Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-04-13
HORROR.
A True Tale.
(coNrrxunp FROM LAST wnnK.)

"How strangew cried several
voices. Then some of the gentle.
men Remembered to have heard
of cases when dogs addicted 70
sheep-killing had destroyed whole
iiocks, as it in sheer wantonness,
scarcely deigning TO taste a morseI
of each Slain wethcr.
My father shook his head. ~
have heard of such cases, too he
said; but in this instance I am
tempted To think the malice of
some unknown enemy has been n,
work. The teeth of dog have
been busy no doubt, but the poor
sheep have been mutilated IN a fan
tastc manner, rs strange as horrible
their hearts, IN especial, have been
torn out, and left ut some PAGES of
half gnawcd. Also, the men per.
sist that they found the print OF a
naked human foot in the soft mud
of the ditch, and near it-this. "
And he held up what seemed a
broken link of a rus,cd iron chain.
Many were the calculations OF
wonder and alarm, and many
shrewd conjectures, but none seemed
exactly to suit the bearings OF the
case. And when my father went
on TO say that two lambs of the
same valuable breed had pcrishcd
in the same singular manner three
days previously, aud that they also
were found mangled and gore
stained, the amazemcnt reached a
higher pitch. Old Lady Speldhurst
listened with calm intelligent atten-
ton, but joined in none of our cx-
clamations. AT length she said to
my father, "Try and rccollcct-havc
you no enemy among your neigh.
borsl" My father started and knit
his brows. mot one that |
know Of" he replied, and indeed
he was popular man and kind
landlord. 1.-The more lucky YOU"
said the old dame, with one OF her
grim smiles. 1t was now late. and
we retired To rest before long. One
by one the guests dropped Off. 1
was the member OF the family Sc.
lccted TO escort old Lady Speldhurst
TO her room-the room bad vacat.
ed in her favor did not much
like the Office / felt a remarkable
rePugnance to my godmother, but
my worthy aunts insisted SO much
that ] should ingratiatc myself with
one who had so much TO leave that
! ] could not but comply. The visi-
tor hobbled up the broad oakcn
stairs actively enough, proppcd on
my arm and her ivory crutch. The
room never had looked more genial
and pretty, with It's blisk fire, mod
ern furniture. and the gay French
paper on the walls. "a nice room.
my dear, and ] ought TO be much
obliged to you for il, since my maid
tells me it is yours" said her lady
ship, "but am pretty sure you re-
pent your generosity to me, after
all those ghost stories, and tremble
TO think Of a strange bed and cham
Der, chr" ! made some common
place reply. The old lady archcd
her eyebrows "Where have they
put you, childi she asked: "in
some cock-loft Of the turrcts, Ell, or
in lumber-room--a regular ghost.
trapI / can hear your heart beating
with fear this moment. You are
not fit 10 be alone.' ! tried TO call
up my pride, and laugh of the ac-
cusation against my courage, all the
more, perhaps, because / felt its
truth. "Do you want anything
more that can get you, Lady
SpeldhurstN / asked, irving to
feign a yawn Of sleepiness. The
old DANES keen eyes were upon
me. ~ rather like you, my dear
she said, "and liked your mamma
well enough before she treated me
so shamefully about the christening
dinner. Now, I know YOU are
frightened and fearful, and IL an
owl should but Zap your window
to night, It might drive you into fits.
/ There is a nice little sofa bed in this
dressing closet--call your maid
20 arrange il for you, and you can
sleep there snugly, under the Old
wiich's protection, and then no
goblin dare harm you, and nobody
viii be bit the wiser. or quiz you
for being afraid How little
knew what hung in the balance Of
my refusal or acceptance Cf that
trivial proher Had the veil Of the
future been lifted for one instantl
but that veil is impenetrablc to our
gaze.
\ left her door. As I crossed the
landing a bright gleam came from
another room, whose door was left
| ajar: it (ihe lighD fell like a bar Of
l golden sheen across my path. As
7 approached the door opened and
my sister Lucy, who had been
watching for me, came out She
was already in a white cashmere
wrapper, over which her looscncd
hair hung darkly and heavily, like
tangles Of silk. "Rosa. love" she
whispered, Minnie and can't bear
the idea OF your sleeping out there,
all alone, in that solitary room-the
! very room, too, nurse Shcrfard used
20 talk about So, as YOU know
Minnie has given up her room, and
, come to sleep in niue. still we
should so wish you 10 stop with Us
. tonight at any rate, and ! could