Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-18

| started had displayed its utmost power ?
The period Of its working was not yet
| half
Grafton sprang TO his feet with glar-
ing eyes and extended arms. Through
the quiet house sudden noise had re-
sounded, a heavy, grinding fall. Oh,
what could it be, what could it be :?
Why was he all alone when he was so
frightened He listened with nerves in
tent. The normal quietude prevailed
tic could hear the beat of the great
clock in the hall below. Yet something
had happened in the barred and bolted
laboratory, where, ii his knowledge had
any value, that majestic woman must
still be enthrallcd by unconsciOusness.
Grafton braced himself into dcspera-
ton. His intellect, loo strong to give
way, reacted. He crept down the stairs
and through the shadowy corridors. He
leaned against the door, but no alarming
sound came from within True, there
seemed measured pulsation, but that
must be an echo OF the great clocks
beat. Moved by an impulse which he
cared not to resolve lie stretched himself
before the threshold, and there he duly
watched and waited, held by mcrciful
lethargy.
The houls of the night the hours of
the day advanced and retreated, and
still Grafton kept his sluggish vigil.
Sometimes he dreamed and then il
seemed that he was leading the vast
army of humanity in its march toward
perfection, and that all nature sounded
u rhythmic measure for their tread. The
day had declined when habit warned
INN that the time for his visit was draw
ing near.
Grafton stood erect. DESPITE exposure
and lack of care and food, he felt him
self once more that self which dare
smile in the face of any unknown. He
listened. All, that rhythmic measure Of
his dream was a stcrtorOus, stcntOrian
breathing Well, whatever there was 10
be seen he would quickly see! He
opened the door. He stepped firmly into
the room. The canopy was down and
outspread; the stout couch pressed 10
the ground No wonder; there had been
the crash Of an overwhelming weight,
Tor there across the floor lay nam
moth, tremendous, appalling impossible,
partially yelled, indeed, by the capacious
SILK, out more portcntous for the Shroud-
ing
Grafton gazed sombrely on the crea.
ton OF his ambition. He did not fear,
though her gigantic brows lowered,
though her pondernus lips curled with
sinister leer. Despair controlled him,
despair and hate. Full we'll he compre.
hchded the impulse Of his watch and
ward. lie would protect the helpless
care-takers, the poor laboring folk, from
the evil which he had conjurcd. Ave.
that lie would. The more he hated The
accumulation before him the more he
loved those who were his kin. In sacri
nee, at last, he might find happiness.
Grafton examined the locks and shut.
tiers. He took certain substances and
articles from his work bench. He
scowlcd back detiantly at the supinc
monster and strobe from the room He
stu was master. In respect to the period
OF unConsciousness his art had proved
unerring, and sufficient time vet re.
manned 70 enable him to complete his
masterdom. The creator should be the
destroyer, He would prepare poison
that would soon stop that internal re-
vcrberation.
All night Grafton toiled, and all night
the great house trembled from thunder.
Gus Inspirations, At length the yirulent
!'otloh was prepared, Resolutelv he
hastened to the laboratory. Steadiastly
he shot the bolts and pressed. The door
yielded for few inches and then re.
fused to bulge.
Grafton placed the light on the floor
and peered through the interstice. A
vast mass of horrid flesh obstructed the
entrance; quivering, notified mass,
swelling and expanding with hellish
rapldity. Even while he stood horror
stricken, the door slammed in his face.
hVen While he strove to reatlc, the
walls quivered and the pavement shook
Grafton turned and He'd In nm in.
slant he would have gained the porch.
the protection Of the celestial yauit
when there was an upheaval, a crush,
ilhg together of stone and beam and tim.
Der, and in the ruins Of the great house
these two perverted ones found com.
mon sepulchre.