The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-13


well, was surprised and bored by II
state of mind so contrary to my habits
and nature. Evidently my physio-psy-
Geological system was in moment of
| crisis.
How could got out of it-be cured?
Must 1, too, take the first train and go
into the country? Perhaps that would
be the best way. But unfortunately
could not. had an important engage
ment to supply some work, and could
not run away and leave it for whims Of
dreamer fit for n hysterical woman.
"Per bacco!" l told myself, Pay no
attention to the thing! Let us be man,
what, the deuceI'
And returned home that evening as
usual, after having dined and visited tho
cafe.
had planned to work hard that even
ing, in order to make haste to finish.
Having entered the house I made as
usual an inspection of the apartment
and found everything as before. Not
even Il chair out of place. Then went
into my study and lighted the gas, to be-
gin work.
But as soon as l seated myself at the
script where l had left off writing,
marvellous, amazing surprise awaited
me.
You must know that was writing
novel-oh, what novel, Something
fine, exceptionally fine! A romance like
that surely no one ever wrote. The
real and the fanciful. the romantic, the
classic, the naturalistic, were skillfully
mingled in it.
Now that day when l went out had
interrupted the story at very interest
ing point, and the period ended thus:
He burst into a sonorous laugh of
scorn; he was very sure that the time of
phantoms and specters was long past!
That npparition then gave him no fear
1t must he trick"
had left it there.
Taking up the pen i'll order to con-
tinue, with my good cigar lighted in my
mouth, cast my eyes OH the paper, and
what did [ see?
Just heavens! What indeed!
Directly below the last line written by
me had been written one word only:
Fooll There it was, ironical and men,
acing, in Gothic letters, which showed
Vic iibItN LUNG vi ~ age.
Who had traced this scornful and
hooking word? You can imagine wheth-
er l remained amazed. | will say even
more-I felt an impression of terror
My servant did not know how to read or
write No one had come into the house
during the day. Then by whom had the
words been written?
l grew livid and felt myself shudder
l sprang to my feet. felt the hair
stand on end upon my head and cold
perspration triclllc down my forehead!
Tic. the accursed stuffed cat. looked
fixedly ut Inc, and his green eyes seemed
to dilate and become variegated with
thousand colors. But was that cat
really stuffed? Or was he not rather
alive by virtue of some witchcraft?
All at once reused myself. l had Il
feeling OF shame and rage; and furious,
striking with heavy fist on the writing
desk. | exclaimed:
But who is the demon who has writ
ten this word? l would like to know
him to twist his ncck:'
If | We're to live q thousand years,
shall never forget what happened then.
had hardly finished speaking those
words when the study resounded with
knocking laughter-dry, strident, infer
nal.
Then the wall opened suddenly, and
there came forth woman wrapped in
Il great black mantle. And Tic, the ac-
cursed cat, made Il leap from his pillar,
and mewing as lie had never mewed III
his lifetime went To rub himself against
that mysterious being.
| drew back more dead than alive.
Still, had enough presence OF mind TO
stretch Il hand behind me- open a drawer
volvcr. As soon us I had seized the
weapon felt safer.
raised my arm and pointed the re-
volver at that being, With the cxclama-
ton:
Nov. we will see who You arc."
Alas Once. twice. thrice | touched the
trigger, but the revolver was no longer
obedient.
The mysterious figure made two steps
toward me. The black mantle that en-
folded her fell to the floor.
What IL fearful sight. 1t WAS not n
man nor Il woman. ltw;lsa skcleton-a
skeleton with two lights flaming in its
empty, cavernous eye sockets-a skeleton
that laughed satanically. while the cat
Tic made fantastic and wild leaps.
1t vast was Death,
y = A.
III the morning they found me inscnsi-
bic i'll my dcn The servant ran TO call
physician, who found me in II high
fever. My family FASTENED from the
country. was taken care of, treated