Page:Peterson Magazine 1869B.pdf/212

 DEATH 1 N LIFE. Marion, shivering with fright, and gazing with terrified eyes around the low chamber, with its scanty furniture, which remained exactly as Vivienne had seen it on that dreadful night long months ago. Elise, though herself quivering with superstitious terror, was, meanwhile, occupied in spreading shawls and quilts over the velvet cover of the couch, in placing a flask of wine on the rough table, and in trying to give some appearance of comfort to the cell-like room. Vivienne, with faltering steps, had descended the stairs leading to the vaults, and examined the bars that fastened the iron doors at their foot. "Why do you do that, madame?" asked Marion. “ Bars, I have heard, avail nothing "" against She paused, checked by a warning look from Elise. "There is another way of gaining access to the vaults," answered Vivienne. "I do not know what treachery may be meditated. See, Marion, I am prepared to defend myself against other than spiritual terrors ;" and Vivienne showed her a keen, glittering dagger fastened in her belt. As she did so, a slight movement in the chapel startled them, and extorted a piercing shriek from Marion, who threw herself at Vivienne's feet, and buried her face in her mistress' dress. A figure glided into the dim light shed by a lamp Elise had placed on the table, and Duroc's bloodless face gleamed out from the darkness. "Ah, Monsieur Duroc ! " said Vivienne, speaking calmly, though her very lips were white with terror, "you know why I am here, I presume. I shall certainly remain here. I bid you good-night, monsieur. " An imperious wave of her hand motioned him to leave the chapel, and with a cringing bow he turned away.

195

tolled its slow, solemn warning. As the eighth stroke fell on her ear, she heard the chapeldoor close behind her attendants, and all was silent-the silence of the grave. Trembling, half fainting, she threw herself on the couch, and lay there, her heart beating in slow throbs, that sounded like thunder in her ears. She dared not close her eyes for fear some horrible shape would steal to the side of her couch ; she dared not look toward the great, black doors of the vaults, there were such horrors behind them as chilled her blood to think of. She thought- though the thought seemed driving her mad -of the dead marquis lying there so near her ; of the mouldering dust and whitening skeletons in their coffins, with the silver on them tarnished, and the velvet palls slowly dropping into dust. The ghastly images her imagination pictured seemed to come crowding round her in the chill and gloom. They were there, those shapes of horror, close to her, lingering in the shadows. If she moved her

eyes from the little flame of the lamp, which they had fixed themselves upon, she would see them-these pale spectres. It seemed to her that hours passed, during which her eyes never moved from that dim, flickering flame. She was roused from that trance of terror by the sound of the clock striking the half-hour. She had been here, then, but one short half-hour ! With a de-

spairing shudder she closed her aching eyes for an instant. When she opened them againoh, horror ! her lamp was out, and a sound stole through the room like a faint, long-drawn sigh. Wild with terror, Vivienne sprang up, and stood for an instant in the pitchy darkness ; then the same low, fluttering sigh breathed through the room, and her senses fled. She knew not how long this merciful oblivion lasted. Waking at last to faint consciousness, " And now you must leave me," said Vivienne, she found herself lying, chilled and stunned, in a low, yet steady tone, to her attendants. upon the stone floor, with the night-wind blowMarion sobbed and clung convulsively to the ing coldly on her face. Darkness-thick darkdress of her adored young mistress ; but theness surrounded her ; but as she lay there, calmer Elise raised her companion, and then conscious only of the horror to which she had kissing fervently the hand Vivienne extended returned, her eyes suddenly rested on an object to her, she exclaimed, " Madame, may our which seemed to stand out of the surrounding Blessed Lady, and all the saints watch over gloom. High up on the wall the silver crucifix shone, and guard you through this night!" Vivienne could only bend her head silently in appearing to emit a pale, miraculous light, faint, reply. She motioned to them to leave her. yet steady. It was surely a miracle, wrought They passed into the chapel ; she closed the to save her from death or madness ! door, shot the huge bolt into its place, and was In a transport of religious ecstasy, Vivienne alone in her terrible chamber. For a moment dragged herself to the foot of the cross, and she heard the retiring footsteps of the two kneeling there, fixed her eyes upon it, and women, and Marion's low sobs. Then the clock clasped her cold hands in half frenzied prayer.