The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-15

verted to his quiet, happy home, where
the beloved onces were probably at this
very time joyously expecting him, but
who, mayhap, would never behold him
more.
The third time he heard the dreaded
foot approaching, SO heavy every foot
fall now that they smote on his ear like
cannon balls. The three sullen knocks
again.
What do you want that you persist
in thus disturbing me?" demanded Mr..
E. loudly.
"The master wants you down to sup
perl"
81 come" said Mr.. E., and mental
ly imploring the protection of heaven
against all violence, he grasped candle
and placing his Bible under his arm
opened the door.
A grim, gigantic figure, kabited in
black from head to foot, stood without,
who, motioning him to follow, led the
way to the same splendid apartment in
which he had been in the earlier part of
the evening. The door was thrown
wide open by his sable guide and he
was ushered in. The master of the
revels received him with silent bow
and escorted him to the table, which
was covered with a sumptuous banquet
and entirely surrounded by guests, with
the exception of one seat which had
been reserved for him.
As he seated himself burst of laugh
ter pealed out and died away in the dis
tance He glanced at the company;
they were all robed in unrelieved black,
and from countenances of livid ghastli-
ness the hollow eyes shot forth gloomy
flashes of fire as they glared upon him.
All was silence-dead silencel It was
appalling. He felt the blood curdle in
his veixs.
The host helped him first and then
the other guests. Demoniac grins
wreathed their thin lips as they
watched to see him eat. But he no
longer doubted as to the nature of the
company and touched not the unhal-
lowed food. A dead weight hung upon
the atmosphere, almost crushing him
to the earth; dense sulphurous vapors
foated around, and the lowering brows
of the company knit into deeper scowls
as they burst out into another fit Of
Mephistopheleslike Inirth.
A moment of fearful trial, it is said,
occurs in the lifetime of every mortal.
Mr. E. shuddered as he felt that his
had arrived; and what tremendous Or
deal it was-no less than personal con-
fict with the powers Of darkness! The
host signed peremptorily to him to be-
gin. With great effort-for he well
knew that each fendish eye was riveted
upon him-he exclaimed:
~ have never been in the habit of
eating without having first asked a
blessing"
So saying, he bowed his head on his
Bible, and cried with loud voice:
"Oh, Lord, thou hast often fed me
with the bread of heaven; suffer me not
now to feast with devilsr'
A fearful shriek-a peal Of thunder
that shook the castle to it's deep founda-
tions-and, raising his head, Mr.. E.
discovered that he was alone in the sup
per room, sitting in the same place, with
only his own candle, out of the score Of
lights, burning on the table beside him.
For awhile he was stunned, his senses
were overpowered; but soon recovering
his self command he retraced his way
to his room, where, as may well be i'm
agined, he slept not. That night was
one prolonged vigil.
It did on him the work of years of
agony. At a reasonable hour in the
morning he left the castle and went to
the house of the agent, who welcomed
him very cordially, inquiring with much
solicitude how he had rested and
whether he had been molested or dis
turbed. Mr.. E. answered him in
composed manner, which did not convey
the slightest intimation of. the occurren-
ces Of the past night. Not wishing to
excite suspicion.b by precipitate depart
ure, he awaited breakfast, and thanking
Mr.. D. for his politeness, asked for
his horse, whichhad received benevolent
care, and rode away.
The instant he reached his home he
became violently i'll. He never over
came the terrors of that night, and in a
few weeks he was dead. Augusta
n