Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-04-15


again until the time arrived.
Spite of my first resolve, however,
the next night saw the box out of the
chest and under the study lamp again;
and from that time to the end l could
not get the idea out of my mind that
the box was alive. There was that
about it which irresistibly drew toward
it my attention, my thought, aye, my
very being.
l felt that I should not be able to
hold out. The strain was becoming
more than 1 could bear. How 1 did
hold out until the 21st day of March,
when L opened the box, d. not know.
l had now given up lectures wholly,
and my assistant was filing my place.
had aged frightfully since the begin
ming Of the year. In my Cos had Of
ten been complimented as looking to
be under so; but now my full age had
come suddenly upon me, and more.
From freshness and yigor l had sunk
rapidly into decrepitude.
AS 1 have said, the bronze box had
come to be seemingly endowed with
life, and as the days dragged along
that impression fastened itself upon
me more and more strongly. Was
mad, asked myself? No, no; knew
was sane yet; but how much longer
would be able to bear the terrible
strain? Could fight through the few
remaining days to the end? No; felt
in my soul that could not.
Never can 1 forget that fatal 21st;
never could forget it though, 1 should
live a thousand years. In the after
noonI forced myself to walk abroad.
On my return l looked around the
room in startled way. Surely some
one was there. But no; there was no
one. 1t was only my imagination, only
hat strange hallucination of which
have made mention, but now felt with
10 times greater force than ever be-
fore. No sooner. had I lighted the
lamp than I brought forth the bronze
box and seated myself with it at the ta-
BILE.
-. The box was alive. The conviction
grew upon me so strongly that l be-
lieved it in spite Of all reason. Some
thing, aye, somebody, was in it. Some
one within was calling to me, calling
loud and piteously, urging me to open
the. box, to open it now.
Dropping the accursed thing at last,
ran tc the window, threw It open,
and leaned out, trying to calm myself
by fixing my gaze upon the peaceful
river, which my room overhung; but
I could not, could not. Pressure was
upon me to open the box, and open it
l must, or die.
Back ito the table Iswent and took
the box up again, looking for some--
thins with which to break the seal
pat i5snt pG, ;ns . moment OF
'lsss ls;,.. way 10 temptation. But TINS was
9o+ moment of weakness; no, no,
Was no longer trying to resist my ~ oma
'"oI;nation "a simply, but. was relusins
lhoAi ~ lucrative command OF ancsner a.
tne e,, ! could refuse no longer.
snrane to the chest and began " nar m,n,
sp. .'S tSe looks. At the bottom "ei'
ouS ooo,s which I had provided in anu. ~.
, "t,on .o Of this hour, at the very w.
pallon - that I would have plenty .
tonl, .,ns ~ ~ reflect upon my action ere e.
..n,I oal1a ~ get at them. But reflection We
uost ro now: decision had been mace.
pa1s eung the books this way ana Una
c,;rsing the folly that had leu nrs n,
MT m the tools in such a pace aAu unon ~
po' eneaged s came suddenly upon
~ oonse I sprung up. for the molns :
stoned-a noIst proof of the state /
onTves were in. But it was oh.' ,,n -
: ensseS ,tarv At last I laid hands up
q tbe tools I sought, and ran DacN p"t
# tne e tshle to attack the seal; put :,
) the enne .a moment I stopped. Tne
g words w Of the, inscription causn[ u, do ot
e sve-"Curst be he whose d shai w ~
7 M than here is written" .
e. 'iistr Ti,s and-pincers fell from my Ma Ma
to and pe:spiration bathed my lac lace, !, " y
r. was | about to do? Here II was sad -
at SsS Sefore the appointed time. ana |
ed Oet Oso,,t to open the box. 1 must 5
Sc apou' .os;stp>cBut W that cry from WI
. t the box, that terrible, that awiu, l,S,i h,
"n 7 IL paced the floor, holding a .h;t ns # If
over e my ears as if l could saas tso II
cry osst os - T could close the ears OF the 5
ig- as IL eo II What could l do
tI ~ could do? e tne :
ing oIe ie NV nv way, and kicked it, Or
Zee zee, M the ancient volume across s Inc
nHu iu sea scattering its leaves. 10 o., anu ~ j.,
IN naced, rapidly, nervously TIL ol d
mes pau'G paU discovery burst upon me, :,
II hnu Il. was the final day! l maraebef a befor, =,
,her, Ssd m never occurred to me -, De1u.' 1un
the naa n Ia ds escaped my mind till tina
al II . n.0 when the words, "Accord'
men, 1r1,an manner. OF compu
was .ne nhicb I saw in large print on. on
VINO W %utb the old book. caused 1t TO a ouPs
az me- like an inspiration, nav ~
osing tau nv the the change in the modern ca
even e,,aa The bronze box, navlns q ing, D1s 1850
called ~ ane the first day of April 1883 80
more On onened Just 500 years to a ia ua
r best openeu WAS due to be ope
Il was that 21st day of Marcn! =,
), and ina. 80 ~ beart leaped! N
'onoer curse was .lifted-now.l was =, =,
broke oroke to proceed 10 the solving 3ooa ol u
words: tery m which had for SO long, long
ear OF me- me- HOW 1 trembled! Elevel
ward a aays,swspt M away in a single e. =,
mas.er as though by a miracle! ~ !"
80 wonderful!
,,s,a IL, he Once more 1 took up the -, ~
~ ,t'u With something further in the .iat ~
al VIII Forced itself upon my notice
uei ere ny sank upon my study .aa ena'r
,,+ !. The the groan. Was to be cheated,
oq' = oven Won What stayed my. hand now
- o. third command in the inscral
y " - the command that at the open.
,.s ,esi roon s sox some animal, large or sms a
ne roonl 80 nresent Where could I'll