;
the tapestried walls were furrowed by
the claws Of fierce old time, and the
once rich furniture was crumbled away
as though the years had sat too heavily
npon it and from everything rose a
damp, delayed chill that turned me
deadly cold.
"Come, Roger" 1 prayed; shave
done with your joke and let us leave
this place, or I shall die"
Withdrawing his arm from about
my waist, but still retaining his horrid
cold clasp upon my arm, the mufled
figure raised his. hand, and drawing
aside his mask revealed TO me the
features of my strange escort. My
Godl shall l ever forget that face,
those hellish burning eyes that looked
at me with dendish triumph, OF that
cold, clammy grasp on my wrist that
sent a shuddering chill through my
blood?
"Let me go, let me 60" l painted
with parched lips, sinking at his feet
and striving to shut out the glare of
his horrid eyes. But the phantom,
devil, llend, or whatever he was, raised
me up with mock tenderness. u
%s"Nay anyfpretty one, yon would not
fly from ME who love you so wellp
Come, my little bride, do not turn your
dainty head from me-" he Kissed, press
ing me, in spite of my shrieks and
struggles, to his cold breast and laying
his damp, clammy cheek against mine.
IL am weary of my fellow-phantoms
and would fain revive my warmth
and cheerfulness in the arms of my
loving bride"
"Mercy! Mercy" l shrieked, burst
ing from the monsters grasp, and
falling in q shuddering heap on the
floor, with my face hidden in my hands.
"Mercy! Mercy" answered the mock
ing, ghostly echoes.
"Come, enough of this noise; you're
disturbing the very dead" said my
satanic captor. "Get up" he CON
tinued, tiorcely. "You are mine, body
and soul. All heaven itself could not
save you in this silent tomb, the abode
of the dead. Now, my dainty bride,
I'll show you the place over which you
are to be the mistress, subject only to
my orders"
Raising me up N held me clasped
to his Meast AIT imprinted q ccld
kiss OF my face that felt like the touch
of death, and seemed to draw all tho
warmth from my body-but his eyes!
oh, pray GodI may forget their wolfsn
glare as they swept my face that awful
night.
Half carrying and half dragging me,
for terror had almost deprived me Of
the use Of my limbs, we went along the
death-like corridor; but now there
were other footsteps and other moars
beside mine. "There, my bird, is your
storeroom," he cried, throwing open
the door Of a loathsome, reeking den,
and disclosing, with a fiendish laugh,
heaps of human bones, groups of grin
ming skulls, and here an entire skeleton
that seemed to point and grin at NE
with malicious derision.
My tormentor dropped my arm fer
an instant to fasten the door upon the
revolving scene, when gathering
strength from %despair-I turned and
fled, I knew not whittier. White-faced
horrors, with glazing eyes, sprang at
me from the darkness, but on 1 flew,
obllvious of everything save the mock
ing laugh of the demon that pursued
me. My limbs were trembling with
exhaustion and the foam stood ON my
lips. Already l felt his chill. fatal
breath on my face, and with a wild cry
of despair | was sinking to the ground;
when, 10! ahead of me / spied a light
a faint Pickering ray-the first rosy
CLEAN of early dawn breaking iryupon
my night of darkened horror, ard CIV
ing me new light and courage. Bound
ing beyond the phantom's reach, / flew
toward the beckoningray with STAINED
muscles, painting breath and bursting
neart; the door was almost reached,
his hand was on my shoulder, fis de-
moniac laughter ringing in my ears,
when, with superhuman strength, l
slipped from his grasp, sprapg through
the heavy archway, and fell fainting on
mother earth's broad breast, surrounded
by mocking demons, leering triumph
antly at my misery.
Where am II" Ieriel, starting W
in terror, and looaing rodnd upon a
strange, darkenel room
"Here, M darling, with me-"
answered my husbald, leaning over
the bed, and strokitg my fevered
brow with his soothing hand.
! ooh, Roger! was itall a dream, then
"a horrid dream l asked, YEARLY,
as recollections OF my ghostly escort
came crowding or lray brain.
He shook his heaa gravely, "We've
found you"
"Look, lookI 7 shrieked, raising my
arm and showing on the white skin the
purple marks of the demons fingers.
"Rogerl Roger! lmoaned, promise to
leave this cursed place tomorrow. I
cannot stay ;inorher day"
We will, my darling he answered,
and we did Brooklyn Times.
---se~-
The nlnoJad Vax~.~I rs