The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-09

Well, 1 trembled in body and shivered
in spirit until at length / grew warm
and drowsy from very exhaustion, and
at last slept. How long my slumbers
continued / know not, but it must have
been the BLACKLIST hour of the night when
/ awakened as if from q touch or at a
call. was lying on my pillow, with
the clothes at their normal height, and
my first thought was how idiotic l had
been to get so shaken, how comfortable
really was. But in an instant that cud-
ding sensation disappeared, for out from
the inwrapping silence and obscurity
came a cry, intense, fateful, awesome,
as weird, as horrid at that shrek which
had so terrified Jane Eyre. Once more
that fear seized and overcame me.
could think of naught except that / was
alone in the dark with my poor timor
GUS self. Once more plunged under the
bedclothing, and there / remained,
though again and anon through the
folds that chilling cry penetrated. But
acute agony, especially of the mind, has
its reaction. Soon lay in "a stupor, half
awake, half asleep, until the morning
light, like a mothers hand, stroked my
brow and babe me slumber.
1t was late when arose. l was but
half dressed when there came repeated
raps on my door, and the housekeeper's
voice crying: "Oh, Master Harry Oh,
Mr. Grandonl Open, open, openl"
/ flung my door open, and the old
woman fell into my arms My mis-
tress," she gasped, "murdered-dead in
her bed! Come, OH comel"
l went, but why need l dwell on hor-
rible details? Poor Mrs. Mainwaring
was dead indeed with marks of a fierce
grasp on her throat, as if some diabolic-
al force had muttered Keep silenceP'
That appealing cry of eXtrem' tv which
| had heard and had not needed. The
cabinets were rifled of their wretched
treasures, ana the room was in the con.
fusion of rapine. pass over the grief,
pitiable and vindictive, of daughter and
husband and conclude these memories
with an interview had the following
day. Mr.. Mainwaring, more arrogant in
his bereavement than in good fortune,
because also indignant and amazed,
had questioned the different members
of his household without obtaining any
information. No suspicious person had
been seen about the premises; no UNI
%onted sound had been heard that night.
Finally, when he and Eunice and were
alone, he turned to me:
But Henry" he said, "your room
is directly underneath. 1t is strange that
such struggle could have occurred
without disturbing you. Did you hear
nothing?'
II did hear something, sir" l an
swered, with the courage of despair. 81
heard a most awful cry''-
"And--and' -
''That is all | was frightened and
hid under the bedclothing until morn
ing
You miserable coward"
turned slowly away, and as turned
| l saw that beseeching, confiding express
sion in Eunice's eyes which has followed
me ever since with the vitality of q
blessing / turned away and marched
out of the house. out into wild world,
not wilder though, than the tumult OF
my poor heart
1t was necessary for me to suffer, tc
sacrifice, before l dared from the mes
sage of that glance to interpret hope.
have done so, and now, as | finished the
revelations of the past, unwillingly
CLEANED from the dying Goals, felt that
the morrow might perhaps bring me not
a reward, but most exquisite relief. But
yet was there not something still un
done? had atoned truly, but had ex
| plated? Was there not a shadow between
Eunice and me-the shadow cast by
murder unavenged? Well, what now
could avail further worry? My cigar was
out, and so was the fire. 1t was cold
The morrow would decide, and the
quickest way to its decision was through
sleep.
fastened into bed, and my last con
nected thought was that the stranger
overhead must be more perturbed IL
mind than even was l. / slept, and
awakened as if at a touch or from call
| know not what time it was, but i
seemed the blacklist hour of the night
L listened-plod, plod, that strange