Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-18

your bed so much to YOUR mind, as had no.
ped. How did YOU rest last nights! I'm, e1'
celentlr well! never better in my lille, said Zen
eral Browne rapidly, and yet with an obvious
air Of embarrassment Alter hastily swallow
ing cup Of tea, he signi6ed his intention Of I'm
mediate departure. This is very ex'raordiha
ry,' said his friend; you promised to stay win
rue quietly, for al least week. lou seemed
quite disengaged yesterday, aud you cannot
have had a summons to day; Tor the post has
not come up from the town. General Browne
mu,,ered something more about the necessity
Ct immediate departure. Since go you will, my
dear Browne, permit me TO show yos the view
from the terrace, which The mist nov rising Will
sos,, display When Lord WoodviSD had at
tsiked his purpose Of drawing his guest ireiy
apar, from The rest u the company, ne 'urntd
round & addressed him with an air Of great So
lemni,y Richard Browne, my old and very dear
| friend, we are now alone. Answer me, upon inc
word Of friend, and the honor OF solcier,-
how did you in reality rest last night! Most
etchedly, indeed, my Lord, answered The
General, in the same lone OF solemnity, SO mi.
serably, that | would not risk such second
night, for all the lands belonging TO your castle
This is most extraordinary said the young
Lord, as if speaking 10 himself; then mere
mus, be something in the reports concerning
that apartment Again turning 10 the Gene-
raj, he said, Tor Goes sake, my dear TREND,
be candid with me, and tell me all the disagree
| able particulars which have befallen you under
nv roof The General seemed distressed by
this appeal, and paused d moment before he re-
piled. My dear Lord what happened 10 me
last night is Of nature so peculiar and unPlea'
SAINT, that could hardly consent 10 CRAFTY your
request, were not in hopes that II might lead
to some explanation OF o Circumstance equally
painful anG mysterious. To others the COM
munica,ion am about TO make, might place
me in the ligh, Of weak minded superst'lious
fool, who suffered bis own imagination to de.
lude him; but you have known me in childhood
and youth, and you will not suspect me OF hav'
ing adopted in manhood the feelings and fIail-
ties from which my early years were free
Here he paused, and his friend replied: DO
no, doub, my perfect confidence in the truth OF
your communication, however strange 1t may
be; know your 6rmhess and your honor TOO
WE'LL well then,' said The General, will
proceed with my story, relying upon your can.
dor-I undressed and went 10 bed, so soon as
your Lordship left me yesterday evening; but
the wood in the chimney, which nearly froh'ed
my bed, blazed brightly and cheerfully, and,
aided by.a hundred exciting recolIections Of my
childhood and youth, which had been recalled
oy the unexpected pleasure OF meeting with
your Lordsh,R prevented ime from filling
reflections were stealing over mymind, and
gradually Iulline me to slu:hber, I was sud.
denly aroused by sound like the rus1ling
OF a silken gown, and the tapping Of pair
Of high -heeled shoss, as If woman were
| in tha Ere /
tire eurlsn. TO see VIVA; matter was, The
figure Of Illle womaa p between the bed
and the frr. The back o form was turned
to me, and could nbser' p the shoulders
and neck that her dress vas old fashioned
gown, which | think ladies call a sacque.
thought the intrusion singular enough; but an
YOU had mentioned that yon were rather strait
enetl for room, l supposed hat il was some old
woman about the establishment. who had a
! fancy to dress like her grandmother, and who
having been di.lodg-d from her chamber for
my accommod 81 ion, and having afterwards for
| gotten the circumstance, had returned 10 her
| ac Gus, omrd haunt. y der this persuasion,
| couched a little, 70 make the intruder sensible
OF my being in posse ssion Of the premises. She
turned slowly round-ahd, gracious heaven!
| VIVA, a counlenance did she present To mel
There was no longer any question wha, she
was, or any though, Of her being living being.
Upon face which wore the fixed features OF
corpse, were imprinted the traces of the viIest
and mos, hidrous passions. started up in bed,
and sat upright supporting myself on my palms,
as | gagged on this horrible spectre. She had
made single and swift stride 10 The bed where
lay, and squatted herself down upon it, in
precisely the same attitude | had assumed in
the extremity OF nv horror, advancing her d.
abolical coun,rnance within halt a yard Of
mine, with grin which seemed to intimate
the malice and the dersion Of all incarna,e
fend Here General Browne stopped, and WHIP
ed from his brow the cold perspira'ioa with
which the recollection oShis horrible vision
had covered it. My Lord, he said am no
coward. have been in all the moral dangers
incidental TO my profession, and NAV truly
boast that no man ever saw Richard Browne
dshonor the sword he wears; blu in these hor-
rible circumstances, all 6rmness forsook me-;
and sank back in a swoon, as'ery victim 10
panic terr6r as ever was village girl, or a
child OF ten years old. was reused by the
castle clock striking one. so loud that il SEEM