Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1851-01-17


very well to think of seeing these things; bl
we thought much more of walking past oil
Mrs. Warton's house and perhaps inducin
Mr.. Gurney to tell us, in his way, the slor
we had SO often heard my mother tell in herr
The story was tLis.
One midsummer morning, Mrs. Warton wa
SO absent at breakfast, that her daughter fonn
all attempts at conversation to be In vain. S
she quietly filled the coffee-pot, which he
mother had forgotten to do, and in the middl
of the forenoon ordered dinner, which she foun
her mother had also forgotten. They had jus
such breakfasting three times more during tn
next fortnight. Then on Miss Warion cross
ing the hall, she met her mother in bonnet ant
shawl, about TO go out so early as half-pas
mine. The circumstances would NOT hav,
been remarkable, but for the mothers confu.
sed and abashed way of accounting for going
out. She should not be gone long. She had
lonly little call TO make and so on. The call
was on Mr.. Gurney. He had hardly done
breakfast, when he was told that Mrs. Warion
wished to speak with him alone.
When he entered the study, Mrs. Warton
seemed TO be as unready with her words as
himself and when he shook hands with her,
he observed that her hand was cold. She said
lshe was well, however. Then came a pause,
during which the good pastor was shifting
from one foot to the other on the hearth rug.
with his hands behind him, though there was
nothing in the CRATE but shavings. Mrs. War.
ton, meantime, was putting her veil up and
down, and her'gloves on and off. At last,wiib
a constrained and painful smile, she said that
she was really ashamed TO say what she came
70 say, but she must say II; and she believed
~ hoped that Mr.. Gurney had known her
PIG enough to be aware that she was not sub
'iect to foolish fancies and absurd fears.
mo one further from it, he dropped, and now
he fixed his eyes on her face. Her eyes fell
under his, when she went on.
'For some time past, have suffered from a
most ifighlful visitation in the night
'Visitationl What sort of visitation =
She turned visiby cold while she answered.
IL wae last Wednesday fortnight that awoke
In the middle Of the nighi--that is between
'woand three in the morning, when il was get
Ting quite light, and ! saw1-'
WELL said Mr. Gurney, What did yo1
see!'
4 saw at the bottom of The bed, most hide !
ous-a most deesiable face -glbbering, and
making mouths at me-
"A face y
Yes; could sec only the face (except, in
deed hard upon the bed-post,) because il
peeoeJ round the bed post from behind the cur
tain. The curtains are drawn down 10 the foot
Of the bed.'
She stole look at Mr.. Quincy. He was
rolling his head; and there was a working about
his mouth before he asked
What time did you sup that night 7
Now she replied, you are not going to
say, hope, that it was nightmare. Most peo-
pie would but hoped that you knew me
better than to suppose that eat such suppeIe
as would occasion nightmare, or that should
not know nightmare from re aliiy.'
But my dear Mrs. Warton, what else can
| sayl'
Perhaps you had better listen further, before
you say anything
lie nodded and smiled, as much as to say
that was true.
Il have seen the same appearance on three
occasions since
Indeed y
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. chose TO exclude
nightmare, as would exclude anything what
ever, that could possibly cause an appearance
so HORRIBLE
what sort of face is ii
Short and broad ;--silly and yet sly; and
the features gibber and work-0h! fearinl'
sDo you hear II come and GOT
mo. When | wake--(and | never used to
wake in the night) lit is there; and il disap-
pea rs-to say the tfuth-while my eyes are
covered for | cannot meet its eyes, hear
nothing. When venture glance, sometimes
il is still there sometimes it is gone.'
Have you missed any property
No; nor found any trace whatever. We
have lost nothing; and there Is really not
door or window that seems ever to have been
touched not an opening where any one could
get in or out ---------.-.---
AND II there were, what could be the OBJ
iecti What does your daughter say to il 7
s0hl' said Mrs. Warion, rising quickly,
'she does not, and indeed she must not know
word of it. ought to have said at first,that
what am telling you is entirely in confidence
lIf | told my daughter, it must then go no lur-
ther. We could not keep our servants week
'lif il got out. Aud If should want to let my
house, could not find tenant. The value
of the property would go down to nothing !
and in justice TO my daughter, lmust consider
! that for it is to be hers hereafter. And we
could never have guest 10 stay with u.s. NC
one would sleep in the house single night
Indeed, yon must moi
well, well; will not mention it. But
! don't Seq.
! He paused and Mrs. Warrior replied to his
q Thought.
4 III is difficult to form conjectures,-to say
g any-thing in such case, which doea not ap
9 near too foolish to be uttered. But one mus
-Ihave some thoughts and perhaps-if one cal
+ talk Of possibilites-it is possible that this
s anpearance may be meant for me alone ant
i therefore i'll can conceal il from my daughte
n till am convinced whether it is mean
!, for me alone -
d Il would soon Try that observed Mr.. Cur
d ney. Seeing Mrs. Wharton look wisIiully a
q him. he continued.
1t NV advice is that you have your daughie
G sleep with you after hearing your story. Tr
70 whether she can see this face.'
1t .You do not think she wouldi I"
isl Il think she would not. My dear friend