The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-08

nlaaslnU Odnr came from this drawer. which
was lined with a wood that we afterward
discovered to be hazel. Whatever the
cause of this odor, it produced material
effect on the nerves. We all felt it, even
the workmen who were in the room, a
creeping. tingling sensation, from the tips
of the finqers to the roots of the hair. I'm
natient to examine the tablet, | removed
the saucer. As did so, the needle of the
compass went round and round with ex-
ceeding swiftness, and l felt shock that
ran through nv whole frame, so that
dropped the saucer on the floor. The
liouid spilt. the saucer was broken, the
compass rolled to the end of the room, and
at that instant the walls shook to and fro
as if giant had swayed and rocked them.
The two workmen were so frightened
that they ran up the ladder by which we
descended from the trap door; but, seeing
that nothing more happened, they were
easily induced to return.
Meanwhile, had opened the tablet; it
was bound in plain red leather, with sill
yer clasp; it contained but one sheet OF
thick vellum, and on that sheet were IN
seribed within double pentacle, words In
old monkish Latin, which are literally to be
translated thus: "on all that 1t can reach
within these walls, sentlent or lnanimate,
living or dead, as moves the needle, SO
works my Will Accused be the mousse
and restless the dWellers therein
We found no more. Mr.. d = DurnI
the tablet and It's anathema' he razeo 10
the foundation the part OF the building con-
tanning the secret ROOM with the cnamcer
over 1t; de mad tnen the courage 70 III,
habit the mouse himseil ior a month, anu
quleter, better conditioned mouse cou,d
not be found IN all LONDON; ouDsequeI'iy
he let 1t TO advantage ana MS 'enan' HAS
made no Complaints
But my story is not YET uone'
A few days after Mr.. had remov-
ed into the house, L paid him VISIT we
were standing by the open WINDOW ana
converslng' A van containing some ar'i-
Giles OF furniture Wnlen ne was moving
from MS former mouse was al the uoor. Il Il
had just urged on MN my theory, that all
those phenomena regarded as supermundane
had emanated from human brain; adduc,
ing the charm, OF rather curse, we nau
found and destroyed, IN support OF my tne-
ory MIR. J.-was observing IN reply
"that even II mesmer'sm, or what ever
analogous power 1t might be called, could
really thus work In the absence OF the ope-
rator, and produce effects so extraordinary'
still could those effects continue wnen the
operator himself was dead! ana II the spell
had been wrought, and, lnded, the room
walled up seventy years ago, the probability
was, that the operator had long since de-
parted TINS llfe' MT say, was
thus answering when caught hoid oil MS
arm and pointed TO the street below,
A well dressed man nad crossed from
the opposite slue' ana was accUs'lng 'ne
carrier IN charge 0, the van Ills race as
ne stood was exactly ironing our wihupw,
II was the face OF the immature we had
discovered. 1t was the face OF the por-
trait OF the noble three centuries ago.
'Good heavens! cried MI. -,
that is the face OF DE - and scarce
" day older than Wnen saw II IN the
RaJah court IN my youth!
Seized by the same thought, we both
fastened down stairs; l was hrst IN the
street, but the man had already gone. L
caught sight OF HIN, however, not many
yards IN advance ana In another moment l
was by his side
| resolved to speak to him; but when L
looked into his face, l felt as If 1t were I'M
possible to do So That eye-the eye OF
the serpent-nxed and held me spell
bound. And Wlthai, about the man
whole person there was dignity, an AR OF
pride and station and superiority, that
would have made any one, habltuated to
the usages of the world hesitate long be-
fore venturing upon liberty or impertI-
nence. And what could L say? What
was it if could ask? Thus ashamed of
my first impulse, fell few PAGES back,
still, however, following the stranger, I'M
decided what else to do. Meanwhile, he
turned the corner OF the street; plain car
riage was in waiting with servant out OF
livery, dressed like valet, at the carriage
door, In another moment he had stepped
into the carriage, and 1T drove Off re-
turned to the house. MIR. J--was still
at the street door, he had asked the car
rier what the stranger said to him.
"Merely asked whom that house now be-
longed to.
The same evening | happened to go
with friend to a place IN town called the
Cosmopolitan Club, place open to men of
all countries, all opinions. all degrees. One
orders ones coffee, smokes ones cigar.
One Is always sure to meet agreeable,
sometimes remarkable persons.
| had not been two minutes In the room
before beheld at table, conversing with
an acquaintance of mine, whom / will des-
ignate by the initial e., the man, the
original OF the miniature. He was now
without his hat, and the likeness was yet
more startling, only observed that while
he was conversing there was less severity
in countenance; there was even smile.
though a very quiet and very cold one.
The dignity of mien | had acknowledged
in the street was also more striking; a dig
nity akin to that which invests some prince
of the East, conveying the idea of supreme