New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-16

undisturbed by any of the horrors which had
haunted my dreams OF the night before III was
some two three days aftcrward that nc came 70
my rooms again. He seemed rather thopghtiul,
and several times seemed on the DrlnK oi Saying
something; finally he remarked
That's a ouccr sort of book you lent me, that
work of Rousseau's. Is thcrc-though IL seems
ridiculous to ask such qucstion-iS there any
thing uncanny about it? | can't make the thihS
out
Why he continued, it's always shifting itself
about, though it were live thing II put
i in one place I'm bound TO- ma u In hni aG !, H
no good ] found IL lying outside on tie loor
and every thing in the greatest confusion lhide as
though 1t had been having battle royal E with
/ kept II in my bedroOm--
All interrupted and what was the result?
Tell me: ] am anxious TO know
Then there is something in II 2 he replied, re-
moving his pipe and looking at me steadily, ana
il isn't all my COMPOUNDED liver, as persuaded
myself. tried to-
I'll tell you all | know about it aftcrward; only
90 on, tell me what happened in your bedroom.
oh. nothing very much, only when woke mp
suddenly in the middle of the night, heard or
thought | heard q sound as though some ono wcre
turning the leaves of the book, when had
left on the chest of drawerS-turnlng thcm over
very fast. | sat mp in bed. but couldn't see any
thing, and then the book seemed to be suddenly
shut up with bang and there came sound as
though il had been thrown from ono end OF the
room to the other don't mind telling you, old
fellow that | felt bit scared for minute or two.
| nodded my head at him in encouragement, ard
he continued. But when | struck light, there
was nothing and no one to be seen except the book
lying face downward, at the other end OF the room
furthest from the chest OF drawers Where had
laid it,
We both remained silent for some time when
he had finished his statements then told hlm my
experience from the time OF my purchasing Tue
book mot forgetting the extraordinary cagerh'ss on
the part of the old bookseller to part win IT, ana
my awful dream. including the mysterious Oc-
currcnce of his finding the book on the doorstep
L.,I 81. mt nl
before. When parted, IT. WAS Win the agree
ment that ne should deliberately set himself TO
lose the volume. winch must surely nave hau al
evil spell laid upon II BY some lofmcr po'sessof'
The neNt evening he came rushing IN upon me
with great satisfaction pictcd on hs count nance
He had laid il upon seat III one OF the parks,
then retired behind a tree and watched the re-
suit In a short time an eNll-looklns, cadaNtr0us
individual i quote from my frlend dcScilPtohl
had. after lettering about for few minutes, seized
the book and made oil with 1t under hls %rin. 30
we were free from that pest. l ordered up me
hot water and lemons and VIC prepared TO ENJOY
ourselves for the rest of the cNonlnG. IN h0ur
or more had pasScd in cOnVivla intercourse, when
there came knock at the outer door-a single loud
knock which struck lis into instant silence. Mrs.
Jenl,ns had long left my chambers for the bosom
of her family and something hot Tor supper. In
stinctivcly we both rose together and went 10
ascertain who was the intruder at that iate hoHr
OF the night. Throwing open the door, We were
confronted by tall dark figure, Who by the
light Of the hall lamp, seemed possessed oil IL
unprcp0ss sSng count nance. We re-
earded him in silence and suspicion. stretching
ont his arm, he offered ne an object. Yours" |
was the Only word he uttered. ana theh turning
away dSappcarcd into the darkness without
Who was he and whence came he, ana how |
without strap OF evidence or writing to guide
him. had he sought me ont ana [es'oTfi te DGo%
spokcn on either side. what it was that had been |
returned mysteIiously
What's to be done now9' at last asked, after /
VIC had laid the volume the table in my sitting /
room. Jack thought for a moment, then point /
ing toward the empty crate. briefly uttered the
Instantly we began looking about for the ma /
terials with which to construct fire. A cigar |
box or two were broken up newspapers We're /
added and there soon cheerful blaze roaring /
away up the chimney. ] took the book III my |
hand to cast 1t on its funeral pyre, but even /
then much | desired TO see the end OF u, /
in nv hand half open. | that the leaves |
had once more Parted at the old place. 'Chapltre
V. Du droit de vie ct de mort. -. -, a..
Holding il thus exposed 10 the hcat OF the !
fire. while Jack added the remains OF yet another |
cIear-boX to help the blaze saw lhat on the
broad margin of the book were. faint marks, as
Of written characters gradually becoming palmer |
RS the fire acted upon them.
See | said. my words almost falling over eacn |
other in my excitement, see, here Is somrihnS
written in what mast have been an invisible |
inll-red ink. tOo-and the heat Of the IRE Is |
bringing it out palmer every moment I'rad H. !
read it, | said thrustlng the book into H., hahdr
for The sentence thus revealed WAS written IN !
grabbed characters and in the Fench language.
saw his face change. and look Of gradually IN
,rcaSing horror steal across II as ne hi> d'cipHcfu
the meaning of the sentence and read II over To
himself
What is H. man? Speak out. for Heavens
,akcl' ] exclaimed in an agony Of excitement
AMI agitation. Amos; in a whisper came the
lnsvor At Mcudor in 19'. there was
anncry of human skins, where such Of the gulio-
lined AS were deemed worth the laying were
aimed and their skin, made excellent soft leather
Tor the binding Of the books and many other
purposes. but it is said that there is curse upon
all thing, thus made. This book IS bound.
rhe writing was fading ont again as looked over
MS shoulder while ne read these words.
Snatching the volume from his hand, turned
o the tit paec-'Nicudon. 1894 We roth saw
he inscrption and looked at one another in blank
horror and amazcnonH The next moment
iad cast the accurscd thing upon the blaze There
{ curled and writhcd Ike q living thing. until
, tongue Of fame caught it. and in few seconds
here was nothing loft Int handful Of white
shes.-From The Cornhll