Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-29

of the phantom; but there II COntlnueu-lHu'i-
sible-impal pable-in short, as much dog as
ever. and yet the stick traversing its form in eve
ry direction, from the tail to the tip of the nose!
Mr.. D hurried OH few steps, and again
looked-there was the dog! Now the reader
must be informed that Mr.. D. was remark
ably temperate man, and had, that evening, con-
tented himself with solitary glass OF port by the
bedside of his sick brother; SO that there was no
room for surprising his perception to have oeeh
disturbed with liquor
What can it be7, thought he, while his heart
knocked rather harder than usual against the oars
of its prison oh, it must be an optical deiusion
oh tits clearly so!-nothing in The world worse:
that's all. How oddI-aud he smiled. he thought
very unconcernedlv; but another glimpse OF the
phantom standing BY him in blue indlstinc.nesS
instantly darkened his features with hue OF APP
prehenslon. If it really was an optical deuslon'
it was the most fixed and pertlnaceous one ne e'-
err heard of.-The best part of valor Is discre-
ton, says Shakespeare; and in all things; So op-
serving q stage passing BY at that moment, MT.
D with little trepidaton in his Tone or
dered it to stop: there was just room tor one IN
side; and in stepped Mr. D, chuckllng at
the cunning fashion after which he had succeed
ed in iockeying his strange attendant. Not leel.
ing inclined to talk with the tat woman who sat
nexthim, squeezing him most unmerciiullva against
the side of the coach, nor with the elderly gra-
zier looking man fronting him. whose large dirty
top boots seriously incommoded him, he shut his
eyes, that he might pursue his thoughts undlsturo-
ed.-After about five minutes riding, he sudden
ly opened his eyes--and the first thing that met
them was the figure of the blue dog,lyIpg stretch.
ed in some unaccountable manner at his feet, hail
under the scat!
IL hope the dog does not annoy you, sir!''
injured Mr.. D., little huttered. of the
man opposite, hoping to discern whether the dog
chose to be visible to any one else.
Sir. exclaimed the person he addressed, start
ing from kind of doze, and staring about IN the
bottom of the coach.
Lord. sir.' echoed the woman beside him.
"A dog. sir, did YOU say? inquired several in
a breath.
Notwithstanding. assure you. Ills
a little mistake. replied Mr., with faint
smile; IL thong ht-in short | find I've been
dreaming: and I'm sure beg pardon for disturb
ing you.' Every one in the coach laughed eX-
cept Mr. D, whose eyes continued rvetted
on the dim blue outline of the dog lying notion
less at his feet He was now certain that he
was suffering from the dim optical illusion OF
some sort or other, and endeavored to prevent
his thoughts from running into an alarmed chan
mel. by striving to engage his faculties with the
philosophy of the thing. He could make moth
ing out. however, and the Q. +. ID. OF his think
inSs startled him not little, when 1t came IN the
shape of large blue dog, lcaping at his heels out
of the coach when he alishted. Arrived at home,
he lost sight Of the phantom during the time OF
supper and the family devotions. AS soon as he
had extinguished his bedroom candle, and got
into bed. he was nearly leaping out again, on
c,,l;,,. n eone,f;op e larua boo had iumDed
on that part of the bed where his feet lay. He
felt its pressure. He said he was inclined TO
rise. and make it subject Of special prayer to
the Deity. Mrs. D. asked him what was the
matter with hims for he became very cold, and
shivered little.
He easily Quoted her with saying he felt lit
tie chilled; and as soon as she fairly asleep,
he got quietly out of bed, and walked up and
down the room. Wherever he moved, he be-
held, by the moon light through the window, the
dim dusky outline of the dog. following where
ever he went! Mr.. D. opened the windows
he did not exactly know why-and mounted
the dressing table for that purpose. On looking
down before he eaped on the floor, there was the
dog waiting for HIM, squatting composedly on
his launches! There was no standing this any
longer. thought Mr.. ID -, deusion or no de-
fusion; so he ran to the bel-plunged beneath the
clothes, and thoroughly frightned, dropped at
length asleep, his head under cover all night
on waking in the morning. he thought it must
have been all dream about the dog. for it had
totally disappeared with the daylig h.
When an hours glance in all directions had con-
WINGED him that the phantom was really no longer
visible, he told the whole to Mrs. D., end
made very merry with her fears-for she would
have it, it was something supernatural and,
good lady, mir d. might depend upon it, the
thing had its errand!'-Four times subsequently
to this did MID see the spectral visltant-
IN no wise altered either in its manner, form or
color. 1t was always late in the evening when
he observed it, and generally when he was alone.
He was man extensively acquainted with physi-
oosy; but felt utterly at loss to what derange-
ment, of what part of the animal economy to refer
it. So, indeed, was for he came to consult
me about it.
He was with me once during the presence Of
the phantom. examined his eyes with a can
die, to see whether the interrupted motions of
the tribes indicated any sudden alteration of the
functions of the optic nerve; but the pupils con-
tra.ted and dilated with perfect regularity. One
Al. hal