Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-14

which had occupied before / left home.
The walls had been painted white since
then, with frieze Of gold along the cell
inc. My father used to sleep III the room
directly under IT. Rayel had been silent
and absent-mlnded all the evening" rarely
speaking except in reply to some question.
:. feel sad for some cause do not I'M
derstand," said he, preparing to retire.
shall be glad when tomorrow comes
I'VE will 90 back in the morning" l
said. You don't feel at home here, DO
YOU?
He did not seem to hear me, but tried
the door, which / had already bolted, ana
then got into bed, yawnlng ana s1lverInE'
for the room was cold. turned down the
LIGHT and, opening the shutters, looked out
upon the street. now deserted save by
solitary man who bad Just passed the house
and whose slow footsteps were gradually
growing less distinct. | crouched there,
listening for some moments to that IadliE
sound. when it began to grow Louder AGAIN.
The man had turned about and was coming
back. As he passed under the lamp on the
opposite corner thought l recognized the
slim figure of Mr.. Murmurtot Suddenly
was startled by a noise IN the room adJoln-
ing ours and sprang to my feet IN trcmor.
Plague take my Imagination 1t was some
body roinp to bed / sat down again and
for long time looked out at the man
walking back and forth in front OF the
house. was rapidly getting into con-
ditIon of mind unfavorable to rest, ana
closing the shutters | went TO bed at once.
For hours | Law tossing re,tlessly from one
side to the other and finally fell INTO
deep sleep. / must have slept a long time,
when | suddenly awoke labOring with
nightmare. j had heard no sound, had
felt 10 touch, but all at once my eyes We're
omen and knew that 1 was awake. The
lamp was burning dimly on the table be-
side INV bed. How my heart was beating
And my arm-hOw 1t trembled when trled
to raise up on my elbow and look ABOUT
the room
Who's there?" l whispered. Was it
Rayel standing near the bed, MS Dody
swaying backward and forward, or was
vet asleep? Everything looked dim and
weird. | seemed TO be in some silent
ghostland between sleeping and waking.
! / rubbed nv ewes and peered about the
| half-darkened room. 1t was Rayel, and as
1 gazed at him his eyes seemed TO shine
| like balls Of fire. | called to him, but he
made no answer. what had happened
| since | went TO sleep? Alarmed, | threw
! the covers aside and leaped out of bed. As
| | did so he stepped up close to the oppo-
| Site wall. and rs his hand moved ! could
| hear the grating of crayon on ITS surface.
| In tremulous haste turned up the WICK OF
| the lamp and tiptOed toward him, holding
| il in my hand. lie was stepping back
ward and excitedly pointing at the wall.
| He had been drawing a picture on It's Whlte
! surface-the form of woman holding
something in her hand. stepped nearer,
| still carrying the lamp. \ sharp lnterJec-
| ton broke from my lips. The woman pic
! tured there was my stepmother and 1t was
| "A knife that she held. A man was lying at
/ her feet Again Rayel stepped forward
and again / heard the crayon grating on
| the wall Then be stood aside, Great
| Godl There were drops OF blood dripping
! from the knife now. Rayel sank down upon
| the floor and covered his ewes with hls
hands. | stood there, dumb with fear and
| horror. looking first upon hlm and then
upon the picture
The silence of the night was upbroken
| save by those Slow footsteps III the street
! TO which l had listened before retiring.
! But suddenly heard a low walllng cry, IN
the room adjoining ours. 1t so, startled
me that came near dropping tie lamp.
Strange and weird it sounded, gradually
| growing shriller and more terrible TO hear.
IL was the voice of my stepmother. Was
| She dreamingY And had Rayel seen the
| vision that afrighted hen Was that dag
GER pricking her brain? In moment the
| swelling cry broke INTO sharp scream,
| such as might come from one exposed 10
sudden peril, and ceased. Then the sound
| of a bell rgug sharply through the house
| followed by loud knocking at the door anu
a mans shout.
open the door, command you'll" he
said.
He must have heard the piercing cry.
| Rayel still lay motionless upon the floor.
Was no asleep? Why did he not ,risey
began 10 feel numb. | seemed to have lost
the power Of motion. | could hear some
one rapplng at our door, but could moi
| move.
f" Kendric Kendricl Kendric!" Was il
my stepmother who was calling meg What
a piteous, pleading tone. LIST me speab
10 you. Kendric! For Gods sake let me
tell you'll was Keeling, my strength had
all left me. Crash went the lamp at my
feet. There was great flash OF light
which daZzled my eyes, and fell heavily
upon the floor.
/ was in the open air when thought and
feeling came back 20 me. My hands anc
face were paiuing me as If they had beer
terribly burned. There were number OF
men standing over motioniess figure that
lay beside me-.
"g'he poor lad,n said one Of the men
"he's nearly roasted. Sec here how the
clothes have been burned away from hi'
necki Can't We stop the blood Inc
mon'll die atore the ambulance comes eli We
don't stop the blood. A brave mon he -
too. Dye see i'm coming down the stairs
with tn other one on his back 2"
OF whom were they talkingY strug
Rled to my feet--I could feel no pain now
and bent over that still form which mac
been living beside ne. OH il was the
Heaven blessed face Of Rayel, now bleed
ing and SCARED and CHASTITY. raised hii
head. The hair fell away where my hand
touched IL, and q groan escaped his lips
could not speak nor weep nor utter any
sound. A strange calmness came over Iny
spirit and sat there motionless, bendins
over him loved so well, while the crowd
o. men looked on IN silence After Hi
own image made lie man.; these words