Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-11-12

and bright wood FIRE burned merrily up
on the hearth, and aided the beams o.
the candle which stood on the table, in
giving the little cabin a cheerful aspect
Suddenly loud rumbling noise, like the
muIteTiBg Of distant thunder, but shorter
and more sbTnpt, was heard. As the
cottage tIembled with The conclusion Ol
air OcCasIoned by the shock, the good
woman, who was singularIy fair and
beautiful, il is said, doubtless remem.
bered that such noises had not been un-
usual that season, aRd, moreover, that
they had always accompanied the numer'
Gus slides which were constantly occur.
ring among those mOuHtains. She poi
her sleeping babe into tho bed in the ad
IJolnlng room, and resumlng her knitting,
sat down once more lO await her hus-
bands return.
1t was about an hour after this that
single horseWan was taking his SOLITARY
way down the mountain pass haVa de.
scrbed Feeling somewhat chilled as
he came in sight Of The ruddy glow that
was thrown from The windows ofIhe Viii.
ley cottage, he abandoned bis mention
OF pushing on TO the lower CTaWford's
that night, and dismounled at the door Of
the house, (which was standing wide open.
No one answering his call, as he held his
bride in his hand before the cottage, he
determined 10 stable his horse himself;
and for this purpose he crossed The nar-
row road in The direction, as be had Ies>
son to remember very we'll, of the barn
belonging TO The WIleys. But no such
building was there. Perplexed with
doubts, the traveller tied his horse TO
stake in The fence beside the cabin, and
went in.
There stood the table in the middle Of
the floor, the candle burning brightly ,and
the fire blazing cbeerily upOG tho hearth.
But nothing living met the eye, or greet
ed the ear Of the stranger excepting a
cat, which was playing with a ball OF
wOrsed attached 10 some knitting work
that seemed 10 have been thrown or drop.
ped carsssly upon the floor. A feeling
Of horror, he could net Iell why, crept
over the wayfayeI as no gazsd upoA the
scene. Where were the members Of
the family for whom all this comfort had
been prepared-nay, some OF whom had,
as he could plainly perceive, within
few short moments, been enjoying it!--
There was no human habtaiiSn, lie we'll
knew, within many miles, and the near
esl, by more than one half, vas that one
which he had left more han an hour be-
fore in"TheNotch." He had ridden over
ths only road between the Two points and
had met no one. He went into the
sleeping room adjoining the apartment he
had first entered. TheIs was the bed,
the covering thrown down TO the foot,
and the traveller observed that the bed
ding had been pressed but slightly, and,
as he thought he could surely perceive,
by ns other form than that of an infant
There were lwo other rooms in the col,
tags, inlt both Of which he went, but no
sign Of human inbabitant was visible.
Ne returned in The open air. The
night was starIit and clear The air
was cold and bracing, although il was 10
July. The stranger walked forth few
PAGES iHtO the road. He had besH in the
habit OF travelling over it ehce every
year, but he remembered only its more
prominent features; yet he thought that
the little river or brook whil h ran in the
valley was noisier tnan he had ever be-
fore known it to be- and as he had met
with some mere Obstructions in the road
while on foot than he had seemed TO de
when mounted, short time before, he
thought, too, that there was some change
in the level Of the highway since he was
last there. But these changes, il, in
deed, they were not merely imaginary,
proved quite insufficient TO afford him The
least clue of the mystery that vas every
momen: becoming more and more intOl-
erabIe TO him. He threw himself dice
more upon his saddle, and rode rapidly
back 10 the younger Crawford's in The
Notch Having told The latter the story
of his inexplicable adventure, he re-
mounted, while the son of the forest cal.
led up his men, and all takiAg horse went
down to The valley without loss Of time.
'Dd you hear any noises, stranger,
| like the fall Of slides from the bills, as
you rode along, to nighti asked Tom
Crawford OF the traveller.
Yes, one,' was the reply; 'one, since
that you recollsct we both heard, just as
| was leaving your house, at dusk.
when did you hear the second repOrti
said Crawford.
'Abouttwenly minutes before l reach
{ cd Wlllsy's,' replied The traveller Il
: was far louder than the other, and con
: linued much longer, like lbundeE schOinI
4 lsmOng the uhouRtains."o ,ssy
i The hardy mountain forester was puz
clad s9ui noaa II vvara ~ alidal Win