The North-Carolinian., 1843-12-02
miscellaneous.
A MIDNIGHT STORY.
BY MISS SHELTON.


moonlight, as l rode across the common, in
the direction Of my fathers house | had been
dining with Sir Gregory Maet. IN the neigh
outsayed my usual time Of returning home.
and, anxious 10 reach it as quickly as possi-
Bile, and knowing my read well, took the
sho test cut across the moor; this was a bl idle
path, leading directly under the ghoet where
the murderer hung III chains. The bones
were those Of one VINO had been in re>pec-
table line of life having, for many years, ten
anted a arnl on my fathers estate he had,
however, fallen into wild courses, and III the
year Is had suddenly disappeared, ii was
supposed, to joiu tie Pretender. Nor was
he again beard Of, until murder, accom-
panied with robbery, having taken place on
the highway a,i,oiau., the coinniou, strict
search was made for the criminal, who was
discovered linking in the suburbs Of W:
the watch and purse OF ihe murdered gentleman
were found in his possession he was tried,
condemned. aud executed.
Before his execution, be discovered him
self 10 be late tenant, an, received per-
mission 10 send for his only brother (my ia
TIERS sie"asd.) and bid him farewell.
Our steward was a strange character, though
much respected and beloved by my father.
lie had scug been suspected of an attachment
to the losing cause He aud his brother were
the last Of all old and respectable family, the
,netnbers Of which had lost their substance
during The rieil wars, by their loyalty to the
house OF Sin,t. He was Of Il gloomy, .e-
served lufn Of ;nnd-singuiafiy handso'ne in
,tle face, and almost gigantic in s,ature-bu.
he wanted urbanty ot manner aud goodness
Of expression.
Notwithstanding ,ho gpiIs Of his brother and
the fumors of his own connexion with the
rebels. my father continued to retain him in
his service, aud 10 entrust hin implicitly with
ail his affairs.
About a month after the execution, our
steward died - some said, by his own hand /;
but my father would not allow of this intefpre-
atiou, aud gave out that fffs death was the
result of In apope,ic fit. All know upon
the subject is, that going evening into
the room where the corpse was laid, during
the absence OF the watcher | raised the nap
kin from toe face, and saw, that though the
features still retained their beauty of outline
and pride of expression, the complexion, ma
turaliy dark, had become qiite black in color,
rode al sharp pace, but as I neared the
gibbet, heard footsteps behind me, and just
as came beneath it, tall man strobe to my
side. and laid his band upon my bride.
'.You have ridden fast ~ he said, bu,
think am iu time" My horse stopped in
stantly, trembling in every limb; urged
with whip aud spur, but nothing would induce
him 10 pass the giI,bet; the man had taken his
band Eon the rein the moment the horse
ceased to move lie carried across bis
shoulder staff, to the end of which was at
fached m iron hook with This instrument he
cndeavored TO dsengase the corpse from the
gibbe'. Ny blood tfoze in my veins as
recognised the bold profile aud black com
p'eXion of my father late steward "You
need not urge your horse-I have need Of hin,
.o-uighs; = and he spoke, the body fell from
the tree; he received it, chans and all, in his
arms! "Dis,nount" be said.
''Dismount never !'' And / raised nv
heavy riding whip, aud struck with all nv
force at the black face of the steward the
blow passed through the ar, and .,li harmless
upon Inc chains round the Eon, aud /, de-
prived Of sense by some invisible power, fell
forwards from my saddle.
hen ltecoserec myself i, was broad day
light; was lying beneath the sibbet, The
corpse swung slowly in Inc wld above my
head. but my horse was gone. | arose. and
walked quickly home. As teachrd the
gates, met two of my fathers servants. CON
ing III search of me- they had found my horse
fastened 10 the stahe-door, and bearing marks
of having been hard .idden.
In answer 10 their inquiries, made scme
excuse of having stumbled and thrown me-
and that | had been stunned by The fall
Charging them not to meDtlon the circum.
stance 10 my father, | entered the ball.
told my story In none of my family; but i'm
n,ediateIy after breakfast, Iproceeded to Ches
ter House, TO inform my friend George
Chester, of the events Of the preceding night
George Chester was as brave, as handsome
as gallant, and as true friend, as ever .roe
this earth. We were sworn brothers in love
and hoped soon to be brothers by the neares
and dearest lies; 70, George was already en-
gagged to my beautiful sister Rebecca, and
was paying assidious court to the gentle Mar,
Chester.
Georg. laughed heartily at my story
sCome, come, Tom, you have been dream
ing: confess you were little elevated by Si
Gregory's claret, and would fain make some