The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-09-17
The Precipitation of mortal fear start.

ed thick on my forehead, as ! heard the
supernatural tread of that strange visit
ant app oaching the spot 1t seemed
an age before his measured step brought
hlm TO the door. lie struck IL the
blow as sul!en and hollow, ds if dealt
by the hand Of a corpse. 1t was like
the dull SQUAD Of his own feet upon the
floor. lie struck the door again-and
the blow was more feeble aud the sound
duller than before Surely, | thought
the hand ofno living man could produce
such a sound.
know not whether it struck again
for now its thick breathing became so
loud that even the moaning which were
mingled with every suspratlon inaudi>
bic. tlast they subsided entirely-be-
coming at first gradually weaker and
then audible only in harsh sudden sobs,
whose duration | could not estimate,
from their mngling with the blast that
swept the hillside.
The long, long night had at last an
end, aud the cheering sound of the a.
wakening farmyard told me ,ha, the sun
was up, and that l might venture from
INV blind retreat. But if il we're still
with a slight feeling Of trepidalion op-
ened the door OF the closet, what was
my horror when human body fell in.
ward upon me, even as ] unclosed it,
The weakness, however, left lne, The
moment sprung from that hideous EN-
brace. stood for an instant in the
fresh air and The reviving light Of the
hall, aud then proceeded to move the
body to a place where could examine
its features more favorably. Great hea-
vens what was my horror upon discov-
ering that they were those of the inter-
esiing stranger whom | had met the eve
ming before.
The rest Of my story is soon told -
The household of the inn were rapidly
collected, and half the inhabitants OF
of the hamlet identified the body as
that Of gentleman well known in the
country. But even after the coroner 5
inquest was summoned, there was nc
light thrown upon his fate until my
drunken landlord was brought before
The Jury His own testimony would
have gone for little, but lie produced q
document which in few words told the
whole story. 1t was note, left witt
him the evening before, by MIR. -
to be handed 10 me as soon as ! should
arrive al the inn. 1t briefly thanked
me for the slight courtesy rendered hin
at the blacksmiths, and mentioning, that
notwithstanding all precauiion, his horse
had fallen dead lame, and he should be
obliged TO pass the night at Wolfswald
he would still further trespass upon m,
kindness by begging to occupy the same
apartment with me. 1t is stated iha
owing 10 some organic affection of The
system, he had long been subject 10 the
most grevous fits of nightmare, during
which he preserved sufficient powers o
volition TO move to the bed of his ser
want, who being used 10 his attacks
would of course take the necessary
means to alleviate them. The note con
cluded by saying thar the writer had les
diflidence in prelerring his request TO be
my room mate, inasmuch as owing Il
the crowded state of the house, | wa
sure Of beng thrust in upon some one
The reason why the ill-fa,ed gentle
man had been so urgent 10 press home
ward, was now but too apparent, and m
indignation al the drunken inn-keeper
IN neglecting to hand me his note ,kne'
M bounds. Alas in the years whic,
have since gone by, there has been NOR
than one moment, when the reproache
then laviihed upon him have come Il
myself, for the piteously appealing lool
of the dying man. long haunted me
and sometimes still hear his moan il
the autumnal blast that walls around IN
easements.
KICKING HoKsEs.-For the benefit {
those who may have kicking horses, wi
describe plan made use Of by me for tn
purpose of breaking horse of this habit.
attach one end of strong line 10 the hin