The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-24

| Now you may think that I drew back-but no. His room was as black e pitch with the thick darkness (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers), and 90 knew that he could not see the opening, and kept pushing it on steadily, steadily. had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped on the tin fastening and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out: "Who's there?" | I kept quite still and said nothing For a whole hour did not move a muscle, and in the mean time did not hear him lie down He was still sitting up in the bed, listening just as have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.
 Presently heard slight groan, and knew it was the groan of mortal terror. 1t was not groan of pain Of grief-oh no ! it was the low stihed sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. knew the sound well
 Many & night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, 1t has welled up from my own bosom, deepening with its dreadful echo the terrors that distracted m".
 I say I knew it well.
 knew what the old man felt and pitied him. although I chuckled at heart
 knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeess, but he could not
 He had been saying to himself
 "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney-it is only mouse crossing the floor" ait is merely cricket which has made a single chirp."
 Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppostions; but he had found all in vain.
 All in vain because Death, in approaching him. had stalked with his black shadow before him. and enveloped the victim.
 And it was the mournful influence of the unper- ceived shadow that caused him-although he neither saw nor heard-to feel the presence of my head within the room.
 When had waited long time very patiently without hearing him lie down, l resolved to open little-a very, very little crevice in the lantern.
 So l opened it-you cannot imagine how stealthly, steathily-until, at length, single dim ray like the thread of the spider shot from out the crevice and fell upon the vulture eye
 It was open-wide, wide open and grew furi- ous as gszed upon it. l saw it with distnctness-all dull blue, with
 hideous veil over 1t that chilled the very marrow in my bones.
 But could see nothing else of the old mans face or person; for l had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot
 And now have l not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over acuteness of the senses2
 Now, say, there came to my ears low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when en- veloped in cotton. knew that sound we'll tea. It was the beating of the old mans heart It increased my fury, ss the beating of drum
 
 But even yet refrained and kept still. 1 scarcely breathed I held the lantern motionless I tried how steadily could maintain the ray upon the eye.
 Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart in. creased.
 1t grew quicker and quicker, louder and louder and louder every instant. The old mans terror must have been extreme 1t grew louder, say, louder every moment l-do you mark me we'll?
 have told you that am nervous; so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, strange & noise as this excited me to uncomfortable terror Yet for some minutes longer 1 refrained and stood still.
 But the beating grew louder, louder! thought 1 the heart must burst.