A MEETING ON THE RIVER PATH
wolf borne on the wintry midnight air of a boundless forest;
then louder, as if the pack of wolves had scented human blood
and burst full cry over the ridge to gallop down the slope in hot
pursuit; and thenstill louder, until the groan echoed through the
empty house and was answered by a thousand wailing, helpless
cries, and fiendish snarls and growls that fairly raised my scalp.
I tried to move, but the effort was useless. I seemed to be bound
down by some irresistible, supernatural power. I tried to shout,
but the sound stopped in my throat. Even my tongue was pow
erless. .But listen! Something was coming up the cellar steps—
thump, thump, thump. It reached the top. Which way would
it go? It seemed to hesitate. 0, if it would go the other way!
But no, it was coming down the hall—thump, thump, thump.
What should Ido ? What could Ido ? I made one more mighty
effort to move. Useless. A cold perspiration burst out on my
forehead. My hair was on end. A horrible deathly feeling,
like the slimy coil of a snake, was creeping along . my .body.
I felt it coiling about my neck. It was choking me. And still
the thing came on down the hall—thump, thump, thump. It
reached the door. It stopped. Silence. Then the door began
to open slowly. It opened wide. And then with a groan more
horrible than all the rest it came through the door, and then,—"
" What did it do? What did you do ? What was it ?" asked
a chorus of subdued voices after a moment's pause.
" What was it? Why, 'twas imagination of course," replied
Tony as he made a dive in the dark for the door.
But the groans and cries and bombardment of pillows which
followed him was neither a joke nor a dream.
A MEETING ON THE RIVER PATH.
H E turned and entered the church, why, he could hardly
tell, for a long time had passed since he had last heard a
sermon; but a sudden impulse impelled him to go in; so he
entered 'and was given a seat near the rear of the house, , for the
service had already begun.
AA ~,s1
F. T. C., 'oo.