Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-10
The Devils Demise
lco~riSuKo From Third PAeK.l

They were there. and thrill crept
down Macmanara's spine a : he touched
them. He had jested with the man. be-
hcVing him to be crank, but now. for
some reason. ne did not understand.
ale was startled.
you are convinced, and will GO with
me-" Always soft and low. vet very
clear, the Devils voice was a melody.
Mcnamara looked up. 4 pair Of
clear blue eyes, behind which there
seemed to burn fiame-eyes unlike
any he had ever seen before. looked
straight into his own. The Devil had
possession Of his man In moment.
but even with his sense enthralled
Macmansra shuddered as he asked:
II must die first?"
"No," the Devil answered. emnhat-
tcally II want you 10 90 with me
md see and feel the beauty. comfort
and happiness in my home and then
come back 20 the world i'm the flesh
and tell how basely have been ma
ligned."
While the Devil was speaking they
were moving straight toward the
river, and when they reached IL he
unlocked a sllH and invited his guest
70 step in. As the boat went scud-
ding down the river Mcnamara won
dered where the Devil had learned his
stroke. The Falls City quickly faded
from view-a mere speck in the dis
sance. Macmanara had taken many "A
row on the Ohio, both as boy and
man, but never any like this. An
hour ago he was the most miserable
man on earth, now he was perfectly
happy; there was nothing left for
him 90 wish for.
The boat was drifting now. and at
place where the rocks shelved over
the bank IL stopped suddenly. The
Devil whistied, waited moment.
then whiStled three times In rapid
succession. IL seemed TO Macmanara
that the whole side oi thc cliff opened
90 them and gave forth q light SO
dazzling In it's brightness that ne had
10 close his eyes. The Devil picked
him mp and carried him into a richly
furnished room and put him down on
couch piled with cushions. There
were ribbons. laces. satins and silks.
in chairs, on tables. everywhere In
elegant prOfuSion and confusion. but
what impressed Macmanara most and
what he could hardly take his eyes
from was table in the center of
The room on which was piled, as gen
.erousiy as pebbles on the beach. every
known gem. Diamonds. ruhies, opals
and pearls threw shade over their
smaller sisters and tried hard 20 out
shine each other in their faseinat ting
glow and glitter.
My angels are out tonight on 9TH
er missions, but I shall do my best
20 entertain you. and shall be more
sorry than / can say II fail" aud
the Devil bowed courteously TO his
guest.
While he was speaking he placed
a diamond soarfpin and opal ring on
the table. They immediately began
TO sparkle q challenge TO their neigh
bors. What familiar look they had
10 Maemanaral The Devil drew a
chair close To the couch, picked up
guitar, and the last thing Macmanara |
remembered WAS hearing a rich tenor /
voice singing a popular melody.
The next morning when Macmanara /
awoke he was in his own rom The |
fire in the CRATE was burnin% cheeriIy. |
and through the open door he could /
see his valet preparing his bath. Out
side the sun was shining brightly. |
taking away the snow as fast as il 1
had fallen the night before.
What dream!" Macmanara
thought. as he sprang out of bed His
clothes were hanging on the back OF
chair, and there were tiny rivulets
where they had dripped the melted
snow. He went through his pockets
and his face fell. Yesterday he had
drawn $4,000 from the bank, vowing
IN his heart to &C as far from Louis
vile as the money would take him.
This morning there was not a dollar
In his pocket-not even the little
pearl-handled knife he had carried for
years.
When he went down 20 breakfast
his aunt. who was also his house
keeper, looked beyond him after say
ing good morning. evidently expect
ing 10 greet some one else.
How mistaken one can be, Otis"
she said. II expected you TO bring
company down 10 breakfast this
morning, for when heard you come
home last night l was sure some one .
was with you"
Maybe there was, and maybe there
wasn't. What would you say, aunt, il I
were TO tell you l don't know?"
IF you were anyone else but Otis
Macmanara i would say you were
drunk. but as you are Otis shall say
you are poking fun at your old aunt"
When the papers. were brought ip
glanced over tne mead
lines OF the Corrier-Journal, as was
4 aD-LI-......--- Il.