The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-09
THREE HOURS OF TERROR.

winter. Without 10 was dark and desc
late The naked branches Of the trees
swayed and tossed as If tortured 10y the
cruel blasts from the north. thetmy river
that orstwhile danced SO gayly over the
stones in its bed al the foot Of the garden
was stilied and stiifened in an icy en-.
brace. and tho wind moancd and ratified
at the easements Ike "a bclatcd wandcror
begging for shelter
Within there was warmth and light
md luxury Tho monumental porcelain
stove placed close up in corner as IL,
ike O snpcriuous piece of furniture. 20
get b. ont Of the way had uuobtrusivcly
diiiused q delicious, languorous summer
warmth throughout the room. 4 softly
shaded lamp burned upon the table and
wrapped Ia a COSY tea gown, was half
reclining ON quaint Old chaisc longce.
lad been reading the Lotus Eaters -
The lines
Efr sweet D. were
With hai shut rNts over 90 seem
Failing asleep m ha.t dream.
were still running through my head
WAS fan OF the spirit of tic poem Ny
old nurse and constant companion sat in
tho next room. whore ] could see her
through the open door, nodding. nodGing
90 slecpily Ile cathedral tones If the
old clock on the shelf fcll upon my cars
tcountcd the sir0kcs-onc two. three
four, five sis, seven. eight, nine, ten
eleven
IS was time TO send nurse 10 bed. but
laMly | watched her head drop again and
again, too idly content % find will enough
to speak g. her The house was pro
f0undly still ! could hear the rcgulnr
breathing Of the nurse, and even my own
heart throbs.
Suddenly l was aroused by the light
steps Of slippcrcd feet ON the stone floor
of the hall They halted there was q
hurried tap at my door. and, before Ind
time 10 assume sitting posture the door
was flung open and there stood q gentle
man. ] rose TO ny feet and begged 10
know TO what chance was indebted for
SO untimely visit lic closed the door
gently. then with his usual superb man
ner saluted me. 81 beg your pardon -sad-
am. If have intruled J was gciu. TO
my room. and seeing n light under Your
door thought ] might venture to stop
for few moments chat with YOU
had been i'm L. year and had met
the intruder Mr. B. frequently az Bis
sisters house; hc Lad also called upon
mc. SO we were not strangers. l!o was q
man Of rather attractive personal appear
lncc. about medium lcirht slender and
graceful, with tho manners Of an old
cOurtier lie was fine musician and
hneuist. and well ycrscl iu the history
and literature of the several countries
whose language Dc spoke, and was also O.
brilliant c0nyorsatioualist. Still not
outstanding an these accomplishments
and his charming manners, there was
something rcpollaut about the man. some
thing undefnablc that made every one
half afraid Of him.
Well. in reply 20 The implied question
as 10 whether be might remain CT not, /
said that had been i'm the land Of The
lotus caters pointing 40 the same time TO
the book had laid upon the table; that
the smell Of he lotus leaves lad almost
closed my cyclds that my ola nurse was
nodding. and feared must ask that tine
visit might be brief
"As brief as You desire madam. said
he. "only there is something should Ike
10 tell yon before go.
he Cved me curiouslyas ! sat down. and
felt e shiycI of repugnancc go over me.
lie advanced 10 the table, took up vol
umc of Mrs. Browning and, after turn
ing ever tho leaves several times, read
As one alone once not alone,
SIT and knock az Nature door
Heart bare, heart hungry, very poor
Whose dcsolated days 60 on.
Closing the bool, with a sigh, he said,
as he began 10 pace up and down the
room. Did you know that was once en-
Gagged TO be married? | never see Mrs.
browning without thinkingof my fiance. ~
Then for some time be walked 10 and fro,
apparently oblivous Of my presence, quot
inv from German, French and English
AUTHORS, and withal delightfully."-, until
one stroke Of the clock admonished me
tina. 70 wanted but a half hour till mid
NIGHT. reminded Mr. b. that half hour
had zone bv and lac had not yet told me
the object Of his visit. suggested that
what he had 10 tell me might do for O
serial story, and would take the poetry
for tho Introductory.
lie flashed q savage glance over toward
me- One qu'ek step and he was st my
side saving. I'm low tone. Why does
she SID there pointing 10 my old nurse.
send her away
} replied 81 shall as soon as Won are
gore. WIN ocAlli0u lNNN t""t "''''
description bee stopped til his face was
close so mine and said peremptcr.ly.
send her away. tell YOU" lad heard
a.hort time before that no one tme ia
in his life Mr. r. had been insane. hut
had doubted &c. IL WAS rare 10 find q
more cultivated or elegant man or ono
who was more punctilious in the observ-
ance Of all the conventionaliiies Of soci-
ctv. That moment his face was like the
face Of demon. and as looked into his
ewes I doubted 10 no longer, and my heart
sank like lead within me. What If the
old weakness had attacked him againi !
asked myself AT that hour knew that
every soul in the hotel would be II bed,
and the nurse and myself were virtually
alone. Did dare to call for helpY lis
eyes were fixed upon me. ! think he read
my thoughts. An impulse TO protect
myself made me rise and move toward
the door Quick as a fash lac stepped IN
front Of me. locked The door held the
key up before me for an instant, then
y.......-.1 % int. lie t.refraf knew HOW