Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-23
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER % 1883

the book on the doorstep after i bad
thrown il out Of the window the night
before. When we parted 1t was Win
the agreement that he should deliberate
ly set himself 10 lose the volume which
must surely have had an evil spell
laid upon it by some former possessor.
The next evening he came rushing IN
upon me with great satisfaction depicted
on his countenance. He had laid 1t upon
a seat in one OF the parks, then retired
behind tree and watched the result In
a short time an eyil-looking, cadayerous
individual q quote from my friends de-
scription) had, after lettering about for
few minutes, seized the book and made
off with it under his arm. SO We were
free from that pest. | ordered mp the
hot water and lemons, and we prepared
TO enjoy ourselves for the rest Of the
evening. An hour or more had passed
in convivial intercourse when there
came knock at the outer door-a single
loud knock which struck us into instant
silence. Mrs. jenkins had long left my
chambers for the bosom of her family
and something hot for supper. In
stinctively we both rose together, and
went 10 ascertain who was the intruder
Mt that late hour OF the night Throw
ing open the door we were confronted by
tall dark figure, who, by the light OF
the hall lamp. seemed possessed of a SIN
guIarly unprepossessing countenance.
We regarded him in silence and suspi.
cion. Stretching out his arm he offered
me an object. "Yours !" was the only
word he uttered. and then turning away
disappeared into the darkness without
Who WAS he and whence came he, and
how. without a scrap OF evidence or q
word OF writing to guide him, had he
sought me out and restored the book to
me +? for We both knew. without sylla-
bic being spoken on either side, what 1t
was that had been returned so mystic
riously.
"What's to be done now" at last |
asked, after we had laid the volume on
the table in my sitting-room. Jack
thought for a moment, then pointing to-
ward the empty CRATE briefly uttered the
words, Burn it "
Instantly we began looking about for
the materials with which to construct n
fire. A cigar-box or two were broken
up, newspapers were added, and there
was soon cheerful blaze roaring away
up the chimney. took the book in my
hand to cast it on its funeral pyre, but
even then, much as desired to see the end
of it, something made me hesitate. As
held il loosely in my hand, half open, |
saw that the leaves had once more parted
at the old place. Chapitre '. Du
droit de vie ct dc mort.
Holding it thus exposed to the heat OF
the fire, while Jack added the remains OF
vet another cigar-box to help the blaze,
/ saw that on the broad margin OF the
book were faint marks, ss Of written
characters, gradually becoming palmer
as the fire acted upon them.
"See," said, my words almost fall
ing over each other in my excitement,
"see, here is something written in what
must have been an invisible ink-red
ink. too-and the heat of the fire IS
bringing it out palmer every moment.
Read It, read it," said, thrusting the
book into his hands; for the sentence
thus revealed WIS written in Grabbed
characters and in the French language.
/ saw MS face change, and a look OF
gradually INCREASING horror steal across
it as he first deciphered the meaning OF
the sentence and read it over to himself.
"What is it. man? Speak out, for
Heavens sake !" 1 exclaimed i'll an
agony of excitement and agitation. Al
most in a whisper came the answer: cat
Meudon, in 1894, there was tannery OF
human skins. where such OF the gull
lotined as were deemed worth the tiaying
were tanned, and their skins made ex-
cellent soft leather for the binding OF
books and many other purposes, bat 1T
is said there is curse upon all things
thus made. This book is bound" The
writing was faded out again as looked
over his shoulder while he read these
words.
Snatching the volume from his hand,
turned to the title-page-" Meudon,
1884," We both saw the inscription and
looked at one another in blank horror
snd amazement. The next moment |
had cast the accursed thing upon the
blaze. There it curled and writhed hike
living thing until tongue OF flame
caught it, and in few seconds there was
nothing left but handful of white
ashes