The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-06-16
A CRY IN THE NIGHT.
A Weird Posthumous Story by
Nine. George Sand.


1t was early evening in Venice. The
limpid waters flashed and glistsned in the
yellow moonlight, and their gurgling
mingled dreamily with the song and music
which seemed to be everywhere. juno was
but just begun, and the balmy air and the
soft weather had filed all the lagoons with
gondolas From my balcony l watched
the fitting craft and gay freight 60 back
and forth and hither and thither across the
limits Of my vision.
At last, full Of the fun. joy and glory
which the revelers made, called my gon-
dolier and bade him take me out upon the
water. 1t mattered but little which way we
went, so our bark drifted, except when it
was necessary to dip an oar to avoid a
collision. .....
half-mad, riotous spirit of the sport, and at
last the water became fairly thick with
barges and gondolas. In and out among
them We went, slowly. and from every side
we were hailed with jests, laughter, bits of
music and snatches of song. The mirth and
good will with which we were surrounded
soon took the gloom and care out of my
own sad heart, and laughed, chatted and
sang with them all, and was as gay as the
gayest. -.-...s-- 80 -
a low balcony an unseen woman suddenly
began singing one of the sweet songs of
France, my own dear country. The song
came from throat as flexible as a birds
and as full of music. We paused beneath
the balcony until the song was done; then
threw the singer handful Of white lilies
and we drifted slowly away.
Five minutes later all the mirth and music
on the lagoon stopped instantly, and in its
stead was a great and awful silence 1t was
a m 40 k,rvp Ia
that it seemed to curdle the blood in every
heart-which came from the balcony where
had just thrown the lilies. One only utters
such cry when in mortal agony or NOR
spired by both. There were blanched faces
and staring eyes every where. All were
listening for repetition Of the dreadful
sound: Ours was the only gondola which
moved; All the others seemed enchained
or spell-bound by that awful cry: My. gon-
dolier, as If by instinct, anticipated my
wish, and sent our graceful craft flying
through the water until we were once more
under the balcony whence the song and the
cry came. Clutching the low railing
one in sight Through window before me
heard a stified cry of pain, and instantly
rushed in the direction 1t came from.
The lights were dim, but in an inner room
heard the rustic of silken garments A
black shadow seemed standing between us,
and then, all at once, the woman gave the
awful cry again, sprang forward, and
threw herself into my arms. Her heart was
beating wildly, and there was agony and
terror in her every movement
"Do not move" she said, "do not stir. I
am in danger, but shall be safe If you hold
me fast for a moment"
l clasped her closely to my breast, and
Then again saw the shadow. It had a
mans shape, but as 1t came forward the
fearful color Of its face and the still more
hideous glow in Its eyes made it seem like
to me and breathed its hot, scorching
breath into my face. From impulse, I
raised my hand and struck at il, but it
darted backward and laughed at me in q
way which ] shall never forget.
''Do not" said the woman; 'do not move
st all. He will 60 presently and leave us
alone" .a a.--l
Twas wonderfully puzzled by the strange
scene. 1t seemed to me too much like the
Middle Age diablerie and nonsense to be
the woman was still in my arms painting
with fright, and yonder, in the middle OF
the floor, stood the fiend, or whatever it
was. grinning and Kissing at me. Just be-
hind me ! could hear the other revelers
who had been with me on the lagoons Re-
covered FROM their surprise at the alarm
cry, they had also come to investigate, and
they were climbing over the balcony and
into the room where was standing with
the they, woman anas and the goblin. Ny eyes were
Others began clsmbering over the balcony
Suddenly, and without sound the sinister
presence vanished. How, / could never
tell. 1t is barely possible that he darted
some mysterious hallway, or he might have
melted into thin air. That point I have
never been able to decide. | only know
that ! was looking straight at the eerie
shape, when suddenly the space which it
Then the woman released herself from
my embrace, and, slipping her hand
through my arm, she stepped forward with
me to greet those who were still coming in
through the open windows from over the
Il thank you all for coming" she said,
''though the danger il past now. was Sc
riously disturbed and greatly frightened
by most unwelcome intruder, whom the
gentleman at my side has driven away.
again, SO will detain you no further from
your sport, unless you will do me the honor
TO stay and Partake Of my hospitality.
VIII order refreshments II You win permit
But the revelsrs thanked her and said
MOI and soon again heard their music
and Laughter, as the gondolas went fitting
about in the moonlight.
When the others had gone L too, started
70 leave the woman at my side, but she
''Aust you got" she said, plaintively;
~'can you not stay with me TOR . little
wineP' : ,-..'7 7-...-- 80 -
It was then, for tbs Arst time, that l dis
covered how beautiful she was. Her hair
was long and heavy and yellow, like spun
gold. Few women ever have such hair
perhaps Godivs and Brunhilde were 20 t.
vored, but even that Is doubtful. Her face,
neck and arms were of perfect shape and
n VIlA AvtI ks.Ssw ~1.~ -
4 dnsh Of red upon each cheek. But her
foremost charm-ths one wherein shs sur
passed all other womsn-lsy in her deep,
black eyes They were entirely, absoluts-
ly black; not the kind Of eyes which are
commonly, by polite fiction, 70 termed I;
bat thers was no trace OF any other color
in them or about them save the great milk.
Her lashss, too, were long and dusky,
and when she wished II, completely
vsilsd the wonderful eyes which bad
70 powerfully impressed me. Though