A  HUSBAND  OF  THE  PERIOD 
perfectly  call  to  mind  Its  appearance  on  that 
nlk'ht.  The  pollaheU  mrnltnro  waa  KleoinltiK 
and  gllatenliiK  In  the  llRhi,  llic  windows  were 
veiled  by  i.hh  k  curUilns,  and  the  floor  leaillntf  Into 
the  Ifcdroom  atood  ajar.  1  congrattilated  inyselt 
on  my  pos.vsslon«,  and,  having  poured  myself 
out  a  eup  of  lea  and  lighted  my  pipe,  .settled  my- 
.self  with  a  volume  of  Mallum  In  an  arm-chair  by 
the  fire,  I  hod  been  reading  for  some  Unic;  my 
attention  hml  somewhat  waialered  to  a  vague. 
'  sleepy  eonalderutlou  or  matters  not  strictly  rele¬ 
vant  to  conslItiiMonal  hlslory,  when  I  becaime 
aware  of  a  stpinge.  idl-peiTadlng  .sen.sntlon  of 
t:olfl.  The  simsatlon  wa.s  so  sudden,  so  acute, 
that  I  rose  fiom  my  chair  shivering,  In  the  e.vpec- 
taiifui  of  linding  one  of  the  windows  open.  But 
no;  they  were  all  closefl  and  listened.  Through 
the  p.ines  I  could  ill.seern  tho  gaunt  hraoches  of 
the  trees,  unsllrrf'd  by  any  gust  of  wind.  On 
glancing  rouml  the  room  I  noticed  thif  ilame  of 
the  lamp,  which,  though  somewhat  film,  tild  not 
Mlckor  or  seem  agitated  liy  tho  ley  strfiam  of  air 
which  chilled  mo  In  the  bones.  'I’lu!  hedrfiom 
dOf)r,as  I  havnmnntlonefi,  wimajar;  undUiliiklttg 
the  draught  might  proceofl  Croiii  ffoo  of  tho  Inner 
rfH-iin.s,  1  llglil.etl  a  camlle,  with  the  Inteiitlon  fd 
looking  thnif'vh  Miem.  lint  (he  Instant  1  entei'ful 
the  heflrofuu  the  eauflle  went  out;  not  sudflcnly, 
as  trom  a  furreut  f»r  (dr,  hut  (piletly,  lushtulaue- 
ously,  IIS  though  It  hafl  been  liiiroflue.efl  Intn  an 
at  mosphei’o  of  carbf)iilc-aclfl  ga.s,  A  I,  Uje  sa  me 
moment  the  sensation  of  cold  tigaln  earne  over  me 
with  ten  times  greater  liiicu-slty  than  bf'frjre. 
'the  gaslight  In  the  wpiare  shone  feebly  luU)  the 
rooms,  ami  I  was  able  to  llrnl  my  way  thifiugh 
thf.mi  Into  the  pas-sage,  uiifl  b.iek  luU)  tho  sitting- 
room.  My  seasatJoiih  appemsHl  to  tfie  sOiiiowbat 
fmaccounUible ;  but  attributing  them  to  some, 
flraiight,  of  which  I  coulfl  tweerlala  the  fiaiiso  In 
tho  morning,  1  closed  the  flofu'saofl  restuuefl  my 
place  by  i.he  lire.  After  a  llttio  wldlo  I  fell  again 
Into  my  InUn  riiptefl  train  of  dreamy  ihouglit,  mid 
gradually  fell  asleej).  Now,  befffre  pnaaiedlng 
birlhor,  I  may  shite  that  I  had  never  heen  a 
victim  to  nervous  fancies.  Nothing  hatl  ever 
occnrrcfl  to  me  hearlog  In  the  remotest  w.ay  on 
the  cfvenls  I  am  about  to  relato— events  so  utterly 
Inexpllc.ililc  by  natural  ctiuse.s,  and  yet  so  fablas- 
tleally  real,  that  even  after  a  lapse  of  many  years 
1  call  them  to  mind  with  a  Khudder  of  horror. 
