Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-30

flight of steps, but after found the way
my room and had grown accustomed to it
rarely stopped to light one. Tonight
made no exception to this custom, and wen
swinging down the passage to my door.
| had found it, and was about to turn th
handle, when saw before me, few fee
distant, man erouching with his ear clos
against the wall level with my door. Z
slowly turned his head and stared straigh
at me. A more evil expression had neve
encountered, so full was it of threatenin
hate and devilish purpose.
stood fascinated, watching the man
Presently, with hand outspread, feeling
along the wall, he began creeping towart
me. At this moment the dismal bowling o
dog, apparently in one of the rooms, be
came audible. This sound and the actiol
on his part seemed to release my faculties
dashed at him-made grab at his coat
struck the wall; the man was gone!
stood stupidity; the passage was dark a
pitch. Could he have slipped aside and b.
waiting to strikea
Then-then with arevulsioD that sent m.
blood curdling back to my heart-it sho
through me.
How did I see him, being in the dark?
That he was there for no good was suff1
GENTLY demonstrated, but how could hav'
seen him? I experienced curious sensa
tion as it broke upon me that the man haC
beheld was not included in the census q
this planet. felt tingling in my limbs
and a buzzing in my ears. The sensation
was physical only-mentally, I may say,
there was a complete and instant blank.
AS the shock passed over pulled myself
together and retraoed my steps down the
passage and into the drawing room. II
seemed strange, that lighted room and the
commonplace occupants.
MY step had been almost noiseless on the
thick carpet of the corridor, and no one
had noticed my approach. stood perhaps
for minutes in the doorway, shadowed by
portiere, and gradually the perfectly ma
tural and human expression of the room
and the people, chatting pleasantly, Esith
the clear lamplight full upon their familiar
faces, sobered my excited senses, and be-
gan to feel that had come very rlear max
ing myself supremely ridiculous. What
SAVIOR what / now believed had fancied
I saw-wss one of those strange optical il
lusions born of mental exaltation, and tax.
ing, as is usually the case, most unexpect-
ed and unfamiliar form. had been CAR
ried away by the musio-by the presence
and close sympathy of the girl deeply low
ed, ard I had seeE no heavenborn vision,
but something directly opposed to every
image which just then should have possess
ed nv mental vision. had seen stea.thy,
creeping, lurking, murderous-yes! mur-
derous-- that is what was written in evary
line of the evil face and croQohing form-
murderl
shuddered from head to foot.
Then I pulled myself together again, and
thankful that my return to the drawing
room had been unobserved, determined
to depart as quietly as had come. This
] had managed successfully, and lighting
candle, this time at the head of the STAIR
case, entered the passage leading to my
room and reaching it in my usua! prosaic
manner. Although now thoroughly con-
vinced that had been the victim Of tsn,-
porary hallucination, fels by no means
comfortable. Ny new accomplishment
was not an agreeable one, and my nerves
were badly shaken.
'-Foolp' apostrophiz u myself politely,
and, glad after all that 1 had not absolute
ly appeared one in the eyes of Mavis and
her family, began to undress. First, how
ever, searched my sleeping and dressing
rooms thoroughly, and found them quite
FREQ from she presence Of my Unlocking
friend Of the passage. The dressing room
was q queer little place, one of the few
rooms of the tower that had stood the raw
ages of time, and the only ono 10 tha house
that had not bo9n, frora laird to laird, add.
ed to and Improved upon. It was curious
enough; and some Of its worm eaten oak
had stood since the earlier days of Ghair-
lee.
I went to he'd very soon, and it seemed to
me feli asleep. Very soon, too, it SEEM
ed to me, I was awakened by knew not
what
sat up In bed and listened int,ntly,
thoroughly awake.
For several minutes I. heard nothing.
Then the dismal bowling of dog came to
me as if from the adjoining room-and yet
it had smothered sound, az IT, though
near to me, its howls were being stiflsd.
Suddenly this sound ceased, and then came
a stealthy creeping sound, and saw a
crouching figure against my wall-the same
figure, the same evil face now turned
straight toward me, the same murderous
exp9ession--all. as it had, just as suddenly,
appeared in the hall. .
And my room v7a5 III perfect darkness.
But though the man continued to gaze
straight into my eyes be moved from, not
toward me, slowly and stealthily, until he
reached the door leading into the dressing
room, aud through this he disappeared.
With ore bound followed him. for.
got the deadly fear that had seized upon
me at sight OF this monster, as l believed
him, of my Imagination. I rushed after
him ard would have thrown myself upon
him in another instant had not something
rooted me to the threshold powerless. In
vain endeavorod 80 move hand or limb; IN
vain attempted to cry aloud when found
myself incapable of motion. l stood as ii
chaiued-gagged- helpless speechless. .--
And before me crept the man. always
skulking along the wall.
Now my eyes travelled beyond him tC
divine his destination, and there-befort
the mirror Of the old dressing table, will
her bonny brown hair all unbound. and be-
little white bare feet showing beneath hel
loose night robe, and in her hands the ole
lutte, with pale ribbon wound about it
there, oh, my God, stood Mavis. I-neeiinl
beside her vss an old waiting woman
Even in my speechle less agony knew
paused, trying to place her, but she wa
some one I could not remember to hav'
seen about Ghairlee. She stroked and kiss
ed her lady's hand--my lsdy's hand-an'
seemed to say soma soothing word, bu
though ! saw her lips move, try as would
/ could hear no sounds.
! struggled frantioally, for tie power t
Eerp aloud, but my tongue was held by som
terrible force. could neither save no
warn my darling of that ghastly shado'
that is creeping nearer, ever nearer!
Merciful God!
Without sound-noiseless as fate
'merciless-death giving-the figure. aros
from its crouching posture and stood behin
the two women. With some hideov