Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-19
VOL. v.

She turned visibly cold while she answered,
it was last Wednesday fortnight that l awoke
in the middle of the night-that is between two
and three in the morning, when it was getting
quite light, and | saw
She choked little, and stopped.
'Well!' said Mr.. Gurney, what did you
sect
Il saw at the bottom of the bed, most hid
eous-a most detestable face-gibbering, and
making mouths at me-
i "A facer
yes; could see only the face, Except in
deed, hand upon the bed-post,) because it
peeped round the bed-post from behind the
curtain. The curtains are drawn down to the
foot of the bed
She stole look toward Mr.. Gurney. He
was rolling his head and there was work
ing about his mouth before he asked
what time did you sup that night''
Now she replied, you are not going to
say, hope, that it was nightmare. Most peo-
pie would; but hoped that you knew me bet
ter than to suppose than eat such snppe.s as
would occasion nightmare, or that should not
know nightmare from reality
.Bu1, my dear M,. Wharton, what else can
sayi'
Perhaps you had better listen further, be-
fore YOU say anything
He nodded and smiled, as much as to say
that was true.
Il have seen the same appearance on three
occasions since
Indeedt'
Yes, on three several nights, about the
same hour. And since the first appearance. my
supper has been merely little bread and but
ter, with glass of water. | choose TO exclude
nightmare, as | would exclude anything what
ever, that could possibly cause an appearance
SO horrible
What sort of face is i'll
Short and broad silly, and yet sly and
the features gibber and work, OH fear
fully
Do you hear it come and GOT
Mo. When wake-(and never used to
wake in the night)-it is there and it disap-
pears to say the truth, while my eyes are COW
cred ; for | cannot meet its eyes. hear moth
ing. When | venture glance, sometimes it
is still there, sometimes it is gone.'
Have you missed any propertyp
No; nor found any trace whatever. We
have lost nothing and there is really not a
door or window that seems ever 10 have been
( touched not an opening where any one could
! get in or out
| And if there were, what could have been
their object, What does your daughter say
to it =
'Oh = said Mrs. Wharton, rising quickly.
She does not, and indeed she must not know a
word of it. | ought to have said at first, that
what am telling you is entirely in confidence
If told my daughter, ii must then 90 no fur
ther. We could not keep our servants week
if it got out And if should want to let nv
house, | could not find tenant The value Of
the property would go down to nothing and
in justice to my daugh,ur, must consider that
for it is to be hers hereafter. And we could
never have guest to stay with us. No one
would sleep in the house single night. In
deed, you must not
well, well will not mention it. But
don't Sec
He paused; and Mrs. Wharton replied tc
his thought.
1t is difficult to form conjectures,-to say
anything in such case, which does not appear
too foolish to be uttered. But one must have
some thoughts and perhaps-if one can tall
of possibilites-it is possible that this appear
ance may be meant for me alone and, there
fore, if can conceal it from my daughter, til
| am convinced that it it is meant for m,
alone
Il would soon try that observed Mr.. Cur
ney. Seeing Mrs. Wharton look wistfully a
him, he continued,
My advice is that you have your daughte
sleep with you after hearing your story. Tr.
whether she can see this face
You do not think she wouldr
| think she would not My dear friend, i
| were medical man, could tell you fact
which you are little aware of, anecdotes of th'
strange tricks that our nerves play with us o
delusons so like reality
DO you think have not considered that !,
exclaimed the poor lady. 'Mr. Gurney, di,
not think that you would try to persuade mt
out of my senses, when tell you that fou
times have seen in daylight, and when wid'
awake, and in perfect health, what hav,
said.'
MIR. Gurney was very gentle; but, as h,
said, what could he suggest but indigestion, o
some such cause of nervous disturbance! Ye
, his heart smote him when his old friend lai,
her forehead against the MANTLE piece and erie,
| heartily.
He did all he could. He tried indefatigably
! though In vain, to persuade her to let he
daughter share the spectacle; and he went tn
| same day, when Miss Wharton was out 70
her walk, and the servants were at dinner, t
examine the house. He made no discovery
The gratings Of the underground cellars wer
perfect. The attics had no trap-doors; an
the house had no parapet. The chimneys wer
too high and narrow for any one to get in ;
the top. No window or door was ever foun
unfastened in the morning. Mrs. Wharto
did not think she could engage for courag
enough to get out of bed, or to look beyond ii