A True Tale by Anonymous
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as I confronted them . no echo had my short- lived laughter but from_the hollow armor and arching roof, and I continued on my way in silence .

by a sudden and not uncommon revulsion of feeling I shook off my aimless terrors, blushed at my weakness, and sought my chamber only too glad that I had_been the only witness of_my late tremors . as I entered my chamber i_thought I heard something stir in_the neglected lumber- room, which_was the only neighboring apartment . but i_was determined to_have no more panics, and resolutely shut my eyes to_this slight and transient noise, which had nothing unnatural in_it; for surely, between rats and wind, an old manor- house on a stormy night needs no sprites to disturb it . so I entered my room, and rang for_my maid . as I_did so I looked around me, and a most unaccountable repugnance to my temporary abode came over me, in_spite of_my efforts . it_was no more to_be shaken off than a chill is_to_be shaken off when we enter some damp cave . and, rely upon it, the feeling of dislike and apprehension with_which we regard, at first sight, certain places and people, was not implanted in us without some wholesome purpose .I grant it_is irrational--mere animal instinct-- but is_not instinct god's gift, and_is it for_us to despise it ? it_is by instinct that children know their friends from their enemies-- that_they distinguish with_such unerring accuracy between those who like them and those who only flatter and hate them .Dogs do_the same; they_will fawn on one person, they slink snarling from another . show me a man whom children and dogs shrink from, and_I_will show you a false, bad man--lies on_his lips, and murder at his heart . no; let none despise the heaven-sent gift of innate antipathy, which makes the horse quail when_the lion crouches in_the thicket-- which makes the cattle scent the shambles from afar, and low in terror and disgust as their nostrils snuff the blood- polluted air . I_felt this antipathy strongly as I looked around me in my new sleeping- room, and yet I_could find no reasonable pretext for_my dislike .a very_good room it_was, after all, now that_the green damask curtains were drawn, the fire burning bright and clear, candles burning on_the mantel- piece, and_the various familiar articles of toilet arranged as usual . the bed, too, looked peaceful and inviting--a pretty little white bed, not at all the gaunt funereal sort of couch which haunted apartments generally contain .

my maid entered, and assisted me to lay aside the dress and ornaments I had worn, and arranged my hair, as usual, prattling the while, in Abigail fashion .I seldom cared to converse with servants; but on_that night a sort of dread of being left alone--a longing to_keep some human being near me possessed me-- and I encouraged the girl to gossip, so_that her duties took her half an hour longer to_get through than usual . at last, however, she had done all that could_be_done, and all my questions were answered, and my orders for_the morrow reiterated and vowed obedience to, and_the clock on_the turret struck one . then Mary, yawning a little, asked if i_wanted anything more, and i_was obliged to answer no, for very shame's sake; and she went . the shutting of_the door, gently as it_was closed, affected me unpleasantly . i_took a dislike to_the curtains, the tapestry, the dingy pictures-- everything .I hated the room . I_felt a temptation to_put on a cloak, run, half- dressed, to my sisters' chamber, and say I had changed my mind and come for shelter . but they_must_be asleep, i_thought, and I could_not_be so unkind as_to wake them . I_said my prayers with unusual earnestness and a heavy heart .I extinguished the candles, and was just about to lay my head on my pillow, when_the idea seized me that i_would fasten the door . the candles were extinguished, but the firelight was amply sufficient to guide me .I gained the door . there_was a lock, but it_was rusty or hampered; my utmost strength could_not turn the key . the bolt was broken and worthless .Balked of_my intention, I consoled myself by remembering that I had never had need of fastenings yet, and returned to my bed .I lay awake for a good while, watching the red glow of_the burning coals in_the grate . i_was quiet now, and more composed . even the light gossip of_the maid, full of petty human cares and joys, had done me good--diverted my thoughts from brooding . i_was on_the point of dropping asleep, when i_was twice disturbed . once, by an owl, hooting in_the ivy outside-- no unaccustomed sound, but harsh and melancholy; once, by a long and mournful howling set up by_the mastiff, chained in_the yard beyond the wing I occupied .a long- drawn, lugubrious howling was_this latter, and much such a note as_the vulgar declare to herald a death in_the family . this_was a fancy I had never shared; but yet I_could_not help feeling that_the dog's mournful moans were sad, and expressive of terror, not at all like his fierce, honest bark of anger, but rather as_if something evil and unwonted were abroad . but soon I fell asleep .

how long I slept I never knew .I awoke at once with_that abrupt start which we all know well, and which carries us in a second from utter unconsciousness to_the full use of_our faculties . the fire was still burning, but was very low, and half the room or more was in deep shadow . I_knew, I_felt, that some person or thing was in_the room, although nothing unusual was to_be seen by_the feeble light . yet it_was a sense of danger that had aroused me from slumber .I experienced, while yet asleep, the chill and shock of sudden alarm, and I_knew, even in_the act of throwing off sleep like a mantle, why I awoke, and_that some intruder was present . yet, though I listened intently, no sound was audible, except the faint murmur of_the fire-- the dropping of a cinder from_the bars-- the loud, irregular beatings of_my own heart . notwithstanding this silence, by some intuition I_knew that I had_not_been deceived by a dream, and felt certain that i_was not alone .I waited . my heart beat on; quicker, more sudden grew its pulsations, as a bird in a cage might flutter in presence of_the hawk . and then I heard a sound, faint, but quite distinct, the clank of iron, the rattling of a chain ! I ventured to lift my head from_the pillow . dim and uncertain as_the light was, I_saw the curtains of_my bed shake, and caught a glimpse of something beyond, a darker spot in_the darkness . this confirmation of_my fears did_not surprise me so_much as it shocked me .I strove to cry aloud, but could_not utter a word . the chain rattled again, and this_time the noise was louder and clearer . but though I strained my eyes, they_could_not penetrate the obscurity that shrouded the other end of_the chamber whence came the sullen clanking . in a moment several distinct trains of thought, like many- colored strands of thread twining into one, became palpable to my mental vision . was_it a robber ? could it be a supernatural visitant ? or was I the victim of a cruel trick, such as I had heard of, and which some thoughtless persons love to practice on_the timid, reckless of_its dangerous results ? and then a new idea, with some ray of comfort in_it, suggested itself . there_was a fine young dog of_the Newfoundland breed, a favorite of_my father's, which_was usually chained by night in an outhouse . Neptune might_have broken loose, found his way to my room, and, finding the door imperfectly closed, have pushed it open and entered .I breathed more freely as_this harmless interpretation of_the noise forced itself upon me . it_was-- it must_be-- the dog, and i_was distressing myself uselessly .I resolved to_call to him; I strove to utter his name--" Neptune, Neptune," but a secret apprehension restrained me, and i_was mute .

