The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-10-03

T. There had been as I awakened 4
clanking among the fire irons, as if :
palsied hand was striving to arrange
the fire, and this rather unaccountable
noise continued for some seconds after
had become completely awake.
Under the impression that was SUBJ
jected to an accidental intrusion, call
ed out in a gentle, and afterwards in a
sharper Who's thereW
AT the second summons the sound
ceased, and heard instead the sound
Of naked feet as it seemed TO me, upon
the floor, pacing to and fro between
the hearth and the bed in which lay.
A superstitiQus terror which | could not
combat, stole over me; with an effort
l repeated my question, drawing my
self upright in the bed, and expecting
the answer with a strange sort Of trepi-
dation. II came in terms and accom-
panied with accessories which | shall
not soon forget.
The very same tones which had so
startled me in the churchyard the eve-
ming before, the very sounds which
l had heard then and there, were now
filling my ears, and spoken III the
chamber where l lay.
"Why will you trouble the dead =
Who can torment us before the timee
I will come to you in my flesh, though
after my skin worms destroy this body,
and You shall speak with me face to
face.n
With feelings which I shall not at
tempt to describe, heard the speaker
approach the bed-a hand parted the
bed curtains and threw them open, re-
vealing a form more horrible than my
fancy had ever seen-an almost gigan-
tic figure, naked except what might
well have been the rotten remnant of a
shroud- stood close beside my bed.
livid and cadaverous-begrimmed as il
seemed with the dust of the grave, and
staring on me with gaze of despair.
fury and malignity too intense for hu-
man endurance. asfr
Icannot say whether / spoke or not.
but this internal spectre answered as if
had.
II am dead and yet alive; the child
of perdition-in the grave l am MUIR
dered, but here 1 am Aptollyon. Fall
down and worship me-"
Having thus spoken, it stood for a mo-
ment at the bedside, and then turned
away with shuddering moan, and 1
lost sight of i. but after few seconds
it came again to bedside, as before.
When I died they put me under
- n
bury me-. My feet lie towards the west;
may be I will rest-I will rest-rest."
Again the figure was gone, and again
it returned and said:
IL am your master-l am your resur-
rection and your life, and therefore fall
down and worship me-"
| made a motion to mount upon the
bed; but what further passed ! know
not, for tainted.
long time, for when became conscious
the fire was almost extinct. For hours
that seemed interminable lay, scarcely
daring to breathe. and afraid to get up
lest should encounter the hideous APP
partition for aught I knew lurking close
beside me. 1laysin an agony Of ex-
pectation, awaiting the appearance OF
daylight.
Gradually it came, and with it the
cheerful and reassuring sounds Of lie
aud occupation. At length l mustered
courage to reach the bell rope. and
having rung Justify: l plunged again in
to bed.
"Draw the window curtains-open
the shuttersw l exclaimed as the man
entered, and these orders executed,
4 look about the room,n / added, "and
See if some cat or other animal has not
got in"
There was nothing of the sort; and
satisfied that my visitant was no longer
in the chamber, dismissed the man,
and hurried through my toilet with pre-
cipitation.
/ escaped to the parlor, whittier ] in-
stantly summoned the proprietor Of the
.Bell.n u
.Shut the door," said ].
Itwas done.
az have had an uneasy night in the
room you assigned me, sir l may say
indeed miserable night,n said.
.Pray," resumed l, interrupsing his
apologize expressions of surprise, has
any person but myself ever complained
of being disturbed in that room %
1Nevern
had expected the ghostly old prac-
teal joke 90 often played of by land
lords in story books, and fancied | might
have been deliberately exposed to the
chances of a haunted chamber. But
there was no acting in the frank look
and honest denial Of mine host. as
seTt is a very strange thing" said |
hesitating-" and ! do not see why l
should not tell you what has occurred.
Andas could swear, if necessary, to
the perfect reality Of the entire scene,
il behooves you, think, to sift the mat
ter carefully. For myself, cannot en-
tertain doubt as to the nature Of the
truly terrible visitation to which have
been subjected; and were in your po-
sition l should transfer my establish
ment ct once to some other house well
suited to the purpose and free from the
dr.a Afnl liabilities Of thisv f5