The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-06-18


cuusclcss alarm. Shaking this of with
a gasp and struggle uplifted myself
upon the pillows, aud, pecring earnest
ly within the intense darkness Of the
chamber, llearkened-I know not why,
except that an instructive spirit prompt
ed me-to certain low and Indefinite
sounds which came through the
.pauses OF the storm ut long intervals,
knew not whence. Overpowered by
an intense sentiment Of horror, unac-
countable yet uncomfortable, threw on
my clothes with haste, for l felt that
| should sleep no more during the
night, and endeavorcd to arouse my
self from the pitiable condition into
which had fallen by pacing rapidly
to and fro through the apartment.
I had taken but few turns in this
manner when light step on an ad-
joining staircase arrested my attention.
I presently recognized it as that Of
Usher. In an instant afterward he
raped with gentle touch ut my door
and entered, bearing lamp. His coun-
tenance was, as usual. cadaverOusly
wan; butt moreover. there was spe
cies Of mad hilarity in his eyes. an ev-
identity restrained hysteria in his whole
demeanor. His air appalled, me, but
anything was preferable to the solitude
which had so long endured.
"And you have not seen it," he said
abruptly after having stared about
him for some moments in silence-''yOu
have not then seen it? But stay! You
SHALL" Thus speaking and having
carefully shaded his lamp. he hurried
to one of the easements and threw it
freely open to the storm.
The impetuOus fury Of the entering
gust nearly lifted us from our feet. It
was, indeed. tempestuouS yet sternly
beautiful night, and 'one wildly singu
lar in it's terror and its beauty. A
whirlwind had apparently collected its
force in our vicinity, for there were
frequent and violent alterations in the
direction of the wind. and the exceed
ing density Of the clouds (Which hung
so low as to press upon the turrets of
the house, did not prevent our perceiv-
ing the lifelike velocity with which
they flew careering from ali points
against each other. without passing
away into the distance. | say that
even their exceeding density did not
prevent our perceiving this. Yet we
had no glimpse of the moon or stars
nor was there any flashing forth Of the
lightning. But the under surfaces OF
the huge masses of agitated vapor, as
well as all terrestrial objects immedi-
ately around us, were glowing in the
unnatural light of family luminous
and distinctly visible gaseous exhala
ton which enshrouded the mansion.
you must not-you shall not behold
this!' said | shudderingly to Usher as
l led him. with gentle violence, from
the window to seat. 'These appear
ances which bewiIder you are merely
electrical. phenomena not uncommon,
or it may be that they have their
CHASTITY origin in the rank miasma Of
the tarn. Let us close this easement
The air is chilling and dangerous to
your frame. Here is one Of your ia
vorte rOmances. I will read, and you
shall listen, and so we will pass away
this terrible night together"
The antique volume which had tax
en- up was the Mad Trist" Of Sir
Launcelot Canning. but had called
it favorite of Usher's more in sad
jest than in earnest. for. in truth.
there is little in its uncouth and un-
prolixity which could have
had interest for the lofty and spiritual
ideality Of my friend. 1t was, however,
the only book Immediately at hand.
I had arrived at that we'll known
portion Of the story where Ethelred.
the hero Of the trist, having sought in
vain for peaceable admission into the
dwelling Of the hermit, proceeds to
make good an entrance by force. Here.
it will be remembered, the words Of
the narrative run thus:
"And Ethelred. who was by nature
Of a doughty heart and who was now
mighty withal on account Of the pow
erfulness of the wine which he had
drunken, waited no longer to parley
with the hermit, who. in soOth, was
Of an obstinate and maliceful turn,
but. feeling the rain upon his shout
ders and fearing the rising Of the
tempest. uplifted his mace outright
and with blows made quickly room in
the plankings Of the door for his
gauntleted hand, and now, pulling
Herewith sturdily, he so cracked and
ripped and tore all asunder that the
noise Of the dry and hollow sounding
wood alarummed and reverberated
the forest
At the termination of this sentence
I started, and for moment paused,
for it appeared to me although mt
once concluded that my excited fancy
had deceived mel that from some very
remote portion or the mansion there
came indistinctly to my ears what
might have been in its exact similar
ity of character, the echo (but stifled
and dull one certainly Of the very
tracking and ripping sound which Sir
had so particularly describ.