The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-17
a CRY In THE NIGHT.
a Weird Posthumous Story by
Nine. George Sand.

Nine. George Sand.
1t was early evening in Venice. The
limpid waters flashed and glistened in the
yellow moonlight, and their gurgline
mingled dreamily with the song and music
which seemed to be everywhere. June 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 go back
and forth and hther and thither across the
limits of my vision.
At last, full of the fun, Joy and glory
which the revelers made, called nv 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 ii
was necessary to dip an oar to avoid a
collision.
All Venice seemed alive with the merry.
-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 mrth and
good will with which we were surrounded
soon took the gloom and care out of nv
own sad heart, and / laughed, chatted and
gayest.
An hour later, as we were passing under
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 us flexible as a birds
and as full of music. We paused beneath
the balcony until the song was done: then
j threw the singer a handful of white lilies
and we drifted slowly away
Five minutes later a II the mirth and music
on the lagoon stopped instantly, and in its
stead was a great and awful silence 1t was
caused by wild cry-a scream so terrible
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
tai terror; and III this case it seemed in
spired 10y both. There were blanched faces
and staring eyes everywhere. 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. Ny gon-
alOlier, as if by instinct, anticipated my
wish, and sent our graceful craft hying
through the water until we were once more
under the balcony whence the song and the
cry came. Clutching the low railing |
swiftly drew myself up, but there was no
one in sight. Through a window before me
i heard a stified cry of pain. and instantly
rushed in the direction it came from.
The lights were dim, but in an inner room
l saw the outline of Il woman's form, and
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.
am in danger, but | shall be safe if you hold
me fast for a moment"
clasped her closely to my breast, and
she flung her arms tightly about NV neck
Then | again saw the shadow IL had a
mans shape, but as it came forward the
fearful color of its face and the still more
hideous glow in its eyes made it seem like
some fiend or vampire. 1t came very close
to me and breathed its hot, scorching
breath into my face. From impulse
raised my hand and struck at it, but it
darted backward and laughed at me in a
way which | shall never forget.
''Do not" said the woman; do not move
At all He will go presently and leave us
alone
Twas wonderfully puzzled by the strange
scene. 1t seemed to me too much like the
Middle Age diaberie and nonsense to be
real But there was no mistake about it /:
the woman was still in my arms painting
with fright, and yOnder, in the middle Of
the floor stood the tiend, or whatever it
was grinning and kissing at me. Just be-
hind me | could hear the other jewellers
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 woman and the goblin. NV ewes were
firmly fixed upon the latter when the
Others began clambering over the balcony.
Suddenly, and without sound, the sinister
presence vanished. How, l could never
tell. II is barely possible that he darted
u, =. i
some my sterious hallway, or he might have
melted into thin air. That point l have
never been able to decide / only know
that l was looking straight at the eerie
shape, when suddenly the space which it
had filed became empty.
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
balcony.
Il thank you all for coming" she safi.
though the danger is past now / was Sc
riously disturbed and greatly frightened
by most unwelcome intruder, whom the
gentleman at my side has driven away.
The object OF my alarm will not return
again, so ! will detain you no further from
your sport unless YOU will do me the honor
% stay and partake of my hospitality. ]
will order refreshments if you will permit
me-"
But the revelers thanked her and said
no; and soon ] again heard their music
and laughter, as the gondolas went fitting
about in the mooplig ght.
When the others had gone l. too, started
to leave the woman at my side, but she
clung to my arm.
'Must you go!" she said, plaintively
s'can you not stay with me for little
winem
It was then. for the first time, that dis
covered how beautiful she was Her hair
was long and heavy and yellow, like spun
geld. Few women ever have such hair;
perhaps Godiva and Brunhilde were so IA
Vored, but even that is doubtful. Her face
neck and arms were of perfect shape and
as white as marble, excepting q single
flnsh of red upon each cheek. But heI
foremost chaTm-the one wherein she sur
passed all other women-lay in her deep
black eyes. They were entirely, absolute
ly black; not the kind of eyes which are
commonly, by polite fiction, so termed
but there was no trace of any other color
In them or about them save the great milk
white pearls which served as their settin g,
Her lashes, too, were long and dusky
and when she wished it, completely
veiled the wonderful eyes which had
SO powerfully impressed me. Though