The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22


pyes espied ibe precious property of her
mistress. She seized 1t and escaped the
clutches Of the decrepid old bag, who could
only hurI nj her yOley OF angry words.
Living or dead I'll pay you for tnis,' were
the words that she shrioked in her cracked
,pd cro,kip, voice. over and over again, as
me, az tho child was IN hearing, while her
,ne or two remaining snags OF teeth grin
ned like the cleaning tusks Of an angry
wolf
WOMAN DIED.
The child spent days of dread In the fear
IF the WIG he's threats, but suffering no
harm. grow satisfied and at last 10 her re-
lief and that Of the whole district the OLD
woman died one day shortly afterwards
the dOOr-knOb was turned and the door
pushed open Of The widows house. No one
appearing. she told the child to shut the
door, buf the door refused to shut. To-
rether these two tried their strength IN CLOS
ing il, but it was Of no avail, there seemed
"A greater strength pushing against the
other side. At last two men were called IN
from their work and they succeeded
in again maxim. it fast. After That
every day was marked by new
and increasing danger 10 the child. II she
went to the hearth 10 COOK, the pots and
ovens few az her, as though they had been
hurled by some strong invisible hand; the
triyet fell on the great tall mantle at her.
She passed the table set for a meal, and all
the plates. dishes, cups. saucers, &C., sided
of in her direction, as though trying to as
sail her; when ever she went near
the chimney, showers OF rcd-hot rock
poured down upon, and countless
other dreadful yisitati0ns, until men,
tally aud physically the child was so
wrought upon that she wasted away to a.
most shadow, 50 continually sickened by
fright was she. People Of both high ana
low degree ilOcked to see her TO make sure
tnat their credulity was not being imposed
upon ry the strange reports, but, however
thev might doubt the cause, seeing was be-
lieving, and the truth Of the effect was b.
yond dispute.
THE CHILD REMOVED.
At last some kind-hearted physician
recognizing the fact that the poor, persecu
ted child could not much longer be torment ;
ed. managed to make arrangements for r.
moving her from the haunted locality, and
the scene of the Wiich's influence. but rs
she was carried along the road until they
mad gone some ten or more miles, great
clOds of dirt flew up from the road and hit
ner. rock fell down from The hill sides and
rolled AGAINST her, aud the limbs of the
trees dashed against her ~ she passed.
She reached her new home, but only 10
there lay down and die like poor weak
thing beaten by the resisile5s waves,
TnE PooRnoUsE.
Iadcs itself brings 10 the mind Of the
poor bcggar no more uninyiting and revolt
ing picture If horror, than that loathed
name the ''poOr-house." yet in comparison,
il is all that y palace Is 10 their bcs0tted
novels. Ia more polite phraseology and
really purer definition. it j. known rs the
almshOuse. aud lis large red brick proper
lions. It's neat, well kept grounds rs II
caps the brow OF steep hill at the termin-
II, of Second street, is familiar in appear
ancc at least 10 almost every dweiier IN the
city.
Sometimes, however, there seems some
unnatural atmospheric quality when dis-
forts Ia the disturbed and nervous mental
vision, even The most familiar and common
Mace whereabouts. and colOrs all things
with the melancholy tone of the mind.
such must be the solution of certain I'M
ceasing experience Of young NJ. ID. who,
learned his trade az the alnshouse.
Ii was summers night, and TIE
coroner. two or three young "meds.
aud some Of the employees OF The
house, were busily preparing to hold
"A post norton that could not be put
off until the morrow. II was IN interesting
subject, and one that the Young physician
in charge was most anxious 10 examine
but just as they began lhe was called cut;
before he got oil summons 10 a second
place came. He knew lac would DC ont
late. so he said, rs he left Just leave .th1
subject on the dissecting table and ! II
interview him on my return"
Attic GRAVEYARD.
Ii was Il o'clock ere he retraced his steps
towards the aImshOuse; having dismissed
the ambulance with desire to ret rid Of its
unwhOlsOme suggestions. he walked leis-
urely along the deserted streets, getting
farther and farther into the hOmeiy out
skirts Of the city. The moonlight revealed
every object with magnifyng distinctness.
and distorted broken barrels into stealthy
figures crOuching in filthy alleys. eats win
shining eyes lsaped from the promenade ci
some low roof, and such was
the sole disturbance Of the lonely
walk. II was almost at an end. but the
old-fashOned graveyard, with its tail fence,
upon which he looked cOldly every day,
seemed 10 grin and mock him, and the
moonbeams fell clearly on the row after
row of white slabs; the shafts and crosses
seemed to bend and bow, and there was a
whispering within from among the long
grass and dark cedar trees. The Doctor was
nervous and overstrained, and could scarce
lv himself have defined these fantastic illu-
siOns that filed his mind. He was only
conscious of a feeling akin 10 relief, both
physical and mental. when the lights OF the
almshOuse were around him and he comfort
ably in.
MIDNIGHT HOUR.
Remembering his engagement for an ill
teryieW with the subject Of the post mOrtem.
be went straight 10 that apartment, turned
the Gas with great flood Of garlsh light
full upon the table, took Oft his coat, then
turned and threw open wide every window
before he began work. He looked out across
the Hill and felt the utter silence Of every
place in the midnight hour. Dismally the
tOwn-ciock struck one: he started at that
lone break in the stiffness, after which 4
tenser silence yet brooded; silent as death.
he thought; yes, silence in sympathy with
the dead man there on the table. He turned
b. leave the window. and as he did so he
heard "A thrObbng sound in the room. rs
he listened. he knew he could not DE
mistaken, il was as a great huge pulse
thrObbing uniformly. His gaze sought the
dissectng table. The lifeless form did not
move. did rot culver, but there. laying be-
side the dead man on the table, was his
heart severed from his body, yet regularly,
evenly. with dull articulate thuds, il was
pulsatng. As one fascinated with horror.
The young doctor. chained to the spot, stood
and gazed, looked and listened, until sud
denly he started, thinking it must be q
dream; but no, it throbbed on and on,
ceaselessly, this dead, dissected mans
heart. He put his hand over his
own heart, and the beats came
evenly with that other. The faster his heart
throbbed the faster ana louder throbbed that
heart upon the table, until the whole glazing
garnsh lighted room was throbbing with
one huge pulse. The heated air came
against his face like the air from ieyered,
thrObbing pulse; he walked across the room,
and the sound Of his football. the creaking
Of his linen, the chirp Of a crick. the moan
OF "a frog. down on the creek, all echoed in
perfect measure, the thudding throb of the
beating heart.
SEIZED THE HEART.