The Yale expositor., 1894-10-12

w us OOllN1Aih6 oWAoA
about to happen to me2
Again, that wierd, mufhed, unearth'
ly wailing! Was there actually some
lost, wandering spirit, escaped from
purgatory, inhabiting the houseF hs-
tened for many minutes; ana then'
above the bowling wind, souhu re-
verbrated through the house when L
shall never forget. 1t was ike the pite
GUS expiring cry Of some poor soui Ia
direst agony. 1t was no blast OF wlnu'
nor knell from the bell above, nor gilp,
behring's and mutterings OF khosts ana
goblins. 1t was human!
My blood ran cold; my teeth chatter-
ed: I trembled from head TO FOOT A
oresentiment Of an approaching encoun
ter with n creature of appalling aspect
unnerved me.
1t was now 2 o'clock Six hours
more of this horrible suspense!
There was n noise of footsteps over
hea |. followed by an outcry, like dog
baylng at the moon. The wind at ih-
tervals, still lashed against the house;
and at every gust / thought my emu
had come.
lazy down and wrapped myself In
the blankets, hoping TO dispel the shlv-
cring sensation that ran through me.
A prolonged wall and loud sobs!
l must make an effort to search the
house, and find from whom these
noises came.
Merciful powers! I could not move.
was losing the use Of my limbs!
fell into a semi-unconScious state. III
was not sleep, it was more like fear
full nightmare without sleep. All
strength forsook me. L felt utterly
powerless paralyzed In every limb.
The sense of hearing vanished. My
eyes were closed against my will; L
could not open them. All that L was
conscious of vas sensation OF the ut
most terror. / thought / was dying, or
Dassing into another state or another
world. Presently i felt something
touching my neck, like cold, icy fin
gers or cold steel. Then, before my
closed eyes there seemed to be glow
ing light. l tried 10 speak; but my
tongue clave to my mouth. Again
those icy fingers at my neck! My coat
and linen about my neck were being
unfastcncd! / suddenly emerged froin
nv torpid condition saw the candle
falling TO the floor and the figure of
gaunt, whitening creature leaving the
room. The figure was clothed, as 1t
seemed, In n tattered gray garment,
and over her shoulders long, white
hair streamed. 1t was but n moment
ary glance l had, for the candle was
extinguished as it touched the floor.
1 sprang to my feet. The bell again
rang thrice. Then all was silent, save
for the fitful wind. l grOped about
for the matches but could not find
them. l raised my hand TO my neck,
expecting TO find trickling blood; but
there were no signs of any wound.
At that moment l heard low plain
tive voice on the landing-"That wound
that scar, it is there" 1 felt again at
my neck, but with the same result as
before. groped about frantically for
the matches, but in vain.
After few minutes the voice spoke
a second time on the landing or on the
stairs. 1t muttered two words, re-
peated thrice at intervals:-'"The Res
direction! The Resurrection! The Res
direction"
The words rose and fell with
mournful cadancc, mingled with terror
and helplessness, and gradually died
away as the speaker withdrew to a
distance.
/ stepped softly TO the landing. 1t
was in pitch darkness. L dared not
move either 10 the upper or lower
rooms without light to guide me.
l returned to my chamber sat on the
side of the bed, and listened for fur
ther sounds. Surely, l thought, i was
strong enough TO cope with the ap-
paraticr, however murderous its inten-
tions might be. Why should / succumb
to cowardice?
1 heard the boards creak in the room
above me, then low mutterings, as If
coming from two or three voices-neXt,
a steady footstep pacing to and fro,
ceasing for a moment, and renewed on
The stairs, nearer and nearer the foot
steps advanced. Horror! that torpid
sensation was stealthily creeping over
me again. which 1 felt powerless to
resist! There was a glimmer or light
through the half-open door, the foot
steps abruptly stopped, loud though
trenYulous voice pealed and echoed
through the house: "Iiichard, Richard,
Richard Dudley"
The voice recalled my ebbing senses.
A thousand thoughts surged my brain
Was 1 really hu nan being, Or had |
passed into transition state, border
on the world Of spirits?
Again that voice. Richard, Richard,
Richard Dudley
/ started to my feet and made my
way to the landing; and there, at the
foot of the stairs. stood the woman
clad in gray, candle held aloft in one
hand and a framed portrait Of youth
in the other. / gazed in spsechless,
awe-struck amazement, for 1 beheld
in that ashen withered face-my own
mother!
was, indeed. Richard Dudley, the
elder son of the squire.
The meeting was, indeed. like n res
direction to both OF us. l prefer to
draw a veil over much that passed be-
tween us from the moment Of recogni-
ton to the time my friends returned.
My mother led the way to n small at
tic chamber, lighted by a window in
the roof. Out Of boxes and other lum-
ber, left behind by the creditors, she
Ind contrivad IN form IN hla and a