The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-07
no. 80.
A GHOST STORY

Hfsi tlnle, ON u yiat 10 II gfiitipBinft in the
north of Ireland. The mansion was
such one rs spectres are fabled to inha.
bit. II was associated with many recoi.
lectlons Of historic times, and the soinbre
characters of iis architecture, and the
wIdncss nf lis surrounding scenery, Mere
calculated 10 impress the soul with that
tone Of melancholy and elevation, which
u II be- not considered rs Il predisposition
TO welcome the visitation of those ui,eartl-
" substances that are inpaIpable 10 our
sight IN moments of less hallowed senii-
nri'is,- lis, indisputahly, the state of mud
III which the lnaginntioD is most readily
excited, and the understanding most Ca
'ourably inclined To grant n credulous re-
ccpiion tn lis visions. The apartment also
which WINS appropriated IN lord London.
derry was calculated TO foster such a tone
OF feeling. From lis antique apartments,
from the dark aud richly carved pannes
OF its watlscoai, from lis yawning width
aud height of chimney, hooking like tho
open entrance To tomb, OF which tJr sur
rounding ornaments appeared to form the
sculpture aud the eniablaltnc from the
portraits OF grim men aud seycre-eyed wo-
men, arraycd IN orderly procession along
the walls, and seowling a eonteluI,t,ous en-
NIFTY against the degenerate invader Of
their gloomy bowers, and venerable halls
nom th. vast, dnsky, ponlrrops and
complicated drnpefies that concealed The
windows, aud hung with gloomy grandeur
ot funeral trhppings about the ltafse-lihe
piece of furniture thai was destined for his
bed, lord Londonderry on entering his
apartment, might BIZ conscious or some
mental depression aud surrounded by
such world OF melhncholy images, nirhl.
perhaps, feel himself more inclinrd 10 stgb-
nll to the Influences of superstition. Ills
mol possible that these scptimel,s siiotJd
nave been allied Ia any Feelings of nppfr-
tension. Fear rs acknowledged 10 BIZ u
mosIdpighiy master Qyer nle lsiprr, of the
imagination. II can cif spIfil1lrom lhu
Vastly de9p,"-ilnd they do come, when if
does cail for them. II lremhlcs III the auti.
cipatIon Of approaching e,l, and then en-
counters IA every passing shadow the sub
stance Of The dream it iIelnbled N. Hui
such could not have boen the origin Of the
form which addressed itself to the Jew Of
lord Londonderry. Fear is quality that
was never known To mngle IN The cbarac-
ter OF a stewart, Lord Londonderry ex-
amlned his chaluber--he made himself nc
Talnlcd with the forms aud faces of the
ancient possessors of the mansion, who sat
upright ~ their ebony frames 10 lre,ire
his salhalion and then, after Diminishing his
valet, he retired TO bed. His candles had
not been long extinguishrd, when he per-
eeiscd light cleaning on the iraperies of
The loiiy canopy over his head. Conscious
that there was no fire IN the grate---that
the curtains were closcd-St that ule cham
ber bad been 'Ifpcrlcct DARKNESS bat few
moments bciogp, be supposed thai SONS
intruder must have accldsntly entered his
apartment and, turning hastily round To
lle SIDE rom Which the, light procreded-.-
eaw--to hlyiDiints Observation-Disclosures the
form oi any human yisitor-but the fglirs
OF far boy, who seemed 10 be garnl,llt,.d
III rays of mild and tempered gi0gy, vl,itf,
bealncd palely from his slender fam I,ku
the faint light Of the declining t,sna1 and
rendered the objects which went rsaret
to him dlnlly and indistinctly sidIl,Irr :
The spirit stood al some short distance
from the side of the bed. Ccftnn fftathis
own faculties were not decei,ing him. nut
sospccing1 that he might be- nposedaipoo
by The ingenuity OF some of the humorous
guests who were then visiting in the same
house Lord Londonderry proceeded 10.
wards the figure. Ii retreatcd before him.
As he slowly advanced, the form, with
equal paces, slowly rctired.--It entered
the arch Of the capacious chimney, and
then sunk into the earth.-~Lard L0ndop-
derry returned to his bed, but moi 10 REST
His mind was harrassed by the consi,iera-
ton Of the extraordinary event, " bich had
occurred to him. Was it real ?-was IL
the work Of Imagination was /: tie u,
suit OF inposture f--lt was all incompre
henslbe He resolved IN The morDipe nor
to mention the appearance ill he should
have well observed The manners and tha
coinitenances Of the family hc was con-
scious that, II any deception had been
practiscd, lis authors would be too delight
ed with their SUCCESS to conceal the vanity
of their triumph. When the guests as.
seinbled al the breakfast table, the eye Of
lord l.. searched in vain for those latent
smiles-those cunning looks--that silent
communication between the parties--hy
which the autl ors and abetiors ofsneh do
mtstic consplri Gle are generally betrayed.
Every thing apparently proceeded il, It's
ordinary course. The conversation How-
ed rapidly along from the subjects aflor
ded ut the nouieDt without any of the
constralnt which marks party, intent an
on some secret aud more interesting srg,I-
ment, aud endea,ouring to afford an OBJ
portunliy for its introducton At last the
hero Of the tale found himself coplpeIIed
To mention the occurrences of the night
II was most extraordnary-he feared that
he should not be credited; and then after
all due preparation, the story was related.
Those among his auditors who, likehim-
self, were strangers and visitors itf the
house, were certain that some deh,siou
must have been prnrtised M. 9Th.