Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-04-25

Known. MIS- MalnWdrlDS was all III
valid, confined to her room by one of
those chronic nervous diseases which
the lacking i'll sympathy are apt to pooh
pooh. Eunice was devoted daughter
truly. AS for Mr. Mainwaring, it was
generally: You are looking much bet
ter today, my dear. Well, SO long,"
with him. But Mrs Mainwaring did
not crave for company. She was strong
woman, fully as eccentric as she was
sick, fond of her own society and OF
polishing and arranging lot of trump
cry gems and coins and curios to which
rumor had given an inordinate value.
On this particular night, which l was
now perforco recalling, Mr.. Mainwaring
was away i'll town on business his
business perhaps that is pleasure. Mrs
Mainwaring was, of course, in her room
and alone by express desire. Eunice and
I had passed charming hours together
in the quaint, shadowy drawing room,
at first at the wheezy old piano and
then planning that impossible future
which seems SO probable to all lovers
GOOD night, dear, she had said on
parting. ''The night is good. since it
smiles on our love-
And indeed the night was glorious in
its lucent tranquility. I stood at the
window for awhile and looked out on
the simmer and the glitter of the
heavens. Glorious, truly, but was it
sympathetic? Was there not something
derisive in its smiles, as if human af-
fairs, when considered at all, must be
contemned? turned away with sigh
vaguely apprehensive. I stopped in the
library and took a book by chance. It
was "Jane Eyre" Then l went to the
wing where my room was situated. Be-
meath it was the great dining hall;
above it, the suit devoted to Mrs. Main
waring; adjacent to it, vacant guest
chambers. 1t was still early; so lighting
a cigar, sat before the glowing CRATE
and read, as tonight I have sat and
smoked and read.
AS my reading progressed and my in
terest deepened, so, too, did that vague
apprehension settle and solidify. l have
ever been susceptible to influences little
regarded by the world in general. can
feel the gathering of g storm and the
break of cloud. can catch the whim
steal thought of companion before it is
uttered. l am moved by the spirit that
has moved an author in writing certain
passages. am happy in the provision of
prosperity and detected by the forebod-
ing of evil Without realizing it, for
some time had been glancing uneasily
from my page about the room My
hands, usually hot, gradually grew cold
and damp. got up from my seat and
looked in the mirror. Ny face was livid,
my lips were wan, and my eyes glowered
deep in their sockets. What malign
thing had come upon me? Something. I
could not tell. Iwould not yield! I was
interested in the book. would persist
in it's reading! l did despite my fldgets.
I read on and OH until I came to that
scene where Jane was so terrified by that
weird, horrid scream. Then, when had
grasped its details by fitful comprehen-
sive glimpses, in an inthralling panic l
sprang to my feet, hurried off my cloth
ing, blew out the light, and jumping into
bed pulled the coverlids over my head.
Oh, how cold was, and how frighten
ed! How anxious to speak to some one
and how ashamed Of myself! How con-
scious of my full 81 years of manhood,
yet of my undcniable babyish sensibil-
ity! could have cried from rage to think
that was like TO cry from terror!
Well, I trenbled in body and shivered
in spirit until at length l grew warm
and drowsy from very exhaustion, and
at last slept. How long ny slumbers
continued I know not, but it must have
been the blacklist hour of the night when
I awakened as if from a touch or at a
call I was lying on my pillow, with
the clothes at their normal height, and
my first thought was how idiotic had
been to get SO shaken, how comfortable l
really was. But in an instant that cud
ding sensation disappeared, for out from
the inwrapping silence ard 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 Twas
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 stupor, half
awake, half asleep, until the morning
light, like mothers hand, stroked my
brow and babe me slumber.
1t was late when l arose. was but
half dressed when there came repeated
raps on my door, and the housekeeper's S
voice crying: "Oh, Master Harry Oh,
Mr.. Grandon! Open, open, open!"
1 flung my door open, and the old
woman fell into my arms. MY mis-
tress, she gasped, 'murdered-dead in
her bed! Come, oh, come!"
1 went, but why need dwell on hor-
rible details? Poor Mrs. Mainwaring
was dead indeed, with marks of fierce
grasp on her throat, as if some diabolic-
al force had muttered, ''Shut up, d-n
youl'' Aye, that was it, "Shut up!'
That appealing cry of extremity which
I had heard and had not needed. The
cabinets We're 1Eifed of their wretched
treasures, and the room was in the con-
fusion of rapine. I 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 Ill
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 un-
wonted 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?"
81 did hear something, sir, l an
swered, with the courage of despair. 81
heard most awful cry"--
"And-and' -
''That is all l was frightened and
| hid under the bedclothing until morn
ing
''You miserable cowardp'
I turned slowly away, and as turned
I saw that beseeching, confding express