San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-09

and lest You should be IN any doubt as
to the sincerity Of my intentions, will
attend you there myself and assist in
searching your room and the adjoining
ones"
After supper, having ascertained that
his horse had been well attended to, Mr.
E. expressed himself in readiness to
attend his host to his destined lodgings,
rs he was much fatigued with his jour
ney and longed for repose. The rain
had not yet commenced, but the flashes
of Jig mining and the bowling of the
winds through the stately oaks and elns
presaged its coming violence and sug.
gested to the imagination of Mr.. E.
the fitness of just such a night and
place for deed of blood, and he shud-
dered as they traversed the gloomy
park, as many tale of murdered trav-
alers that he had heard in boyhood came.
forward in his mind.
To the best of men sudden death has
an appalling aspect, but under such cir
cumstances as these, apart from all that
he loved. alone and unpitied, it seemed
tenfold terrible. Then again he would
think on the unexpected hospitality of
Mr.. D. and smile at the horrors
which busy fancy had conjured up.
As they drew near the castle, its des-
olate appearance was not much calcu-
lated to reassure him, or calm his droOp-
ing spirits. Mr.. D. carried lantern,
the faint glimmering of which only
served to make darkness visible, as it
fell on the grass grown walks and old
gray stones that paved the courtyard.
The noise of their steps and voices dis
turbed a crazy congregation of owls,
bats and rojks, the time honOred inhab-
itants of the turrets, which, startled and
affrighted, flew about, Tapping their
wings and uttering dismal cries at the
unwonted invasion of their premises.
A chill ran through Mr.. E.. How
he wished for even the neighborhoOd OF
his horse, or anything that had life; the
company of dog would have been in
valuable; fain would he have stretched
himself in the stable, but, dreading tc
awaken the sarcasm of his grim host
he said nothing. They reached the
grand entrance. On opening, the door
grated harshly and complainingly on its
rusty hinges and rush of night wind:
moaned bodingly as they entered.
While ascending the staircase din
shadows seemed to gather and trool
around them, with fantastic gestures
reckoning them onward; Thousand
spirit eyes peered inQuisitively out o.
the arches and frets in the ceilings
snatches of faint song echoed through
the corridors; glimpses he had of hal
formed faces fitting about in corners
and whispers and signs hoated ON thu
air. Mr.. E. again smiled at his owl
imaginings, and making strong menta
effort fairly shook off all further non
sensical apprehensions, They thorough
ly examined the room destined for hin
and the adjacent ones, and afterwar'
looked through those below, one o
which was hall of magnificent dimen
sions superbly carved and gilded in tn
old style.
His companion reiterated his assur
anceS that no living being save Eimsel
would be in the castle, and, with an in
vitation to breakfast at his house in tn,
morning, babe him good night. Mr.
T. attended him to the door, doubl,
locked and chained it after him, an(
then assembled to his own apartment
| l. l., raF,,lI,y lA.lynl onI 20
cured. He certainly was situated very
| pleasantly.
The rain now came down in torrents
but the tremendous peals of thunde
above him and the vivid flashes o
lightning which occasionally pierced
their way through the heavy damasl
curtains only so much the more en-
HANGED the value of his comfortable re
treat and made his feelings those of un
mingled satisfaction. A bright frt
blazed on the old fashioned hearth, ant
two wax candles stood lighted on an ele
CANT inlaid table beside it.
The room was richly furnished i'll al
antique style, and the luxurious couch
to one tired as he was, looked extremely
inviting to repose. But the inclination
to sleep had quite left him, and strange
wakefulness had superseded all his for
mer almost overpowering WEAKNESS
Several noble paintings by the great
masters, Guido and Da Vinci, adorned
the walls, one of which was a beautiful
picture of the Virgin and Child" rep
resenting him while yet the radiant
brow was unpierced bySthorns, and ere
the delicate fair cheek had been sub,
jected to the blow of the smiter, or the
prayer of prayers had been gasped by
those cherub lips. Upon these he unused
for an hour OF so, and then, according