Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16

veyed 10 him. the old man started from
his seat, while en- ashen hue spread over
bis features. For an instant be stood
motionless, then his fingers began 70
tear at his cravat as though he were DO.
ing choked then, with sharp cry OF
"ruined, utterly ruined !" he fell 70 inc
ground as IL struck down by a thunder,
bolt. We all ran hastily forward ana
raised him up. loosenIng his col
lar, and dashing water on his
face. 1t was long time, however,
before we could restore him 10 CONSCIOUS
ncss, and when he at length came 70
his senses, he eeemed az if he did not
quite realize disposition, and kept muir
muring, Ruined-utterly ruined
in heart-broken accents. BY slow de-
grees we elected the whole truth from
him, and sad story it WAS. Dsdeslas
Vanichef had never returned from his
GRAND to the bank, and an investigation
of his accounts showed that he had made
away with various sums OF money,
amounting in all to very large amount.
81 must get back TO the mill, " was the
old mans constant refrain something
may yet be saved from the wreck"
Serge Petroush was unable to walk
back and a carriage was therefore pro-
cured, with instructions to drive HIM
carefully back to his forest home. l
noticed that our manager looked very
anxious as he listened TO the old man S
statement. but, as the next day was Sun
day, no steps were taken F.; but when
Monday passed without any information
being received from the saw-mill | was
sent for and informed that ] had better
visit the Petrouski estate and see how
matters were going on.
Gam / TO start at once, Sir 2" i asked.
DWELL, there is no harm in waiting for
q few hours" returned the manager
"besides, the weather is oppressively
hot during the day and you may rs well
have a cool ride. You do not object to
that, / suppose
"Not a bit, replied /; "the path
through the forest IS perfectly familiar
TO me. and certainly should prefer the
cool Of the evening for my ride
every well. returned the man in au-
thority. "Then you may az well start
at sundown. Get all the information
You can, and" added he with q smile,
edo not be led away by the fascinating
Olga"
"No fear Of that, sir, answered |,
and that evening. when the heat of day
had passed ! started on my mission OF
discovery.
After a brisk canter of n mile or two |
| reached the outskirts of the forest and
| 1
! As the trees grew thicker the darkness
became intense, and. / had to light a
small lantern attached to my stirrup In
order not to miss the track. The air
beneath the thick foliage was terribly
oppressive. and oil the strange sounds
which disturb the forest during the
! hours Of the night struck upon my ears
with startling distinc,ness. Sometimes
bv the light Of the lantern | could see q
| snake glide across the track uttering IA
| sharp hiss OF defiance, while every now
and then j could hear q low rustic
| in the underwood, hetokening the
| presence of some skulking beast of
prev. Sometimes ! could see in front of
me some huge indistnct mass dotted
with myriads Of flaming sparks, but this
] knew TO be only tree covered
with freAies, and though the sight was a
wondrous one ] had witnessed 1t too
often TO pay much attention to it, l was
sitting loosely in my saddle, wondering,
l confess, what sort of a reception /
would receive from the fascinating Cir
cassian, when all at once my horse
uttered shrill neigh OF terror
aud stopped with suddenness
which nearly threw me over his
head. Instinctively l grosped my
revolver and glanced around to see what
had alarmed him. On one side Of me
was dense clump of cottonwood and
on the other side murky lagoon, whose
sullen waters were occasionally dis
turbed by the rapid movement OF some
reptile as it darted after its prey. There
was nothing visible to account for the
terror of my horse but as | realized this
fact a strange indescribable feeling crept
over me-a feeling which made my
blood curdle, my hair brlstle, and o
clammy perspiratlon break out upon my
forehead. The idea that something not
of this earth was standing mt my horses
head and barring my path came upon
me with such indescribable certainty
that | could have shouted aloud IN pa
roxysm of nervous terror. Leaning for
ward in the saddle, | peered into the
inky blackuess in front of me, and would
have sworn that saw an indistinct form,
with its arms appraised, either IN gesture
or menace or warning. For moment
nd
with the surrounding gloom, while feel
ing Of intense relef came over me ~ l
felt that a terrible presence had been
withdrawn from me. The same feeling
appeared 20 act upon my horse, Tor,
| without any word or motion from
me. he started OFF at mad gal
lop. which / did not attempt to
check. though | knew the danger OF
being swept from 10y saddle at any mo-
ment bv some of the overhanglng
bouQbs which stretched across the road.
Three quarters Of an hour brought me 70
the house winch stood near the saw mil,
and the sound of my horses precipitous
career must have given warning OF my
approach, for, as 1 drew rem, door was
flung open. and Olga Petrouski, bearing
a lighted lamp in her hand, appeared
mon the threshold. Her eyes were red
ana swollen with weeping, and her
usually gay attire was shrouded beneath
some black feecy material, which threw
mp the ghastly pallor of her beautiful
face.
"Have you come to the funeral "
asked she. -.
1.-The funeral !" gasped in surprised
horror.
eyes. answered the girl, what else
could bring You to this house OF mourn
inc +? Serge Petrouski has gone to his
fathers. lie died OF apoplexy the night
| he returned from Belize. We bury him
Tomorrow with the dawn"
$50 quickly" l exclaimed, :" 1t Is too
horrible. 1t seems such a little time
since saw him alive and well.
"You know" answered Olga, gently
"that in this climate early burial is ne,
cessity. My poor father always imagined
that he would die suddenly, and his first
80 ,,,,o, settling at the mill was TO have