The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-04-13

~ before him. Ills dreams represented IN
his view the PLAY fni aud beautiful looks
that won all eyes towards him, while his
parents were yet alive In cheer and In de-.
hight him and then the vision of his slrep
would change, and he would see his caln
sui.sllnG, and his silent tear. and his pa-
tent endurance, and his ndefaligabie exer-
tons IN attempting the accomplishment of
desperate cXactions, and his pale check,
and his wasted limbs, and lis spiritless
countenancc then at last there WAS the
rigid, bony and distorted form, the glazed
open eye, the mouth violently compressed,
aud the clenched hands, on which his view
had rested for moment, WHEN all his
wicked hopes had attained their most san
gulnc cnhsummatlon, as he surveyed the
corpse of his murdered relative. These
rccollcctlens banishcd him from his home.
The mansion Mas left ienantless !; and, I'LL
Lady Pensymap had ignoranlly engaged
il, all had dreaded To b,come the nmale of
a dwelling which had been fatal 10 one
possesstr, and Stunned as destructive To the
tranquility of his ilriT.
On the first night or two Of Lady Pen
Qyman's being established in her new apart
ment, she met with no Interruption, nor
w ~ itl 0ittI us Aitf fthSi ahsAhlutd l1 dilA
of those mysterious noises in the cage
room, for SOFT was eommonly called by
the family, which she had been induced 10
expect by The representations of the de
parted servants. Tins quiet, heweyer,w MAS
UfNcry short duration. One night she was
awakened from her sleep by Tia. sound Of
IA slow aud measured step, that appeared
10 he pacing the chamber overhead. II
continued to move backwards aud forwards
with nearly the same constant and regular
step for rather more than an hour perhaps
Lady Penny mans agitation may have de.
ccivcd her, and induced her To think the
time longer than II really Was. II ut length
ceased morning dawned upon her: the
lady naturally felt distressed by the occur
rcncc of the night il was in every point
of view alarming SHE doubted IFS being
the effect of any preternatgral communlca-
ton, there WAS onl ano".er alternative,
which was almost equally distressing, In
suppose that there We're means of catering
the house, which were known 10 strangers,
though concealed from The inhabitants
She went down to breakfast after framing
a resolution not To mcntien the event.
Lady Pennyman aud her dane hters bad
nearly completed their break fast before
her son, Il young man lately returned from
sea, descended from his apartment. " Ny
dear Charles" said his mother 3" | wonder
yon are not ashamed of yourindoence and
want of gallantry, 10 suffer your sisters and
myself To finish our breakfast before Son
are ready to join u.s. Indeed madam
he replied, ait is not my fault if am late
ha' { not bad any sleep for the whole
night. There have been people kuOc king
at my door aud pecping into my room ever
since | went up stairs to bed. | presume
they wanted 10 see il my light MAS eAiin-
guisheds if this be the cast II is really very
distressing ~ | certainly never gave you
any cause to suspect that | should he care.
less IN taking so necessary a precanion !;
and, it is not pleasant 10 be represented III
such characterize The demesiics.' "ladced
NV dear, the interruption has taken place
entirely without my knowledge. ! assure
you ii is not by any order Of mine that your
room has been looked into. ! cannot think
what could possibly induce any sers ant oi
mine 10 he guilty of such liberty. Ar
you certain that yon lave not mistaken Tire
nature aud the origin Of the sounds by
which your sleep has been disturbed ~
" Oh, no. There could have been no mis-
take. ! WAS perfectly awake when thc
interruption first took place ; and, after
wards, it WAS So frequently repeated rs 10
prevent The possibility Of my sleeping
More complaints from the honseke"per ::
~ servant would remain every individual
of the family had his tale. of terrier ID in.
crease the apprcbensons Of The rest. Lady
Prnnyman began 10 be herself alarmrd.-
Mrs. Atkins, a very dear aud approved
Iiitnd, came on a visit 10 her. She com
municatcd the subject Which had 81 re
Gently disturbed the family, and requested
her advice. Mr.. Atkins, "A woman devoid
of every kind of supcr'tilious fear, and Of
tried courage, understanding aud resoln-
ton, determined at once Ia silence all the
stories that had been fabricated respecting
the cage room, and 10 allay their tefrors by
adopting that apartment for her bed cham
Der during the remainder of her residence
at Lislr. 1t WAS in vain 10 oppose Lee
purpose. She declared that no llalfmea-
sure could be equally ctlcctual that t any
Of the family were 10 sleep there, though
their rest should be perfectly undistubed,
it would have no efficacy in tranquilizlng
the agitation Of the family, SINCE the ser
wants would either accuse Lady Pennyman
or her son of being Interested witnesses,
aud doubt the fact of then having rcposed
! in the centre OF the ghosts domluons,
without undergoing any punishment for
the temcrity of their invading them.
bed Was accordingly placed in the apart
ment. The cage room WAS rendered IA:
comfortable rs possible on so short ii no
tcc and MIS-. Atkins retired 10 rest, ac-
companicd by her iaYorlle spaniel, saJins