Varney the Vampire

es give up

night air

shr

TORM.-THE DREADFUL V

f the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort. A faint peal of thunder now comes from far off. Like a signal gun for the battle of the winds to

e buildings before the hot blast of his terrific breath; for as suddenly as th

had heard must be the confused chimera of a

Leaves are dashed from the trees, mingled with small boughs; windows that lie most opposed to the direct fury of the pelting particles of ice are broken, and the rapt repose that before was so remarkabl

rally, would, for a moment, hold millions of the hailstones suspended in mid air, but it was on

ail-rain-wind. It was, in

. The window is latticed, and filled with curiously painted glass and rich stained pieces, which send in a strange, yet beautiful light, when sun or moon shines into the apartment. There is but one portrait in that room, although

se works of art which owe their existence to the Elizabethan era. It is hung with heavy silken and damask furnishing; nodding f

usketry, it comes clashing, beating, and cracking upon the small panes; but they resist

coverings of the bedstead; she has been restless in her sleep, for the clothing of the bed is in much confusion. One arm is over her head, the other hangs nearly off the side of the bed near to which she lies. A neck and bosom that would have formed a study fo

slumbers it does not possess the power to destroy entirely. The turmoil of the element

silken eyelashes lay upon the cheek. Now she moves, and one shoulder is entirely visible-whiter, fairer than the spotless clothing of the bed on which she lies, is the smooth skin of that fair cre

d mountains were rolling one over the other in the blue vault of Heaven! Who sleeps now in that ancient c

under likewise seems intent upon awakening sufficient echoes to last until the next flash of forked lightning should again produce the wild concussion of the air. She murmurs a prayer-a prayer for those she loves best; the names of those dear to her gentle heart come from her lips; she weeps and prays; she thinks then of what devastation the storm must surely produce, and to the great God of Heaven she prays for all living things. Another fl

re tall and gaunt, endeavouring from the outside to unclasp the window. I saw it.

ght, and yet a strange clattering sound came upon the glass of that long window. It could not be a delusion-she is a

ow, she waits, froze with horror. The pattering and clattering of the nails continue. No word is spoken, and now she fancies she can trace the darker form of that figure against the window, and she can see the long arms moving to and fro, feeling for some mode of entrance. What strange light is that which now gradually creeps up into the air? red and terrible-brighter and brighter it grows. The lightning has set fire to a mill, and the reflection of the

elp-hel

hat is in the chamber, and that portrait appears to fix its eyes upon the attempting intruder, while the flickering light from the fire makes it look fearfully lifelike. A small pane of glass is broken, and th

But, oh, that look of terror that sat upon her face, it was dreadful-a look to haunt the memor

me wild animal, hideously, glaringly white, and fang-like. It approaches the bed with a strange, gliding movement. It clashes together the long nails that literally appear to hang from the finger ends. No sound comes from its lips. Is she going mad-that young and beautiful girl expose

oking eyes that were bent on her face. Crouching down so that the gigantic height was lost, and the horrible, protruding, white face was the most prominen

he clothing of the bed was now clutched in her hands with unconscious power. She drew her breath short and thick. Her bosom hea

s move. He advances. The girl places one small foot from the bed on to the floor. She is unconsciously dragging the clothing with her. The door of the room is in that direction-can she reach it? Has she

ms across the entire width of the bed. As she has slowly moved along she has left it streaming across the pillows. The

ed shriek in rapid succession. The bed-clothes fell in a heap by the side of the bed-she was dragged by her long silken hair completely on to it again. Her beautifully rounded limbs quivered with the agony of her soul. The glassy, horrible eyes of the figure ran over that angelic form with a hideous sati