A mysterious feeling of terror crept over and helped to sober him. How long had he lain asleep? By degrees he seemed to remember that two or three times he had awakened far enough to drink from the bottle under his pillow, only to sink again into heavier stupefaction.
By degrees, too, he seemed to remember that other things had happened a driving of vehicles this way and that, a hurrying of people along the street. He had thought it the breaking-up of M. Xaupi`s ball. More than once had not some one shaken and tried to arouse him? Through the wall of Harry Sikes`s barber shop had he not heard cries of pain sobs of distress?
He staggered to the window, threw open the shutters, and, kneeling at the sill, looked out. The street was deserted. The houses opposite were closed. Cats were sleeping in the silent doorways. But as he looked up and down he caught sight of people hurrying along cross-streets. From a distant lumber yard came the muffled sound of rapid hammerings. On the air was the faint roll of vehicles the hush and the vague noises of a general terrifying commotion.
Deep Red Furious Flame
In the middle of the street below him a keg was burning, and, as he looked, the hoops gave way, the tar spread out like a stream of black lava, and a cloud of inky smoke and deep-red furious flame burst upward through the sagging air. Just beneath the window a common cart had been backed close up to the door of the house. In it had been thrown a few small articles of furniture, and on the bottom bedclothes liad been spread out as if for a pallet. While he looked old Charlotte hurried out with a pillow.
He called down to her in a strange, unsteady voice:
“What is the matter? What are you doing, Aunt Charlotte?”
She uttered a cry, dropped the pillow, and stared up at him. Her face looked dry and wrinkled.
“My God! De chol`ra`s in town! I`m waitin` on you! Dress, en come down en fetch de bun`le by do dooh.” And she hurried back into the house.
But he continued leaning on his folded arms, his brain stunned by the shock of the intelligence. Suddenly he leaned far out and looked down at the closed shutters of the barber shop. Old Charlotte reappeared. “Where is Harry Sikes?” he asked.
“Dead en buried.”
“When did he die?”
“Yestidd`y evenin`.”
“What day is this?”
“Sadd`y.”
M. Xaupi`s ball had been on Thursday evening. That night the cholera had broken out. He had lain in his drunken stupor ever since. Their talk had lasted but a minute, but she looked up anxiously and urged him.
“D` ain` no time to was`e, honey! D` ain` no time to was`e. I done got dis cyart to tek you `way in, en I be ready to start in a minute. Put yo` clo`es on en bring de bun`le wid all yo` yudder things in it.”
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