I  remember,  ns  Mioiigh  It  were  yesterilay,  tho 
appearance  of  the  room  as  1  muz,  d  ba/.lly  In  iny 
arm-chair  before  gol ng  to  sloop.  The  sound  of  an 
firgan,  which  wa.s  playing  In  some  nolghhorlng 
street.,  came  to  mo  lltfully,  at  times  sooiulng  to  be 
almost  close  to  mo  -at  times,  again,  seeinlog  to 
proecfid  from  some  great  dlsUineo.  Tho  Urn  had 
liuroed  low,  occasltinally  cracking  ami  licking; 
the  lamp,  as  1  have  mentioned,  was  burnlug  illm- 
ly,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  rf>om  was  in  dooi) 
shadow.  I  do  not  kuoiv  how  long  I  had.  slept, 
when  I  became  Oousclous  of  my  own  being,  I  can 
not  say  that  I  awakontsl :  for  though  all  my  rneti- 
tid  fiieultlBS  worn  stniggllng  painfully  into  IbV, 
my  vital  action  sowned  suspended,  and  I  wim  un¬ 
able  lo  move  hand  or  foot.  A  cold  porsplratlon 
burst  from  till  my  pfjkM  as  I  raodo  tremeniloim  bfit 
vain  olTorla  to  shake  off  the  Incubus  that  was  ufion 
rne.  My  feeling  wan  not  nne  of  Impotence :  it  was 
as  though  I  had  been  frozmi  into  a  solid  hloek  of 
Ice.  I  endeavored  local!  out;  I  bail  no  power 
over  my  voice,  and  conld  not  utter  a  sound.  Iiul 
a.s  I  gasped  and  panted,  there  stAle  into  my  nos¬ 
trils  a  (lendl.y,  terrible,  ovcrpim’orlng  stench,  uu- 
ml-slii  kable  In  Ita  penetrating  slckUiie3.s  to  mo, 
who  had  freipietitefl  hospitals.  It  was  tho  dread 
ordorof  rlecoinposlng  mortality  that  wius  suflo- 
catlng  mo  as  I  sat.  i  felt  that  1  must  break  the 
spell,  or  die.  With  one  terrlllc  exertion  that 
stralnod  oveiy  nerve  and  musele,  I  burst  from  tho 
cliulr  and  foil  cowering  on  my  knees  before  the. 
fire.  'I'he  lamp  hail  gone  mil.,  a  fiiltii  gleam  from 
the  lire  alTonled  tho  only  light  In  the  room.  I 
rellghl/'d  t  he  him|i,  ajud,  having  swallowed  a  glaas 
01  brandy,  endoavorerl  to  coUeet  my  lhoHghl,a. 
My  Ilrst  Idea  was.  Unit  a  deail  hmly  must  bo  some¬ 
where  (;oncealed  lu  the  room.  Tho  hideous  odor 
still  clung  to  my  nostrils,  and  the  absurdity  of 
such  a  supistsli.lou  dUl  not  strike  me.  I  searetied 
tho  room,  hut  of  course  fnuud  nothing  ;  though, 
lo  my  asloutshmeut,  tho  hedroom  floor,  which  1 
had  carefidly  closcil,  wa.s  wide  open.  As  I  ad- 
vanoed  towarrl  It  with  the  Inumtlon  of  shutting  It 
again,  my  lamp  was  c.Ytlngulsheil  In  the  same 
unai;countabIe  inaiincr  as  before;  I  Iwikod  It, 
however,  securely,  ami  again  struck  a  light. 
By  this  time  f  had  sunicli'iilly  recovered  to  en- 
dcavor  to  rcconcllo  my  sensations  to  natural 
causes,  or  at  any  rate  to  a  fornildahlo  attack  of 
nightmare.  1  llghteil  my  pipe,  In  the  hope  of 
neiitrall/.lng  tho  terrible  stench  tliat  still  perva¬ 
ded  tho  room.  Loaning  on  the  muntlo-pleco,  ;i 
aotunlly  .smiled,  at  beholding  riiy  own  pale, 
scared-looking  face  In  tho  mirror.  As  I  looked, 
suddenly  every  inilse.  lumy  body  stood  still.  1 
beheld  the  retloetion  of  tho  bedruom-diKir,  which 
gradually,  noiselessly  oponeil  of  Itself.  I  tried  to 
command  myseir,  ami  turned  rouml  toward  the 
door.  Tho  .same  IiiIauiso  thrill  of  cold,  hut  not  a 
soul  was  there.  1  con.slilnrcil  for  an  lustiint,  and 
criisH-ex.imliiod  myself  a.s  to  my  own  fiomlltlon. 
