Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-08-29

an expression of ghostly horror, and the petri-
fled lips moved not, as the hideous moaning,
which came from the bottom of its chest, es-
1t began to move across the floor in the di-
rection of my bed with sudden jerk nearly to
Its body, and its feet coming to the ground as
if they were moved by some mechanical i'm
pulse, and were wholly wanting in the elastic
| lty Of living members. 1t approached my bed
and mingled horror and curiosity kept me
still. 1t came and stood beside it and childlike
| still clung to my couch, moving only to the
farther side. Slowly, and with the same un-
natural footballs it pursued me thither, and
again changed my position. 1t placed itself
then at the foot of my bedstead, and moved by
its piteous groans, tried to rally my thoughts
to reason with myself, and speculate upon the
nature of the object before me- One idea that
went through my brain was too extravagant
not to remember. l thought, among other
! things, that the phantom was corspe animat-
ed for the moment by some galvanc process in
order to terrify me. Then, as | recollected
that there was no one in the village to carry
snch trick into effect, supposing even the ex-
pertinent possible, rejected the supposition
How, too, could those awful means be produc-
ed from an inanimate being. And yet, ii
seemed as if everything about it were dead,
except the mere capability of moving its feet
and uttering those unearthly expressions of
suffering. The spectre however, if so it may
be called, gave me bnt little opportunity for re-
/ Election Its ghastly limbs were raised anew
with the same automation movement; and
/ placing one of its feet upon the bottom of my
bed, while its eyes were fixed steaGfastly upon
me, it began stalking towards my pillow.
confess that was now in an agony of ter
ror.
sprang from the couch and fed the apart
ment. The keen-sightedness of fear enabled
me to discover an open closet upon the other
side of the hall. Springing through the thres-
hold, closed the door quickly after me. 1t
had neither lock nor bolt, but the closet was
so narrow, that by placing my feet upon the
opposite wall, could brace my back against
the door 50 as to hold it against any human
assalant, who had only his arms for lever
! The perspiration of mortal fear started thick
upon my forehead, as | heard the supernatural
tread of that strange visitant approaching the
spot. 1t seemed an age before his measured
step brought him to the door. He struck it
the blow was sullen and hollow, as if dealt by
the hand of corpse 1t was like the dull
sound of his own feet upon the floor. He
! struck the door again-and the blow was more
! ", thought the hand of no living man could
/ produce such a sound.
| know not whether it struck again - for
now its thick breathing became SO loud, that
even the meanings which were mingled with
every suspiration became inaudible. At last
they subsidized dentirely-becoming at first grad
ually weaker and then audible only in harsh
sudden sobs, whose duration ! could not esti-
mate, from their mingling with the blast that
swept the hillside.
The long, long night had at last an end, and
lnG cnceTlHR SOulluS vi uc dWdhculIlS
yard told me that the sun was up, and that
might venture from my blind retreat. But il
it were still with slight feeling of trepida-
ton | opened the door of the closet, what was
my horror when human body fell inward up
on me, even as uncosed it. The weakness,
however, left me the moment | sprung from
that hideous embrace. | stood for an instant in
the fresh air and the reviving light of the hall
and then proceeded to move the body to place
where | could examine its features more favor
ably. Great heavens what was my horror
upon discovering that they were those of the
interesting stranger whom | had met on the
evening before.
The rest of my story is soon told The
household of the inn were rapidly collected,
and half the inhabitants of the hamlet identi-
fed the body as that of a gentleman well
known in the country. But even after the
coroner's inquest was summoned, there was no
light thrown upon his fate until my drunken
own testimony would have gone for little, but
he produced document which in few words
told the whole story. 1t was note, left with
him the evening before, by Mir, to be
handed to me as soon as should arrive at the
inn. 1t briefly thanked me for the slight cour-
tesy rendered him at the blacksmith's, and
mentioning, that notwithstanding all precau-
tion his horse had fallen dead lame, and he
should be obliged to pass the night at W-olts-
wald, he would still further trespass upon my
kindness, by begging to occupy the same apart
ment with me. 1t stated that owing to some
organic affection of the system, he had long
been subject to the most grievous fits of night
mare, during which he preserved sufficient
powers of volition to move to the bed of his
servant, who being used to his attacks, would
of course take the necessary means to alleviate
them. The note concluded by saying that the
writer had less diffidence in preterring his re-
quest to be my roommate, inasmuch as owing
to the crowded state of the house, was sure
of being thrust in upon some one.
The reason why the ill-fated gentleman had
been so urgent to press homeward, was now
but too apparent, and my Indignation at the
drunken innkeeper, in neglecting to hand me