Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-11-30

nance, but that may have been Bhffins'
fancy. for every one looked like a rogue
or a fool to him, the latter class predom-
mating.
Bliffins was left alone, for no one else
happened To patronize the bath that
morning. a pleasant feeling stole over
him. His wlthered limbs seemed to be-
come more supple and the thin blood
to circulate more actively in his veins
He sank intoa a sort uf sumnolent medita-
ton, his business transactions still up
permost in his mind. "Oh, I'll sell out
the Widow O'Hara tomorrow" he
thought, ''and make a cool hundred by
the transaction. People tell me I'm hard
Bah! I'm a good business man, and ey-
cry day I'm growing richer and richer
Money is what makes you feared and
hated. How like to be hated, Isn't il
good 10 know there is no one in the
world who doesn't despise you" The
thought was SO pleasant that he chuckled
more audibly than usual
Meanwhile the atmosphere had become
more cloudy and the heat more sitting.
Bliffins began to feel uncomfortable.
The temperature is getting pretty
high" he thought.
1t was Great clouds Of steam rolled
TITO the room, as if the attendants were
bent in earnest upon thawing out his dry
old frame, He could hardly see the cell
ing. "Whew! | can't stand this.' said
Blitfins. Rising, he made his way to the
door and tried to open it. Horrors, 1t
was locked, but through the glass Blif-
fms could see the villainous attendant.
LET me out!' he shouted.
The attendant only grinned, and his
face seemed more diabolcal than ever.
I'm roasting in here" exclaimed
Bliffins.
well, roast said the attendant.
"You won't let me out!'
The man grinned again and turned
away.
"Stop! Stop! Come back! Oh. I'm
stifing!'
Bliffins fell upon the marble floor, his
senses almost deserting him. The heat
became more intense, the vapor enter
ing in heavier clouds than ever. He
breathed with difficulty; he gasped; he
struggled. The laughter of the attend
ant seemed to echo in his ears like the
shrieks of 10000 fiends. He thought he
was dying. and his past life fioated be-
fore him, moving phantasmagoria in
the mist He saw Widow UHara
"You old wretch she exclaimed.
"Now you are getting your deserts. You
would sell me out, would you?'
L 4 L c 1 1. 4
there, and her figure was replaced by
others, the ghosts of those whom he had
robbed, many Of them children with
faces pinched by hunger, who had arisen
from the grave to confront him. All, it
was merry procession for Thanksgiv
ing day, as long as the longest chain
rang of slaves that ever toiled under the
lash in the torrid interior of Africa.
And the maledictions they heaped upon
him, their faces distorted with hatred
and their voices quivering with rage!
What noise they made, to be sure,
these phantoms! Bliffins had never i'm
agined that ghosts could shrek and yell
in that fashion. 1t was pandemonium
Of sneers, walls, shouts and howls-ex-
carnations of endless aversion and out
bursts of undying scorn that pierced the
brain and racked the senses. 1t was in
deed pleasant company for Thanksgiving
day!
Nor was that all! Beelzebub himself
was there, and never had his horns
seemed SO high or his tail SO long! He
frisked around merrily, his eyes gleam-
ing like Goals and his tail whisking like
whipcord. cracking now and then as
his antics bccame more marked.
Il don't like it," gasped Bliffins. LET
me get out"
"No. no, Blif. We've got you now,
and we are going to give you q little
foratasfa IT what will come when Won