It  was  evlilent  tlmt  my  noiwcs  wore  ci)mplet,oly 
unstrung,  and  I  dcehloil,  as  I  saw  rolleetod  In  the 
looking-glass  my  own  ghastly. looking  face,  Ihnt  I 
was  not  In  acornllUou  to  InvesUgntc  Mie  nial.t^'r 
any  further  fur  that  night.  A  fbead  was  upon 
me  that  I  could  not  shake  olT;  so,  hastily  putting 
on  m,v  grtfiib-efiat  ami  hut,  I  hurrh'd  out  of  the 
room,  tiirfiugh  tho  paasage,  found  myself  on  tho 
laufllng  with  a  sigh  ot  rollnf,  ami  locking  Um  outer 
floor,  walkcfl  hi  the  I'Ooms  of  a  frloml  who  lived  lu 
tho  neighborhood. 
S — ,  who  was  nmding  for  tho  Civil  Service, 
was  ghul  U)  SCO  irie,  mid  ofl'ertMl  me  a  shako-down 
for  the  nlgld,.  I  Informed  him  at  once  of  tho 
cause  of  juy  Ignominious  night  from  my  own 
rooms. 
rooms  together.  The  old  laundress  hiul  evidently' 
been  at  work,  ns  on  tin!  preceding  evening.  Tho 
tiro  was  burning  brightly,  tim  lamp  was  lighted, 
ami  the  tea-things  were  set  out  oti  tho  tabic.  Wo 
walketl  through  the  rooms,  aiifl  founfl  every  thing 
In  perfect  order.  S — laughingly  envied  me  my 
comfortable  quarters,  showing  by  Ids  manner 
that  ho  was  itiurf)  than  fiver  eonvlnecid  I  had  been 
tho  victim  of  an  exceedingly  had  alluck  of  idght- 
mare.  After  a  little  while  wo  agreed  to  piny  at 
chess,  anti  arrangeil  a  .small  side-table  In  fifuit  of 
the  lire.  1  sat  lu  the  arm-elm Ir  with  my  hack  to 
the  hedroom-door,  as  on  tho  previous  night;  S  - 
was  seated  opposite  to  mo,  Cfiuseuutmtly  facing 
the  dffor,  which  1  had  closed,  locked,  aiifl  bolted, 
on  completing  our  tour  of  Inspection;  s — ,  who 
was  In  high  spirits,  Joking  at  me  tlio  while.  I  re¬ 
membered,  however,  the  umajiiifoi  tahle  tendency 
It  had  lo  upim  on  Its  own  aecouni ,  ami  delenjducd 
that  It  should  be  us  sccun'ly  tasl.eued  as  a  gfiod 
lock  and  bolt  wouUl  admit  of.  Wc  were  botli  fair 
chess-players,  about  etjually  inatf!hcU. 
Two  hours,  jKirhaps,  hml  elap.scfl,  when  tho  In¬ 
terest  ot  the  game  culminated,  and  we  were  con- 
slderlug  It  with  an  inUmtuoss  kuown  only  to 
Chess-players.  The  move  was  with  me.  Know¬ 
ing  It  to  be  a  critical  one,  l  wa.s  coiihlfleilng  It  at 
length,  In  all  Us  asin'ets ;  uiy  dcfitslen  was  Just 
formed,  ami  I  was  on  the  point  of  mtfving  a  iilcco, 
when  grmlually,  surely,  1  hociuan  aware  of  tho 
same  oxtrmirdlmiry  sensation  of  coin  as  on  the 
night  before.  Just  as  if  tlu!  surrounding  almos- 
phoro  were  Inicoinlng  leed  Into  scdhllty.  I  felt 
that  tlfo  hedrfsmi-rlofn'  held  ml  me  was  opening.  I 
IftokCfl  up  with  the  Intention  of  e.alliiig  S— 's  at.- 
tcjntlon  to  tho  iiheiifjiueuon,  but  my  movement 
wh;4  unnecessary;  he  w.aH  cfinally  couaclous  of  It 
with  m.vselt.  Ho  had  risen  irfim  Ids  chulr,  ami  1 
can  mnor  forgf!t  tho  o.xpressloti  fff  Id.s  raee,  which 
was  Uvld  and  illstortod.  Ills  eyes  werf>  wide  open, 
aud  turned  full  on  the  door  that  was  just  Imhlnd 
my  chair.  All  his  Haitures  wort!  couvulscd,  and 
his  appearance,  as  he  bent  lorwaifl,  as  If  In  an 
Intensity  of  horrlllod  expectation,  was  jierffitdly 
terrlllc.  I  actually  saw  his  hair  lift  from  his  head, 
iiiid  great  heads  of  perspiration  hurst  from  his 
forehead. 
