Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-12-02


nance, but that may have been Bhffins
fancy, for every one looked like rogue
or a fool to him, the latter class predom-
mating.
Bliffins was left alone, for no one else
happened to patronize the bath that
morning. A pleasant feeling stole over
him. His withered limbs seemed to be-
come more supple and the thin blood
to circulate more actively in his veins.
He sank into sort of somnolent medita-
ton, his business transactions still up
permost in his mind. "Oh, I'll sell out
the Widow O'Hara tomorrow, he
thought, land make cool hundred by
the transaction. People tell me I'm hard
Bah! I'm good business man, and ev-
cry day I'm growing richer and richer
Money is what makes you feared and
hated How like to be hated. Isn't it
good to know there in no one in the
world who doesn't despise your The
thought was so pleasant that lac chuckled
more audibly than usual.
Meanwhile the atmosphere had become
more cloudy and the heat more sitting.
Bliffins began to feel uncomfortable.
The temperature is getting pretty
high" he thought.
II was. Great clouds of steam rolled
into the room, as if the attendants were
bent in earnest upon thawing out his dry
old frame. He conld hardly see the cell
ing. "Whewl / can't stand this" said
Bliffins. Rising, he made his way to the
door and tried to open it. Horrorsl II
was locked, but through the glass Blif-
fins could see the villainous attendant.
Let me outr' he shouted.
The attendant only grinned, and his
face seemed more diabolical than ever.
I'm roasting in hercF' exclaimed
Bliffins.
"Well, roast" said the attendant.
"You won't let me out!'
The man grinned again and turned
away.
"Stopl Stop! Come backl Oh. I'm
sitting
Bliffins fell upon the marble floor, his
senses almost deserving him. The heat
became more intense, the vapor enter
ing in heavier clouds than ever He
breathed with difficulty; he gasped; he
struggled. The laughter of the attend
ant seemed to echo in bis ears like the
shrieks Of 10000 ficnds. He thought be
was dying. and his past life fioated be-
fore him, a moving phantasmagoria in
the mist. He saw Widow O'Hara.
lyon old wretch she exclaimed.
Now you are getting your deserts. You
would sell me out, would your
She shook her fist a: him as he covered
there. and her figure was replaced by
others, the ghosts Of those whom he had
robbed. many Of them children with
faces pinched by hunger. who had arisen
from the grave to confront him. All, it
was a merry procession for Thanksgiy-
ing day, as long as the longest chain
gang OF slaves that ever toiled under the
lash in the torrid interior Of Africa.
And the maledictions they heaped upon
him, their faces distorted with hatred
and their voices quivering with rage.
What noise they made. u be sure,
these phantoIns, Blifiins had never I'M
agined that ghosts c0uld shrek and yell
In that fashion. 1t was pandemoninni
Of sneers. walls, shouts and howis-ex.
carnations Of endless aversion and out
bursts of undying seoEn that pierced the
brain and raeked the senses. II was in
deed pleasant company fer Thanksgiving
day.
Nor was that all. Beelzebub himself
was there, and never had his horns
seemed so high or his tail so long. lie
frisked around merrily. his eyes CLEAN.
ing like Goals and his tail whisking like
whipcord, cracking now and then as
his antics became more marked
Il don't like it." gasped Blidins. Lei
me get ont"
mo. no. Blif. We've got yon nov,
and we are going TO give you a littis
feretasse Of what win como when yen
have presently shufiled off this mortal