Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-07-25

Y -.
And as think know myself pretty
vel. 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 get out of it-be curedi
Must I, too, take the first train and 60
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 oi
a dreamer fit for q hysterical woman.
Per baccop told myself, PAY nc
attention to the thingi Let us be man
what. the deucel'
usual, after having dined and visited the
cafe
I had planned to work hard that even
ing, in order to make haste to.fnish,
Having entered the house made as
usual an inspection of the apartment
and found everything as before. Not
even q chair out of place. Then I 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 whero had left Off writing, a
marvellous. amazing surprise awaited
me.
You must know that was writing a
noyel-Oh, what a novel; Something
fine, exceptionally fineI a romance like
that surely no one ever wrote. The
real and the fanciful, the romantic, the
classic, the natura1istic, were skillfully
mingled in it.
Now that day when went out had
interrupted the story at a 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
phantonls and specters was long pastl
That apparition then gave him no fear.
It must be a 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 heavens! What indeedI
Directly below the last line written by
me had been written one word only:
Fooli There it was, ironical and men
acing, in Gothic letters, which showed
the handwriting of former age.
Who had traced this scornful and
mocking word? You can imagine wheth-
er 1 remained amazed. will sny 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 written2
grew Gvid and felt myself shudder.
Isprang to my feet. felt the hair
stand on end upon my head and cold
perspiration trickle down my forehead!
Tic, the accursed stuffed cat, looked
f1edly at me, 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. / had a
feeling of shame and rage; and furious,
striking with heavy fist on the writing
desk, / eSclaimed:
"But who is the demon who has writ
ten this word? would like to know
him to twist his neckg'
IF were to live Thousand years, 1
shall never forget what happened then.
1 had hardly finished speaking those
words when the study resounded with
mocking laughter-dry, strident, infer
nal.
Then the wall opened suddenly, and
there came forth woman wrapped in
a great black mantle. And Tic, the ac-
cursed cat, made leap from his pillar,
and mewing as he had never mewed in
his lifetime went to rub himself against
that mysterious being.
1 drew back more dead than alive.
Still, had enough presence of mind to
stretch hand behind me, open drawer
of the desk and take out loaded re-
volver. As soon as had seized the
weapon felt safer.
raised my arm and pointed the re-
volver at that being, with the exclama-
ton:
''Now. We will see who you areln
Alasl 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 a fearful sightl 1t was not a
man nor a woman. Itwas skeleton-a
skeleton with two lights flaming in its
empty, cavernous eye sockets skeleton
that laughed satanically, while the cat
Tic made fantastic and wild leaps.
1t was-it was Deathl
In the morning they found me insensi-
BILE in my den. The servant ran to call
physician, who found me in high
fever. Ny family hastened from the
country. was taken care of; treated
and cured. But the fact remains, my
hair had fi1rued fyray
When was able to return to my den,
the cat Tic was no longer there. Ny
wife had made coup d'etat and sent It
to be thrown into the river. The column
had also disappeared. II had been given
away, do not know to whom.
My manuscript was, however, still in
its place. Only the word ''FoolF' was no
longer there
Then it had not been written?
Still was very sure Of having read II.
Who knows2 If the cat Tic had still
been there, perhaps he could have told
me. But poor Tic was there no more.
Then, what am to think?
Whatshall believe2 Translated From
the Italian For Short Stories.
Curious oner OF marriage.