lie  tf)f)k  not  tint  allghtost  notice  of  my  move¬ 
ment,  hut  Hhmly  raised  one  hand,  as  If  [ifdntlng 
tAJ  something  In  tlm  rftom  behiml  me  ;  t.hen  sud- 
dffiily,  and  without  giving  me  a  moment’s  warn¬ 
ing,  with  one  loud  yell  ot  agoidzcfl  terror,  ho 
dashed  to  tho  dtior  leading  into  tho  passage, 
through  the  passage,  and  out  of  the  main  door, 
which  slummed  heavily  behlnfl  hhtu  I  liurrlcd 
after  him  Into  the  passage.  Then  1  reincmberod 
that  the  outer  door  closed  with  a  siirlug-lfuik,  uud 
that  tho  key  was  In  the  pocket  of  my  grcat-coat, 
which  was  hung  up  lu  tho  bedroom,  Wohudln- 
uflvertently  left  tho  floor  opfui  on  coming  In,  ami 
tluiB  S - had  boon  enabled  to  e.scap<!. 
It  would  bo  Impossible  lor  me  to  descrlbo  my 
feelings  at.  (liidlug  myself  alone  in  tho  luiasage. 
llow  long  It  Wits  hcbire  I  mitslcnm  up  sunif  lfiit 
prcsonco  of  nxlml  ff»r  renectlon  I  can  not  Urli ;  but 
at  least  I  realized  lo  myself  tho  fact  that  to  huivc 
my  ehamhers  It  was  necessary  to  get  tho  key. 
With  !t  desperate  courage  1  rffiirtiefl  to  the  slt- 
tlng-ifsun.  The  lamp  was  extinguished;  tlm  lire 
was  burning  with  a  sickly  glare.  With  chtsed  cyf!H 
1  iulvanced  Into  the  htidrooiii,  1  fpdekiy  lelt  my 
way  lo  tho  peg  on  which  my  toai  was  hanging, 
whoii  HouifUJilug  haptiffticd 
tiutt  caused  m^  very  Infurt 
to  .St, and  8MU  ana  my  blood 
to  frec/.e.  I  heard  amovc- 
incut  lu  the  jiiissagc  —  a 
souml,  a.s  of  a  body  driig- 
glng  Itself  along  the  lloor. 
All  Impulso  seized  mo,  un- 
aecfaiMlablf  lus  all  tho  oth- 
erovenlsof  that  ruemora- 
Bble  night.  1  felt  Impfllod 
Uf  follow  f/ie  t/ttfuj  thill  was 
Itssolf  down  tho  pa,ssago.  1 
slopited  through  tho  dross- 
ing.roeiii ;  ami  as  I  nmv  ed 
I  Imaril  movo  on  bt.-foro 
me,  kce|)ing  at  the  siwno 
I  fpdckeuftl  my  pace,  1  run 
Yes.  lore.  I'm  brnnkfAsUtitf  ijnitc  lato ; 
Hut  than,  you  know,  it's  SnnrUy, 
And  we  who  work  for  bIx  Iook  days 
DetMTvr  oiir  comfort  one  dny. 
You’re  rather  early  home  from  church ; 
I  hopi!  you  liked  the  aemioii. 
That  velvet  cloak,  deur.  by  tho  wny, 
Looks  charuitig  with  your  ermine. 
