San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-06

tap came rrom Ine wnuow san.-
sound, with the same long interval be-
tween them. IL was not like the beat of
moths wing. 1t was like nothing but
the touch of u human finger But tried
TO think il was an insect in the wall--the
insect that is called the 'death-watch.'
And did my best to take no notice of it,
but could not help hearing it; and after
time grew frightened, and the sound
grew dreadful in my ears. IL became
uncomfortable. | could not lie there listen
ing passively. got up again, and struck
match. The wick OF the candle was
slow to light, and during those moments
| noticed that the sound had ceased. As
say, was frightened-very frightened.
And the unbroken silence seemed more
terrible than the sound. There was
something ghostly and supernatural
about it, that brought back the old ter
ror l used to feel as a child in passing the
room that is said TO I've haunted at night.
And Just then the clock in the belfry
struck. l dared not go to the window.
Ny hand trembled so that ! could not
take up the candle, but l looked toward
the window. The first thing that struck
me was that the laths of the blind, in
stead of lying fiat, as they generally do,
when down, and as | had left them, were
opened and turned edgeway-do you
know how l meanr'
She held her hands, that trembled with
the recollection of her terror, one above
the other horizontally.
"But the next thing" she continued,
and then stopped, with little shudder,
while we who listened held our breath
''the next thing l saw was two great
black eyes that caught the light from my
candle in between the lower laths of the
blind"
She paused, and then continued with
more firmness-
~ think l fainted-I must have done
so, for l was conscious Of nothing after
that, until l found myself upon the floor.
The light was still burning upon the TIA
BILE. As recollection returned to me, l
looked toward the window. The laths
were no longer open, but turned fiat.
Then it occurred to me that all had seen
was merely imaginative-that it was
merely realistic dream-that / had gone
through these experiences in my sleep.
My great terror was gone. went with
out fear to the window to ascertain il the
night was as had seen it. There was
the gray mist; the flame of the candle
looked down and saw how impossible it
was for anyone to have stood outside the
window, felt convinced that at least
the vision of the two eyes was imaginary
an outcome of the fear / felt when l
looked toward the window. l lay down
again, and though could not sleep for
sometime, l heard no further sound
whatever, save the Ginning of the clock"
SIS it not very probable, my dear, said
the baronet, that the sound you speak
of was also the outcome of fear?"
81 had no fear when l went first to the
window. The sound was reality. 1t
is that 1 wish explained"
600 you know what time it was when
the tapping first began, Miss Lascelles"
Van Hoeck asked.
''It was quarter to one by my watch
when l recovered from the fit"
MAY | ask, Miss, without offense, if
thing of this kind hes ever happened to
you afore?" asked the Judge.
'As child | was timid but l cannot
remember ever being SO frightened"
"You don't look as if trifle would
skeer you, will allow" and, rising from
his chair, the Judge added, 'if you'll ex-
cuse me, I'll go and prospect the place
straight off, for I'm forth to say it looks
to me like as if the Kid had been taking
a hand in the game"
by all MEANS" said the baronet, ''the
sooner the truth is discovered the better"
We all went out onto the lawn which
faced that part of the building in which
Ediths room was situated.
On the way, Van HOeck, who had TAX
en- my arm for guidance, gripped it tight
ly and whispered:
What did tell you? This is the be-
ginning of the end"