Year: 1873

NIGHT OF TERROR.


Spring was now advancing with its joyous
train of sunshine and flowers, birds and song,
tender perfumes and feeting tears and smiles.
The woods commenced to don their robes Of
green, and even the gloomy shades of Moss
grove wore less sombre aspect, and seemed
to partake, in some degree, of the universal
preparation for Natures festival" the birth
of her fairest child.


Lucy's spirits, crushed and saddened by
the melancholy influences that had surround
ed her through the long dismal days of winter,
began somewhat to revive in sympathy with
the smiles of the beauteous created world, and
with the natural elasticity of youth, to throw
of, in a measure, the depressing weight under
which they had labored for such length of
time.


The prisoner, after time, becomes Injured
to the solitude of his cell the bird, that at
first struggled in its captivity, ceases to beat
the bars of its cage with impetuous wings; !;
habit reconciles US to the most dismal lot;
and Lucy, at length, had become, if not con-
tent with her fate, at least accustomed to It,
and had learned to bear it with patience, and
even with thankfulness, when she had no
special cause of alarm or anxiety to disturb
her.


This state of comparative tranquility had
lasted for some weeks, when new source OF
trouble and care arose. Little Claude, to
whom she was most tenderly attached, sud-
denly fell i'll, and the delicacy of his constitu-
ton was such that, for some time, it was
doubtful whether he would be able to struggle
through the attack, which was one OF pneu'
monia, in violent form.


The child's strength seemed to diminish
daily, the delicate outlines of his face grew
sharper and thinner, and wasting cough
shook his slender frame. Lucy would not
venture to leave him by night or day, and
watched him as though he we're some fragile
flower which the slightest adverse breath
might destroy.


Stanley, too, displayed unwonted tenderness
in his manner to the suffering child, and
seemed to feel keenly the prospect of losing
him; prospect which seemed only too certain
a one to all who watched him.


Death, however, sometimes spares those who
seem most likely to fall victims to his dread
decree. After long period ofagonizing sus-
pense, it became apparent to the devoted Lu-
cy that her ministration was to be rewarded,
and she hailed with intense gratitude the first
faint symptoms of recovery in her gentle little
patient, who through all his illness had never
given vent to petulant or complaining word.


He was still feeble enough to require con-
slant attendance, and she was sitting one night
by his couch, when she saw light shining
under the door, and wondered whence it could
proceed at that unusual hour; for it was past
twelve o'clock, and the household, according
to her belief had long since retired to rest.


As she watched it, it gradually grew fainter,
and finally disappeared. She was sure how
ever, that she heard the sound of footsteps,
and the cautious closing of a window or door.
Since Claude's illness, Melissa had been sleep
ing in the house, so as to be within reach, if
her mistress desired her help Lucy now
supposed that she might have got up in quest
of fsomething, and unwilling to have her blum
dering about the house with light at that
hour, resolved to 60 and see what was the
matter.


Accordingly, after glance at Claude, who
was sleeping quietly, she threw light shawl
around her, and noiselessly opening her door
looked out.


She now saw the light again, shining be-
meath door at the end of the entry, and i'm
mediately proceeded in that direction.


AS she opened this door, it disappeared,
and she found herself in total darkness.


A slight feeling of apprehension now took
possession of her, and she began to fear that
some thief might have made his way into the
house, and was trying to escape detection.


On rejecting moment, however, she con-
sidered that if such was the case, thief would
be more likely to confne himself to the lower
portion ofthe house, where the plate and 9TH
er household articles of value were kept, and
not risk discovery by coming up stairs.


While pursuing these reflections, the light
again appeared, shining, like will-o'-the
wisp, in totally different direction, through
window which opened from closet on the
stairs. She was now convinced that Melissa
must have gone to this closet to search for
something, and Immediately fastened toward
it.


She was again bafled, for the mysterious
light, apparently bent on eluding discovery,
vanished from her sight, and she opened the
closet only to find that she had again deceived
herself


Just beyond this closet was narrow plat
form, or landing place, which turned at a
right angle and ran for short distance to-
ward the back of the house, the end of it
being concealed from view by projecting
piece in the wall. Lucy went slowly forward,
past the closet door, and advanced to the cor
ner of the platform, in order to see ifany one
was there.


There was q window at the end Of the plat
form, and through the window the moon, par
TALLY obscured by clouds, shed a ftful and
uncertain light


As Lucy looked toward the window, sud-
den chill rushed over her, for she distinctly
saw the outline of figure standing between it
and her.


Summoning all her courage, she cried in a
tremulous voice