The National tribune., 1893-01-19

II
| ~ g/|F a mist of superstition
0W fear and Ignorance
He was as ugly a maj
as one could see in all the metropolis His fac
was almost hidden by gray, bristling beard
shaggy eyebrows, and the long, tangled curls
his dusty hair. His greasy and rudely- mendet
| clothes had been forced to serve him for
quarter of his 60 years. Though he shutflet
about, supporting his bent form upon huge
twisted cane, he held his head stifiiy erect. ane
two red-rimmed, evil eyes glared with fierce
watchfuness at every one he met.
The goods displayed in the one dirty-glasset
window, and upon the shelves inside, showed
Hargon to be naturalist and morbid anato
mist. There were cases of impaled insects
numerous skulls and a number of jars o
snakes, as we'll as of portions of the human
| frame, preserved in alcohol. The cracked bel
| hanging on spiral spring against the door sell
dom announced the entrance of anyone bu
| Hargon himself, and this fact had given rise tc
| the belief that the "Gobelin" had sold himself
| to the devil and needed no customers.
| However this may have been in reality, those
who suspected would have believed had they
! seen him in the room back of the shop. This
apartment was dismal by reason simply of its
| darkness, dirt, shattered furniture, mysterious
| chests, and the blackened cobwebs which hung
| from the ceiling and beveled the corners; but
at night. when Hargon himself was one of its
contents, and the Pickering light of a candle
dimly outlined otherwise obscnred objects and
| revealed the strangcness of others, it became
horrible.
Late one Winter light this man began fate.
full task. He closed the shop, and satisfying
himself that no curious one was lurking with
| out, he carried candle into the back room.
Placing it upon the table, he drew broken
chair into its brightest light and sat down.
An expression of deadly intention rendered
ba l1o1 tn rd ck
book and opened it. Upon the right page was
diagram of monster spider, which he care.
fully measured and examined then, turning
to the left page. he read in gruf, hard voice
"He who having soemnly compacted with
the Power, essays to construct and make live
The Death Spider must construct two. 1t is
written, and let him heed he must construct
two"
Wrinkles of deep inquiry quilted his black
forehead aud meshed his eyes as he exclaimed
"Why two?" -
Finding no satisfactory answer in his own
mind, he read on
He who desireth to create The Death Spider
may call the helper, who will render assistance,
instruction, and perform all necessary service.
Place the palm over the picture of the spider.
call thrice aloud 'Grsskin,' and the Helper
will appear"
The Gobelin obeyed these instructions with
out delay, and instantly there appeared beside
him-not entering through door or window,
but as if portion of air had been solidifed
and animated-a grotesque being, who, rubbing
his eyes and yawning, said ill-humoredly:
i am here. but not beholden to you for
waking me. No one has called me for so years,
and l was in sumber. What is your wish ;"
He was not taller than three feet, and was
dressed III single tight-fitting garment, much
like modern Jersey, which covered his entire
body, and revealed iiissingular form. His legs
were thin and wiry. and tapered to little
pointed feet. while his arms were muscular
as those of an athlete; but his head, dispropor-
tionately large, and face, especially, start
ling. 1t was one of those smooth, puzzipg
faces which look youthful but which bear an
indefnabie suggestion of age. Around his
mouth and in The wrinkle of his black eyes
were indications Of cunning. which flashed into
treacherous leer whenever Hargon's sight
was turned from him.
"You would make The Death Spider, eh ?"
he said, repeating the old mans reply. "What
for ?"
Must you know that?" gIowered the Gobe.
lin.
verify, must" retorted the imp, impu-
IDENTIFY, leaping to the table, and, with the
burst of merriment poking his tapered foot
against Hargon's breast. How am to work
if know not that?"
Not relishing this liberty, Hargon moved his
chair, and, looking hard at his visitor, said
i will tell you, then"
Grissikn caught his bent knee in his clasped
hands, and, turning his head sideways, with his
tongue thrust hard into his cheek and his
bright eyes fixed on the old man, was prepared
to listen.
''In Kent there is youth Andrew Fithng-
ton, whom hate to the death, and he must die
His father mercilessly and iniquitOusly injured
me years ago, and l then consulted the Books
of Torture for death to send upon him that
would be fitting revenge, but ap0piexy
snatchcd him away before | received the
power to put the racking death upon him.
Now the son must not escape my vengeance.
He must suffer doubly. / have resolved to put
him to the death of the Spider"
Truly" commented the dwarf, changing his
hands to the other knee. "To the death of the
Spider"
with your help l will bring the Spider to
life make the man sick. and -
"Hold, hod!" Grissikin interrupted, coolly.
"You cannot make the youth sick; you can
only kill him after sickness is upon him. I
apprehend there is hope for you. / will see.
Wait"
He vanished, and Hargon, bewildered, prob.
ably, by the being he had called into sight
though he himself was not less hideous and his
heart not less hardened by evil, sat calmly
waiting. Ten minutes passed. Suddenly the
dwarf appeared Oh the table in the same posture
from which he had vanished.
"Pve seen the youth-a noble youth, virtue
and goodness wrought into his countenance
brave, good heart he hath and you would
stop its beat. So be it. He is now courtinp
the maid who will become his wife when
Winter melts-a beauteous, graceful maid, as
good and pure and sweet as-as neither YOU
nor l will ever be- Hargon. Ha, ha! You
would break the maids heart by killing her
youth. So be it. We will make the Spider.
see about the youths eyes traces of coming
disease. He will sicken with fever ere the
new years month gone. We must have the
Spider ready. You will kill him, will Won
and break the maids hearth"
Torture him p the inaid is naught to me
growled the Gobelin. Death to them boti,
But look you here. imp. Why doth the
record say l must make two Spiders?
He reached for the book to find the words
and the dwarf replied with solemn insolence:
There must be two, Hargon, beeause-there
must be two" t'
"You have not answered. my question !"
growled Hargon. q
"No. l have not. have 2" taunted Grissikin.