Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-29
bidness ana such nonsense annoy me
and mr., rnrlt1rgnar,f II, mo


and arc repugnant to me.
And as I think know myself pretty
well. was surprised and bored by a
state of mind SO contrary to my habits
and nature. Evidently my physio-psy-
Geological system was in moment of
crisis.
How could l get out of it-bo cured?
Must l. too, take the first train and go
into the country? Perhaps that would
be the best way. Eut unfortunately l
could not. l had an important engage
ment to supply some work. and could
not run away ard leave it for whims of
a dreamer fit for hysterical woman.
"Per baccoi' | told myself, Pay no
attention to the thing! Let us be a man,
what, the deuce!"
And l 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 a chair out of place. Then went
into my study and lighted the gas, to be-
/ gin work.
/ But as soon as seated myself at the
desk and cast glance upon the manu-
script where had left off writing, a
marvellous. amazing surprise awaited
me.
You must know that was writing
novel-oh, what a novel! Something
/ fine, exceptionally fine! A romance like
4 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 | went ont had
interrupted the story at very interest
ing point, and the period ended thus:
'Hc burst into sonorous laugh Of
scorn; he was very sure that the time of
phantoms and specters was long pastl
That apparition then gave him no fear.
( 1t must be q trick"
had left it there.
Taking up the pen in order to con-
tinue. with my good cigar lighted in my
mouth, l cast my eyes on the paper, and
what did see:
just tltdNtAS. w NlL lnNttut
Directly below the last line written by
me had been written one word only;
Fool! There it was. ironical and men,
acing. in Gothic letters, which showed
the handwriting of former age.
Who had traced this scornful and
hooking word? You can imagine wheth-
er | remained amazed. l will say even
l fslk 70
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?
grew livid and felt myself shudder.
IGprang to my feet. ! felt the hair
stand ON end upon my head and a cold
perspiration tIicllle down my forehead!
Tic. the accursed stuffed cat. looked
fxedly at me, and his green eyes seemed
to dilate and become variegated with
a thousand colors. But was that cat
really stuffed? Or was he not rather
alive by virtue Of some witchcraftg
All at once ] reused myself. / had a
feeling OF shame and rage; and furious.
striking with a heavy fist on the writing
desk, exclaimed:
But who is the demon who has writ
ten this word2 woull like to know
him to twist Lis neck;'
If were to live a thousand years,
shall never forget what happened then.
had hardly finished speaking those
words when the study resouudcd with
hooking laughter-dry, stridont, infer
nal.
Then the wall opened suddenly, and
there came forth woman wrapped in
IL great black mantle. And Tie, the ao-
cursed cat made leap from his pillar,
and mewing ms he had never mewcd in
his lifetime went to rub himself against
that mysterious being.
| drew back more dead than alive.
Still, had enough presence Of mind to
stretch hand behind me, open drawer
of the desk and take ont n loaded ro-
volver. As soon as | had seized tho
weapon felt safer.
| raised my arm and pointed the re-
volver at that being. with the exclama-
ton:
"Now. we will see who you aret'
Alas! Once, twice, thrice touched the
trigger, but the revolver was no longer
obedient.
The mysterious figure made two steps
toward me. Tho black mantle that en-.
folded her fell to tao floor.
What fearful sight, II was not n
man nor a woman. Itwasa skeleton-a
skeleton with two lights flaming in its
empty, caveruous eye sockets IA skeleton
that laughed satanically, while the cat
Tic made fantastic and wild leaps.
1t vast was Death
In the morning they found rue insensi.
bic in my den. The servant ran to call
physician. who found mo in high
fever. Ny family FASTENED from the
country. Twas taken care Of. treated
and cured. But the fact remains. my
hair had turned gray.
When | was able to return 10 my den,
the cat Tic was no longer there. My
wife had made a coup d'etat and sent it
to be thrown into the river. The column
had also disappeared. It had been given
away, do not know 10 whom.
My manuscript was however. still In
its place. Only the word "Foollr was no
longer there.
Then it had not been written?
Still was very sure Of having read II,
Who know@ II the cat Tic had still
been there, perhaps lac couid have told
me. But poor Tic was there no more.
Then. what am 70 think
What shall believc?- TRANSLATED From
khe Italian Fer Short Stories.