A  chilly  inomlnK  out  of  doors . 
I'm  sfisd  you  lUdn’t  wake  me. 
(Oh.  native  cuttiiur,  mother  wit, 
iTsy  do  not  yet  birsake  me  ! 
She  besnl  tut.  stuinhlo  up  to  ts*d 
At  UiriM!  o'clock— I’ll  swear  it ! ) 
Hark  bhiG  is  Just  your  color,  dear ; 
You  always  ought  to  wear  it. 
I’ve  eaten  very  lltfJe  Y  Yes, 
It’s  nearly  time  for  (liiiuer; 
This  cutlet,  too,  seems  rather  flat. 
(The  truth,  as  I'm  a  sinner  ! ) 
A  bloodshot  look  about  my  eyes  ? 
My  fingers  in  a  flutter? 
All  fancy,  lore—  I  feel  superb. 
(That  nauseating  butter ! ) 
Y’ou  walled  up  last  night  till  twelve  ? 
For  that.  dear.  1  should  scold  you. 
Of  month Ij-  lacetiuiw  at  the  club 
How  often  have  I  told  yoiiT 
This  waiting— had  1  not  a  k.-y, 
Perhaps  1  shouldn't  mind  It  . 
But  having  one- (By  Jove,  I  took 
An  hour,  last  night,  to  find  it ! ) 
I  left  the  hall-door  open  !  Who 
Insinuates  that  slander  f 
It’s  falsehood  fiose  aud  infamous, 
If  you’ll  excuse  my  coiulor. 
Why,  love,  you  trust  mere  servants’  talk 
I  cannot  well  conjecture. 
(She  seats  herself  I  The  storm  has  burst ! 
Now  comes  my  curtain  lecture.) 
NE  CEEDE  COLOKI 
I  HAPtaken  my  chamb«,*iN  in  Wushlngf/in  St|iinre, 
and  was  lucllnofi  to  like  them.  They  were  oti  the 
Becoml  floor,  and  conHlsted  of  Hiree  rooniM.  The 
door  on  the  lauding  opencfl  on  to  a  mirrow  pas¬ 
sage,  attheoml  of  whlcli,  on  the  right,  was  the 
door  of  thi!  sitting-room,  the  threo  wlmlows  of 
which  looked  on  to  a  greim  expaii.se,  where  stood 
a  toll  gaunt  tree.  In  one  corner  of  tlm  sitting- 
room  was  a  door  lending  Into  the  bedroom,  which 
communicated  with  a  drcs.slng.rnom.  This  dress¬ 
ing-room  hart  a  door  leiwllng  Into  the  end  of  the 
passage,  to  the  left  of  tho  mulu  entrance  from  the 
landing.  Thus  I  could  mako  the  complete  eln  iilt 
of  ray  premises;  from  l.lm  sHUng-rooni,  through 
the  bed  and  dressing  rooms  ltdo  tho  pashiigc,  and 
through  the  pas-sago  IiiUj  tlie  sitting-room  again. 
I  am  an.xlouH  to  he  understooil  on  Uds  point  as 
a  realization  of  the  topogr.iphy  of  IJio  place  Is 
necessary  tor  tho  comprehension  of  the  Incidents 
I  have  to  relate. 
