Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-08-28

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swered, sometimes like little child agoing along full
foot high above the grass of the graves and sometimes like
big black strutting his hind legs, and win pair
oeyes like live Goals and have seen him IN he shape
of man. with his arm raised up toward the sky, and his
head hanging down. if his neck was broke cant thlnR
of half the shapes he has took at different tmes but they
RE all bad: the very child, they say when he comes in
that shape has the face of Satan-God bless us and no.
body's ever the same again that sees him once."
BY this time | was again seated in my vehicle, and
some six OF eight minutes quick driving whred us into The
odshoned street. and brought the chase to full stop
before the open door and weghted hall Of the Bell lnn
To me there has always been air of ndescnbabe cheer
and comfort about substantial country hostere, especially
when one arrives as did, upon keen winters nlght'
with an appetite sharp, and something OF that sense oil
adventure and excitement which, before the days OF down.
trains and tickets always greater degree, gave zest
to torayellinu Greeted with that wauest OF welcomes Tor
which inns alas are celebrated had satisfied the
opportunities Of keen appetite and having for some hours
taken mine ease in comfortable paror before blazing fire,
began to feel sleepy and betook myself to my no less com
Portable edchamber
not to be supposed that the adventure Of the church
ward had been oberaed from my recollection by the sup
messed hustle and good cheer of the "Be" On the
rary had occupied almost necessarily during my SOL
ary nominations and as the night advanced, and the still
ness epose and deseron stole the old mansion, the
sensations with which this train of remembrance and spec
ulation was accompanied became any thing but purely
pleasant.
felt confess, fdge,y and queer-I searched the
nes and ecesses the oddly shaped and oomy old apart
ment- turned the face of the looking glass to the vail
oil bahi nd he
window-curtans with vague anxiety, to assure myself
that nothing could be lurking there Theshutter was little
open and the ved Of the little church, and the tuit-
ed tops Of the trees that surrounded it, were visible over
the slope Of the intervening hill hastily shut out the un-
welcome object and in mood of mind, must confess, Ia
vorabe enough any freak my might please To play
me- hurried through my dispositions for the night, hum
ming gay air all the time, to reassure myself and Pung
ed into bed exnguishng the candle, and-sha acknowl-
edge the weakness nearly burying my head under the
blankets.
Law awake some time as men will do under such cir
cumsauces but at length fatigue me- and fell
into profound sleep. From this repose was however,
aroused in the manner about todeScrbe very con-
siderable interval must have nteryened. There was cold
air in the room very unlike the comfortable atmosphere 10
which had composed myself to sleep. The hre though
much lower than when had gone to bed, was sill emit
TING flame enough to throw fckerng light over the cham
Der. NV curtains were however, closely drawn, and
could not see beyond the narrow tent in which lay.
There had been as awaked canking among the fire
irons as if pased hand striving to arrange the re
and this understandable noise continued Tor some seconds al
ter had become completely awake
Under the lnpresion that was subjected 40 an accden-
tai intrusion called OUT first in gentle and aerward In
a sharper tone,
''Who's there?"
AT the second summons the sound ceased and heardn-
stead the tread of naked feet as seemed to me- upon the
floor pacing and fro, between the hearth and the bed IN
which lay superstous terror, which could not CON-
bat stole over me; with an effort repeated my question,
and drawing myself upright in the bed. expected the an
swer with strange sort Of trepdaon 1t came in terms
and accompanied with accessories which | shall not soon
forget.
The very same tones which had so startled me in the
church yard the evening before, the very sounds which
had heard then and there, filling my ears, and
spoken in the chamber where lay.
| "Why will you trouble the dead? Who can torment
us before the time will you my flesh, though
after my skin worms destroy this body and you shall speak
with me face TO tace.'
n
very same had heard the occasion have mentioned,
bul (and mark ths) repeated to 40 one. With feelings
which shall not attempt to describe, heard the speaker
approach the beda hand parted the and drew
them open, revealing form horrible than my fancy
had ever seen-an almost gigantic fgure-naked except
for what might we'll have been the rotten remnant of
shroud-stood close beside my bedivd and cadaverous
Gmed as it seemed with the dust of the grave and star
inc on me with gaze of despair, magny and fury, TOO
intense almost for human endurance.
| cannot say whether spoke not, but this Internal
/ spectre answered Inc as if had.
81 am dead aud yet alive" it said ''the child of pedi-
ou--in the grave am murderer, but here am APoL-
LYON Fall down and worship me,
Having thus spoken it stood for moment at the bed
sde and then turned away with shudderng moan and
lost snht oft, but after few seconds again the
bedside as before.
.sWhen died they put me under Mervyns tombstone,
and they did not bury My feet lie toward The aceS-
turn them to the east and will rest-maybe will rest
will rest-reSt-reSt"
Again the figure gone, and once again it returned
and said, =.
81 am your maser-T your resurrection ana your 'e'
and therefore fall down and worship me-"
1t made motion to mount upon the BED, out "i'"' '"
I ther passed know not, for tainted.
Imus have lain in this state for long time, for when
became conscious the fire almost extinct For houS
that seemed nteminabe lay, scarcely daring to breahe'
and afraid get up lest should encounter the hldeous a
partition for aught knew, lurking close beside me- lay
therefore, III an agony of expectation such as will not al
tempt describe, awaiting the appearance of the ayght
Gradually came, and with it the cheerful and reassurng
sounds of life and occupation At length mustered cOu
age to reach the berope, and having ung Justify pung
ed again into bed
"Draw the window curtains-open the shutters" ex
claimed &c the man entered and these orders executed