Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eee , ¥ } c. ~ ~~, Sa they mixed a rful narcotic with my drink. Scarcely had . finished my repast, before I found myself sinking gradually intoan unusualtorpor. A::hough I had no sus- piciona, yo: a nameless dread made me struggle nat this drowsiness, I arose; I endeavored to reach the limbs refused to bear window, to call for help; bat m me up; it seemed to me as if the ceiling lowered itself onmy head, and crushed me with its weight. I stretched forth my arms, and eadeavored to speak, but could only utter inarticulate sounds; an irresistible numb- ness stole upon me, and I clung to my chair, feel- ing that I was about to fall; but even this sup- r{ was soon insufficient for my feeble arms; I ell, first on one knee, then on both; I sought to pray but my tongue was frozen. God _ neither saw nor heard me, and I sunk upon the fleor subjugated by asleep resembling death. “Of all the time which elapsed during this sleep, I had no reccollection whatever. The only thing I can rem mober, is that Lawoke, and found myself transport- ed into acircular-chamber, most sumptuously furnished, into which no light penetrated but though an opening in the ceiling. There seemed to be no door to enter at: it looked likea nificent prison. _ ‘It was along time before I could observe the place in which I was, or recal the circum tances which I now relate. My mind appeared to struggle in vain against the oppressive darkness of that sleep, from which I was unable to escape. I had some vague perceptions of a Space passed over, and of the rolling of a carriage; but all this was so misty, and so indistinct, that these events appeared rather to belong to the life of some other per- son than to my own, and yet to be incorporated with mine by some fantastical quality. “For some time, the state in which I found myself appeared so strange, that I supposed it was a dream. y degrees, however, the fearful reality forced itself upon me: I was no longer in the house I had inhabited. As well asI could judge by the light of the sun, two- thirds of the day were alread nt. It was on the evening of the previous day that I had fallen asleep: my sluinber had, therefore lasted nearly twenty-four geore What had happened during this protracted slee ‘“Tarose, staggering. All my slow and torpid move- ments showed that the influence of the narcotic had not _ ceased. I found that my chamber had been furnished or the reception of a woman; and the most com- eo coquette could not have formed a wish, that, in ooking around the apartment, she conld not have found fulfilled. ‘“*Assuredly I was not the first captive who had been confined within that splendid ad pon But you under- stand, Felton, the more beautiful the prison, the more Iwasalarmed. Yes, it wasa prison; forlin vain en- deavored to escape. I tried all the walls to find a door: but everywhere the walls gave back a dull and heavy sound. I went round thisroom, perhaps twenty times seeking some kind of outlet; there was none; and I sunk upon a chair, worn ont with terror and fatigue. ‘In the meantime, the night approached rapidly; and withthe night, my fearsincreased. I knew not what todo: it seemed as if I was encompassed by unknown dangers, amidst which I must plunge at every step. Although [hd eaten nothing since the evening before, my fears prevented me from feeling hnnger. ‘No external noise, by which I could compute the lapse of time, had reached me, but I presumed that it must be about seven or eight in theevening; for we vee in the month of October, and it was completely ark. ‘Suddenly the noise of a door turning on its hinges startled me; a ball of fire appeared above the window in the ceiling, casting a brilliant light into the room; and I perceived with horror, that a man was standing at a few pace: from me. ‘* A table with two covers, with a supper all prepared, was arranged, as if by magic, in the middle of the roo m. “And this man was he who had pursued me for a zor who had sworn my dishonor, and who, from the t words which fell from his lips, left me no hope of sa any future time restored to liberty.” “The wretch!"’ murmured Felton. ‘Oh, yes! the wretch!”’ exclaimed her ladyship, see- ing the interest which the young officer, whose soul seemed hanging on her lips, took in this strange tale. “Oh, yes! the wreteh! He thought thatit was quite enough to have carried me off in my sleep; he now came, hoping thatI shond yield to my shame, since that shame was consummated—he came to offer me his fortune in exchange for my love. “Everything that a woman's heart can realize of haughty scorn, and of contemptuous speech, I poured out upon that man. Undoubtedly he was habituated to such reproaches, for he listened to me with a calm and smiling look, and with his arms folded on his breast: and then, when he thonght [ had nothing more to say, he approached to table, seized aknife, and placed it tomy bosom. one step more,’ I cried, ‘and besides my dishonor, you shall have to answer for my death!’ ‘‘Doubtless there was, in whole ap e, the character of truth which carries conviction into the most wicked minds; for he stop- me Yonr death!’ cried he, ‘Oh, no! you are too charm- ing a creature for me to consent tolose you so, Adieu! beautiful creature! I will wait until you are in a better temper, before I pay you another yisit.’ ‘‘ At these words he whistled; and the flaming globe which ilumed my room ascended and disa red. | found myself once more in total darkness. The same noise of a door opening and shutting was, an instant afterwards, again audible; anew, and I was again alone. “This moment was frightful. certain about my miser | , every doubt was now dispelled before this fe take my hand; I rushed towards the , m, Take | with a hand hidden beneath his dress he tore his flesh. ’ my look, my voice, my | the knife, whic ' | TH&H THREE GUARDSMEN. Se eS ee --- & man whom not only I detested, but whon I despised —of aman who had already given me a fatal proof of what hedared to do.” ** But who was that man?"’ demanded Felton, Her ladyship gave no answer to his questton, but continued her recital. ** ] passed the night as a chair, starting at the least uoise; for about midnight the lamp went out, and I was again in darkness. But the night passed away without any reappearance of my persecutor. Daylight came: the table was gone; and I had still the knife in my hand. This knife was my sole hope. “IT was overwhelmed with fatigue: my eyes were burning from sleepness: I had not dared to close them for a single instant. Daylight reassur- ed me. I threw myself on my bed, still grasping the protecting knife, which I concealed beneath my pillow. ‘*When I awoke, another table was arranged, But now, in spite ef my terrors, in spite of my agonies, a ravenous hunger made itself felt, For eight-and-forty hours I had tasted no nourishment, I ate some bread and a little fruit. Then, remembering the narcotic, mingled with the water I had drank, I aid not touch that which was on the table, but went and filled my gla-s Nec a marble reservoir fixed in the wall above my toilet ta e. ‘* And yet, in spite of this precaution, I remained for some time in extreme anguish; but on this occasion my fears were unfounded. I passed the day without exper- iencing anything that resembled what I feared. I took the precaution, however, to empty the decanter of half the water, that my distrust might not be perceived. “The evening came; but, profound as was the dark- ness, my eyes began to grow accustomed toit. In the midst of this obscurity, I saw the table sink into the floor: a quarter of an hour afterwards, it reappeared, bearing my supper: a moment after, thanks to the same lamp, my apartment was again lighted. **I was resolved only to eat of those things with which it was impossible to mingle any thing somnif- erous. ‘wo eggs and some fruit composed my meal, and then I drew a glass of water from my guardian fountain,and drank it. At the first mouthful, it vue ed to me no longer to have the same taste as in the morning. A sudden suspicion seized me. I stopped: but I had already swallowed half a glassful. I threw the remainder away With horror, and waited, with the icy drop of terror on my brow. Some invisible witness had unquestionably seen me take the water from the fountain and had taken advantage of my confidence the more certainly to accomplish my ruin, so coldly planned, so cruelly pursued. ‘* Half an hour had not passed over, before the same symptoms began to 8 ar. Only as I had now taken no more than h a glass of water, I struggled longer nst them, and instead of sleeping soundly, J fell into that kind ef elamber which left me the precep- tion of all that passed around