I  will  premise,  by  assuring  my  roiuier  that  at 
tho  time  of  which  I  am  spe.aklng  i  wasln  thorough 
physical  health.  As  Is  Mn!  case  with  mostsucklng 
students,  1  rather  (irhh.’d 
myself  on  cultlvatliig  a 
habit  of  mind  that  sliould 
not  permit  mo  lo  ho  unduly  Al  1 1 
Improased  by  causes  un- 
warranted  by  calm  rellec-  [  I  ,* 
Hon.  I  had  been  accustom-  '  ill  ^ 
ed  to  a  sedentary,  to  some  I  :\|n  |{])’ 
oxtent  a  solitary  life, and  In  |  'j  t, 
moving  lo  Washington  |)l  W'f 
Hquare  had  determined  to  - — ,'!j| 
apply  myself  unremitting-  ^  W  Ij  ^  kJ 
ly  to  legal  similes.  ja  *  ml 
My  new  chambers  bad  v'jj, 
been  unoccupleil  for  some  I'y'  **  y 
months,  and,  alter  making  1 
sure  that  they  had  boon 
well  cleaned  and  scrubbed,  I'l  1  I 
I  sent  In  my  funiltur<!  and  jPi  i))l  \ja 
took  poHseaslon.  It  wins  on 
a  chill,  dark  October  even- 
ing  that,  after  dliUng  at  on  jllWI , '  ijt  jl^B 
accustomed  eatlng-boiise,  flljf '  s 
I  wended  my  way  to  iny  I*  Ij  ||[;j 
new  qu.art«ra.  I  sb.’Ul  no-  I .  li' 
ver  forget  Uiat  evening; 
there  wasa  lieavy,  clarnniy 
clamnHcr.  On  arrl’rtng  at 
turo  who  had  attached  her-  [li£ 
self  to  me  us  luiuidrcss  and 
char-woman  In  the  act  of 
setting  out  the  tea-things. 
The  lamp  was  lighted,  and 
a  bright  Qre  hiirued  lu  t  he 
grate.  On  my  coming  la 
the  old  woman  mumbled  a 
few  words,  tJie  moaning  of  - 
which  I  did  not  catch ; 
however,  well  pleased  with 
the  air  of  comfort  she  had 
wished  her  a  elieery  good-  ~ 
night  as  she  went  out. 
Having  closed  and  locked  /  / 
the  outer  door,  I  return¬ 
ed  down  the  passage  Into 
the  Bitting  -  room.  I  can 
My  experiences  had  beon  too  unmlstiika- 
bly  reid  for  mo  Ui  flriiad  ridicule  la  tho  rohiMiin  of 
them.  .So,  confosalng  unresfirvcdly  that  I  had 
been  iilmiist  frightcncil  out  of  rny  wits,  I  sat  pa¬ 
tiently  enough  .as  he  chdeavortsd  to  prove  salls- 
fuctorlly  that  my  sensailoiis  were  entirely  duo  to 
nerves  or  indigestion.  Before  lellilng  to  rest, 
however,  we  agreed  Ixi  spend  the  following  night 
togothor  In  my  ehamhers.  In  Ibo  morning  wo 
wont  to  wu  respeeUtc  d'lUrs,  with  .in  a-- 
rangement  to  meet  at  dinner  la  the  evening.  I 
dill  not  call  at  my  rooms  during  the  day ;  and 
what  with  attendliig  tfi  lectures  and  reading 
Ixiiigh  law,  had  not  only  ovenromo  any  idea  of 
supernatural  agency  In  tho  evenls  of  tho  prec.ed- 
Ing  night,  hut,  as  t.ho  evening  drew  near,  entlri'ly 
ceased  to  think  of  tho  iiiiitter. 
it  was  about  eight  o’clock  as  wo  entered  tho 
I  sMll  heard 
dragging  liself  along. 
After  three  or  four  head¬ 
long  roshfj.s  irom  room  to 
room,  1  sloi»tii)d  in  the  mld- 
db)  of  tho  slMJtig-room  to 
recover  breath.  As  I  stood, 
a  revii Isien  uf  feeling  came 
over  mi!.  .My  eagerness  to 
confront  and  illscover  tho 
Cause  of  tlm  souuils  l  still 
could  hear,  gave  wjy  tx) 
horror.  I  felt  my  life  and 
reo-son  Ui  depend  on  my 
escape.  As  I  moved  to  tho 
bedroom-door  it  closed  In 
my  face,  I  frantically  en- 
deavored  to  force  the  lock. 
The  Utmsf  was  dragging  it¬ 
self  along  tho  passage  Into 
the  room  in  wUleli  I  was. 
Again  tUo  nau.se:iti  ng 
steuch  of  the  night  before 
rose  Into  my  nostrils;  1 
rushed  to  the  window  with 
the  Intention  ot  throwing 
it  open  aud  jumping  into 
the  space  beneath ;  but  It 
w.xs  too  lato.  I  turned  my 
eyo  downward,  it  wa.s 
close  to  mo,  and  1  beheld 
ALSACE, 
BADEN, 
