Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-04-13


me 70 lay aside the dress aud orna
mcnts had worn, aud arranged m,
hair. rs usual, prailtpg the while
in Abigail fashion. seldom care,
TO converse with servants; but OF
that night a SOFT of dread OF bcin,
left alonc--a longing 20 keep som,
human being near -posscssc,
me and | encouraged the g'rl 1,
gossip, SO that her duties took hc
half an hour longer TO get through
than usual. At last, however. sh,
bad done all that could bc done
and all my questions wcte answered
and my orders for the morrow rcit
Grated and vowed obedience 10, ans
the clock on the tuirct struck one
Then Mary, yawning a little, askct
II | wanted anything more. and
was obliged to answer No. for yer,
shamc's sake; and she went. The
shutting OF the door, gently as il
was closed, affected me unpleasant.
! y. | took a dislike 10 the curtains
the tapestry, the dhngy pictures
every thing. | hatcd Tie room. |
felt a temptation to put on cloak
run halfdrcsscd. TO my sisters
chamber, and say had changed
my mind, and come for shelter. But
they must be asleep, thought. and
| could not be SO unkind as to wake
them. said my prayers with un.
usual carncstucss and a heavy heart
! cNtinguishcd the candles. and was
Just about TO lay my head on my
pillow. when the idea seized nc that
i would insten the door. The can.
dies were cNlinguished, but the fire.
light was amply sufficient 20 guide
me. gained the door There was
a lock, but il was rusty or hampercd
my utmost strength could not turn
the key. The bolt was broken and
worthless. Baked OF my intention.
| consolod myself by remembering
that had never had need Of fastcn
ings yet, and returned to my bed
| lay awake for n good while.
watching The red glow of the burn.
ing Goals in the CRATE / was quiet
now, and more composed. Even
the light gossip Of the maid. full Of
petty human cares and Joys, had
done me good diverted my thoughts
from broodiug. | was ON the point
Of dropping asleep, when was
twice disturbed. Once. by an owl.
hootng in the ivy outside 90 unac.
customed sound, but harsh and
melancholy, once, by long and
mournful bowling set up by the
mastiii, chained in the yard beyond
the wing | occupied A loug.drawn.
lugubrious bowling, was this latter.
and much such n note as the vulgar
declare TO herald death in the fam.
lily. This was a fancy / had never
shared; but yet i could not help
feeling that the dogs mournful
moans were sad. and expressive Of
terror, not at all ike his fierce, hon
est bark Of anger, but rather as If
something evil and unwonted were
abroad. But soon fell asleep.
How long slept never knew.
/ awoke at once, with that abrupt
start which we all know well, and
which carricsus IN q second from NJ.
ter uuconsciousness TO the full use
Of our faculties. The Ere was still
burning, but was very low, and half
the room or more was in deep shad.
ow. know, i felt, that some
person or thing was in the room. .
although nothing unusual was 10 he
seen by the feeble light. Yet IL
was a sense Of danger that had
aroused me from slumber. expe.
rienced, while yet asleep, the cLiH
and shock OF sudden alarm. and /
knew, even IN the act Of throwing
OIL sleep Ike n mantle, lchV / awokc.
and that some intruder was present
Yet, though / listened inienuy. no
sound WAS audible. except the faint
murmur Of the frc-the dropping
Of oinder from the bars the loud
irregular bcatings Of my own heart.
Notwithstanding this silence. bv
some intuition I knew that / had
not been deceived by q dream, and
felt certain that ] wa not alone /
waited Ny heart beat on. quicker.
more sudden grew is pulsaiions. a.
a bird in a cage might fgtter in
presence ol a hawk. And then I
heard a sound, faint, bat quite dis
tinct. the clank Of iron, the ratfl.nr
Of a chain, / vcnturcd 20 lft ny
head from the pillow Dim and On
certain as the light was. j saw the
curtains Of NY bed shake. and caught
q glimpse OF something beyond. o
I darker spot in thc darkness This
confirmation of mv fears did nos
surprise mc so mach as .t shocked
me. strovc 90 cry alouf. ba.
could not utter q word The chain
ratified again. and ihIs time the
noise was louder and clearer. Bu,
though / strained my ewes. thcg
could not pcueuatc the ohscur.tg
7 that shroudcj ihc other cod OF 'he
I chamber. whence came the suIIeu
I clanking. ln moment scyera.
I distinct trains oi thought Ike many
7 coi0rcd strands of thread twin.ne
Into one, became palpahle to my
T mental vision. Was u Iobhcr
+ Could % be supernatural Vs.ant.
. Or was the victim of cruel trick
such as bad heard Of and which
some thought.ess persons love o.
practice or The t.mid. reckless ol
ID