then the chain clanked nearer and nearer to_the bed, and presently I_saw a dusky, shapeless mass appear between_the curtains on_the opposite side to where i_was lying . how I longed to hear the whine of_the poor animal that I hoped might_be the cause of_my alarm . but no; I heard no sound save the rustle of_the curtains and_the clash of_the iron chains . just then the dying flame of_the fire leaped up, and with one sweeping, hurried glance I_saw that_the door was shut, and, horror ! it_is_not the dog ! it_is_the semblance of a human form that now throws itself heavily on_the bed, outside the clothes, and lies there, huge and swart, in_the red gleam that treacherously died away after showing so_much to affright, and sinks into dull darkness . there_was now no light left, though the red cinders yet glowed with a ruddy gleam like the eyes of wild beasts . the chain rattled no more .I tried to_speak, to scream wildly for help; my mouth was parched, my tongue refused to obey . I_could_not utter a cry, and, indeed, who could_have heard me, alone as i_was in_that solitary chamber, with no living neighbor, and_the picture- gallery between me and any aid that even the loudest, most piercing shriek could summon . and_the storm that howled without would_have drowned my voice, even if help had_been at hand . to_call aloud-- to demand who was there-- alas ! how useless, how perilous ! if_the intruder were a robber, my outcries would but goad him to fury; but what robber would act thus ? as for a trick, that seemed impossible . and yet, what lay by my side, now wholly unseen ? I strove to pray aloud as there rushed on my memory a flood of weird legends-- the dreaded yet fascinating lore of_my childhood .I had heard and read of_the spirits of_the wicked men forced to revisit the scenes of_their earthly crimes-- of demons that lurked in certain accursed spots-- of_the ghoul and vampire of_the east, stealing amidst the graves they rifled for their ghostly banquets; and then I shuddered as I gazed on_the blank darkness where I_knew it lay . it stirred-- it moaned hoarsely; and again I heard the chain clank close beside me-- so close that_it must almost have touched me .I drew myself from_it, shrinking away in loathing and terror of_the evil thing-- what, I_knew not, but felt that something malignant was near .

and yet, in_the extremity of_my fear, I dared not speak; i_was strangely cautious to_be silent, even in moving farther off; for I had a wild hope_that it-- the phantom, the creature, whichever it_was-- had_not discovered my presence in_the room . and then I remembered all the events of_the night-- lady Speldhurst's ill- omened vaticinations, her half- warnings, her singular look as_we parted, my sister's persuasions, my terror in_the gallery, the remark that " this_was the room nurse Sherrard used to_talk of ." and then memory, stimulated by fear, recalled the long- forgotten past, the ill- repute of_this disused chamber, the sins it had witnessed, the blood spilled, the poison administered by unnatural hate within its walls, and_the tradition which called it haunted . the green room--I remembered now how fearfully the servants avoided it-- how it_was mentioned rarely, and in whispers, when we were children, and how we had regarded it as a mysterious region, unfit for mortal habitation . was_it-- the dark form with_the chain--a creature of_this world, or a specter ? and again-- more dreadful still-- could it be that_the corpses of wicked men were forced to rise and haunt in_the body the places where they had wrought their evil deeds ? and was such as_these my grisly neighbor ? the chain faintly rattled . my hair bristled; my eyeballs seemed starting from their sockets; the damps of a great anguish were on my brow . my heart labored as_if I were crushed beneath some vast weight .Sometimes it appeared to stop its frenzied beatings, sometimes its pulsations were fierce and hurried; my breath came short and with extreme difficulty, and I shivered as_if with cold; yet I feared to stir . it moved, it moaned, its fetters clanked dismally, the couch creaked and shook . this_was no phantom, then-- no air- drawn specter . but its very solidity, its palpable presence, were a thousand times more terrible . I_felt that i_was in_the very grasp of what could_not only affright but harm; of something whose contact sickened the soul with deathly fear . I_made a desperate resolve: I glided from_the bed, I seized a warm wrapper, threw it around me, and tried to grope, with extended hands, my way to_the door . my heart beat high at_the hope of escape . but I had scarcely taken one step before_the moaning was renewed-- it changed into athreatening growl that_would_have suited a wolf's throat, and a hand clutched at my sleeve .I stood motionless . the muttering growl sank to a moan again, the chain sounded no more, but still the hand held its gripe of_my garment, and I feared to move . it knew of_my presence, then . my brain reeled, the blood boiled in my ears, and my knees lost all strength, while my heart panted

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