The Delta independent., 1897-12-24

and only the golden rays remained in
the western sky and fired the edges of
the single cloud.
Going up through the yard. noticed
the door to the cook house was un-
latched. I had been unable, in my
explorations of cherished spots of in
terest in boyhood days, to gain en-
trance to the cook house.. The door
had been locked. and / had not con-
sidered it OF sufficient importance 70
ask Sonntag for the key.
Wondering why the place should now
be unlocked. I pushed the door open and
| entered.
The recollection of deep. dark apart
ment underneath, which had been used
as root cellar during my grandfather
time, was brought to mind by seeing
that the door leading to the stairway was
partly open. Obeying a sudden impulse,
entered, and, standing on the landing,
gazed down into the impenetrable
gloom.
Now, there was no reason why
should go down into that cellar: never
theless strong impulse urged me on.
As 1 cautiously proceeded thrill
came over me, something like that
~
curiosity qualified by fear. il il about
to venture into some unknown place.
l would probably have gone to my room
and procured . candle had not this fear
some sensation come over me. laughed
at myself for experiencing il.
Testing every step before trusting
my whole weight upon It, lest the tim
bers rotted by the dampness might
give way and precipitate me headlong
70 the depths below. went slowly
down into the Egyptian darkness. My
hand rested on the rude bnlustrade all
the way. and when Il came to the end
I knew was standing on the last step.
am probably no more of q coward
than most men, and had never been
afraid Of darkness; but this was the
blackest night had ever been i'm
mersed in. Really there WINS o lesser
degree Of darkness when I closed my
eyes, for then the sensations of the
glowing western sky still fingered.
Standing there on the bottom step. an
unnccountable fear came over me.
Probably II has been perceived from
this history that impatience regarding
things which seem to have a bearing
on the supernatural 10 one of my char
acteristics. To feel . sensation of fear
when there II no apparent reason for
It, causes disgust st what / consider
an objectionable weakness.
So then ! determined TO chastise my
cowardice by keeping on and explor-
ing that dark hole. would not allow
myself to beat an ignominious retreat
simply because . sensation Of fear in
clined me TO such q course.
took the last step, and my feet
rested on what seemed 10 be . loose
plank. which gave way . few inches
under my weight From the fesling
Of insecurity this brought TO me, I
thrust out my foot 70 fssl my way BE-
fore proceeding farther.
Dsfors I could take . step forward.
howsvee. fro0 so0swhsse In tAAt tomb
Ike daskneas. IN dssR solemn toasA
sounded . voice:
"Another step means dsath. Pause
before you take it!"
To say that ! was simply startled
would not be true. was paralyxed
with fear. Ny hair bristled up, my
heart began . tsip-hammer action, and
the blood surged 70 my head In fierce
tide.
~. 49, 49,. so...
.ne .o'ce' ",s sse :"
sc..
| su. .'~yea NO. "e' mo Ee'.'
mao tna. Cn'
eea.e! nA y '"D'.a uP'
s Wy 49,
-. NJ Ia - g. - -
a.. -. ..,- -
en.. "n o a." e o. p 80 -
.,Prs.,.,- -. 80, -, -.
." ... A." 90. "a .n,.,.y .na
S., .. - .hr~- mv.s,S tn,o
U ~ ] 49,