The herald., 1837-03-07

supervisor Of excise named Thomas, was ordered to
occupy the district of another supervisor, who had
been shifted 10 another station, as is usual with the
servan OF the excise department; and having wue
and children, he proceeded first select suitable
house for his family. He had never been in Wales
before, and consequently, he met with many nconve-
nlences. The only hsuse vacant, large old man
sion, which stood in decay at the fooa Of the noun
tain; and this, the supervisor directed, the
oHly habltable place that was not occrpled. On the
first view Of SO large hoEse all Eotion of becoming
tenant war abandoned; but as the place had mys-
erieus curiosity aboutit the mansion being large the
garden being choked with weeds the steps leading to
the doors moss grown several Of the windows beng
broken, and the whele having air of grandeur in
neglect he was prompted to make Inquirles and an
old man, TO whom he was referred as beng the only
owner, rs long any neighbor could remember, in
stantly offered TO let him the mansion at the small rent
of FIVE pounds year. The supervisor did not want SO
large house; but as he wished 10 send for his family,
and being obliged TO put up with his lodgings IN a
rifng alehouse, he thought II was worth while TO 60
ever the whole and ascertain whether a few rooms
could be fitted Up comfortably for his accommoda-
ton, while in the discharge Of his duty there. The
iowness Of the rent OF oursc, operated as an add-
n0nal nducement; and having fixed upon four five
rooms up stairs, be struck the bargain, got in n few
Ete things, until his wife should arrive with all the
domestic equipments of family, and forthwith wrote
of for her. The first night OF his sololrnment he
rgKed large fire 10 dspel the daHpness, and having
taken his cup of grog, he laid dogn and enjoyed
excellent nights rest. On his rising in the morning
his first VISIT was TO barbers shop in the town, IN
order get shaved and there several persons inquired
most earnesiy how he had slept; and when he de-
clared that he had enjoyed better nights rest
in HE life, every one seemed amazed The mystery
was now dlspeed and his eyes were opened by being
informed the - Tee Gwyn" or White House" as
the mansion was called had been haunted FOR fifty
years back. The supervisor laughed al this notion,
and avowed his utter disbelief in ghosts Ii ever he
had experienced little ucklishness in his nerves, the
professional shrewdness usually characteristic Of his
lsed n fhaf lnuq qlv hnu
might be very snug spot for working an Illicit still;
and accordingly he determined not 10 be driven out
Of his new hablanon until he ascer,ained the fact.
lie spent The greater part Of the day in rumael!ng
the vaults and every hiding place; but without dis
covering any thing TO confirm his suspicious. As
night advanced he threw extra log the fire and
having borrowed a chair in the town. ne threw hius-
self down before II, ate his bread and cheese, and
supped ms cup amidst various riIunatlons. AT one
time he thought his prospect rather dangerous in the
event OF ms suspicious beng true, there beng
sistance at hand He might have his throat cut from
ear TO ear, and has body thrown into tub, while his
wife and family would be none the wiser. Fears Of
the living, than the dead, fitted ia sudden flashes
across his brain. At length he resolved in case he
heard any thing going on, 10 remain as qret pos
slble, and send all the Information he could to the
heads of his department. He could see by his watch
that il was nearly twelve O'Clock; but natures find
nurse had forsaken him, and he felt inclination to
sleep.
On Sudden he heard footsteps on the staircase
ana ne eit 0is nar lft MS nat lnvolntary nj least
inch off has forehead His heart iettered his legs
did not 10 blaze brgkt-he listened anxiously
but he heard nothing After chldng his fancy for
frightening him, he mustered courage enough to open
the door, which he left in that state and then betook
himself 10 hrs couch after paraytic sort sf poke
az me hrs. Scarce had the first doze relaxed his
limbs, when he was awakened by strange cattering
on the staircase as IL ten thousand mps were ascend
ing! In the panic OF the moment he Jumped up,
and rushed to the landing place, where he distinctly
heard the SAID mps clater down the broad staircase
again, making FAINT shreking cries which died away
with the sound OF their footsteps as they seemed 10
gain the vaults beneath the house /, was now man.
hest that there were other living tenants in his tcne-
ment beside himself-and the remainder of thai seen-
less night was spent IN gloomy coniectres. With
painful anxiety did he watch the gray morning break
ing in the cast-and when the day burst forth he
commenced most scrutnzng search every where
Nothing how ever, was to be discovered not even l
footstep on the staircase and he could have sworn
that he really did hear his dsturbers ascend towards
the room and then depart
On his visit 10 town that morning, the previous
days inquiries were repeated-but he strenuously de
MED having been disturbed fer fear he should be
thought q coward Towards the next evening he de.
termlned to ascertain whether any thing really did
ascend the staircase or whether il was mere fancy
and Tor this purpose he spreada thick coat of sand
every step, imagining shrowdly enough, that, II h'
tormenters were reav Substantial, they must leave
some tracks behind them. The next night was nc
companed by the same extraordinary noises; bat tn,
supervisor had provided himsef with pistols, and be
ing doubly armed with a lamp also, he proceeded
down stars as hard as he could. The imps, howev
er, were too nlmble for him and he could not ever
get glimpse Of them.
Again did he search IN every hole and corner dis
turbng the poor spiders with the blaze Of his lamp
and hnding his scrutiny in vain he was retraepp nj