me, whilst it quite deprived me of the power of resistance or defense. I d ed myself toward my bed, to seek the sole defense wh ch remained—my pecan knife. ButI conld not reach the pillow. I fell upon my knees, grasping with my hands one of the posts at the bed,”’ Felton became fearfully pale, and a convulsive shud- der prevaded all his frame. ** And what was more horrible,’ continued the lady, her voice trembling as if she felt the anguish of that terri- ble moment “ was, that, on this occasion, I was conscious of the danger which hung overme. My soul, if I may so express myself, was watching over my sleeping body. I saw—I heard:—as in a dream, it is true; but my preceptions were, on that account, only the more terrific. saw the lamp again ascending and was gradually left in utter darkness. I then heard the sound of that door, so well known, although it nad been opened but twice. I felt instinctively that some one was eppraacting me, It is said that the wretched beings who are lost in the deserts of America thus feel the approaches of a serpent. I wished to make an effort. lIendeavored tocry out. By an in- credible exertion of my will, 1 even raised myself up, but it was only to fall down again immediately.”’ ‘*But tell me, then, who was your prosecutor?” exclaimed the young officer. Her ladyship saw at a glance how deeply she affected Felton, by dwelling on each detail of her narrative; but she did not wish to spare him any torture. The more deeply she wounded his heart, the more surely would he avenge her. So she once more proceeded, asif she had not heard his exclamation, or as if she thought that the time for answering it had not yet come, ‘‘T heard him exclaim, when he pespelvne me, ‘ Oh, these miserable puritans! I knew that they harrassed their executioners, but I believe them to be less earnest in resisting their seducers.”’ é‘ Felton listened without utterin ought but a sort of roar, The perspiration trickled own his brow; and, “My first opaiee, on oa abe - pga re tinued her ladyship, ‘‘ was to look under my pillow for I had woe Merges 2 reach; if ured not served as 4 defense, it might eas useful for an expiation. But, on taking this knife, Felton, a ter- rible idea suggested itself tome, I have sworn to tell you everything, and I will do so; I have promised you the truth, and | will tell it, though it should undo me.”’ “The idea suggested itself to you to revenge yourself on this man, did it not?’’ exclaimed Felton. ** Well! yes,’ said her ladyship, ‘it was as you have essed. That idea was not becoming in a Christian, I now. Undoubtedly the. eterna) enemy of our souls himself breathed it into my mind. In fact—how shall I the globe of light descended | confess it, Felton’*’ continued her ladyship in a tone of | & woman accusing, herself of a crime—‘ that idea came Had I been at allun- | into my mind, an y ul reality. I wes now inthe power of ' the homi has never left it since. And, per- posment sufferiygs are but the punishment of C haps, m dal thought.” —-- ee —— a ===>. Sse. — eee = ———— —_ — EN SE on “ Go on—go on,” said Felton; ‘‘I long to hear of the accomplishment of your revenge.”’ **Oh! I determined that it should be as short a time as possible delayed. I doubted not that he would return on the rt bebie night. During the day I had nothing to fear. On this account, at breakfast time, | did not hesitate to eat and drink. I was resolved to gees to sup, but to taste nothing. I must, therefore, »y the morning’s nourishment, prepare myself to bear the evening’s fast. I concealed a glass of water from ir breakfast, as thirst had been my severest suffering when I remained forty-eight hours without ealing or drinking. “The day passed without producin any upon me than to strengthen the res- other effect olution I had taken! But I took care that my face should not betray the thonghts of my heart: for I doubted not that I was watched. Many times, in- deed, Leven felt a smile upon my li Felton, I dare not tell you the idea at which I smiled—you would ab- ominate me!’’ **Go on— on,’’ said Felton: Fi see that I listen to yon, and ng want to know the en “ The evening came," continued her ha “and — e the usual circumstances took place. During the dark- ness, my supper was served as usual; and then the lamp was lighted, and I placed myself at table. I ate only some fruit,and pretended to poursome water from the de- canter, but drank that which I had kept in my own glass: the substitution was, however, so adroitly made that my spies, if 1 had any, could have no suspicion of the truth. After supper, I exhibited all the appearances of the drowsiness that I had felt the evening before; but this time, as if over-whelmed with fatigue, or as if Iwas familiarized with danger, I pretended to fall asleep. I had now found my knife, and, whilst I feigned to sleep, my hand convulsively grasped the handle. ‘*Two hours glided away, without anything new oc- curring. On this occatsion—oh, my ! who would have predicted that on ae Pee aie night! I actually began to fear that he might fail to come. ‘* At last I saw the lamp gently rising, and disappear- ing in the depths of the ceiling. My apartment be- came dark; but I made an effort with my glances to pierce through the gloom. About ten minutes then elapsed, during which [ heard{nothing but the beating of my own heart, [ implored of heaven that he might come. ‘* At length I heard the well-known sound of the door opening and shutting; I preceived, in spite of the thick- ness of the carpet, a step which made the floor creak; I saw, in spite of the darkness, a shadow which ap- proached my couch.” ** Make haste | make haste!’’ interrupted Felton; ‘do you not see that every one of your words burns me like molted lead?”’ ‘“Then,” continued heriladyship, ‘ I collected all my apse I called to mind that the moment of revenge, or rather of justice, had now arrived. I considered my- self as another Judith. [held the knife in my hand: and, when I saw him, near me, then, with a last cry of Uevwd and of despair, I struck him in the middle of the reast! The wretch! he had forseen the blow. His breast was covered by a coat of mail; the knife itself was blunted. *“* Ah!’ cried he, seizing me by the arm and tearing from me the w n which had so served me ; ‘you want to kill me, my prettv puritan; but that is more than hatred—it is in tude, Come, come, calm yourself, my charmingchild. I thought yas had grown ntler, J am not one of those tyrants who keep women n.opposition to their wills. Youdonotlove me? If had my doubts about it, with my usual folly; now, [am conyinced of it. To-morrow you shall be free.’ “I had only one wish, which was that he should kill me. ‘**Take care,’ said I, ‘for my liberty shall be your disgrace!’ ‘* * Explain yourself, my beautiful sibyl.' ‘* * Yes, for as soon as 1 am free, I will tell everything: I will proclaim your violence towards me—I will! pro- c ay captivity—I will denounce this place of in- famy. You are greatly exalted, my lord, but tremble! Above you is the king—and above the king is God,’ ‘Master as he appeared to be of himself, my perse- cutor allowed an emotion of anger to escape him, I could not see the expression of his countenance, but I oa ae the trembling of his arm, on which my hand rested. “ «Then 7m ehall never leave this place,’ said he. “*Right! right!’ I exclaimed: * then the site of my eg shall be also the site of my tomb. Right! will die here, and you shall see whether an accusing phantom be not even more terrible than the living enemy who threatens.’ ‘** But you shall have no weapon. ‘‘* There is one, which despair has placed within the reach of every creature who has courage to make use of it—I will die of hunger.’ ‘**Come,’ said the wretch, ‘is not peace of more value than such a war? I will give you liberty this jn- stant: I will rocker your virtue, cretia of England.’ “*And I will proclaim you the Sextus: I will de- nounce you before men, as I have already denounced ou before God; and if it should be necessary, that, ike Lucretia, I should attest the accusation with my blood, I will attest it.’ “Ah, ah’’ said my enemy, in a tone of mockery, ‘ then it is quite another thing. Faith, after all, you are very well off here. Yous want for nothing, and, if you allow yourself to die of hunger, it will he yon own fault.’ Py ‘At these words he left the room. Theard the door open and shut, and remained overwhelmed:—not so much, I confess, with grief, as with the shame of having failed in my revenge. “He kept his word. All the day, andall the night, of the next day passed without my seeing him; but I kept mine, also, and neither ate now drank anything. I was \ Eomichboo will call you Lu- Sone Se gor aa a ene payee ot SE - / ol —_.