The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-20
VI hole Number 1870.

The old tenants continued at theit old rent; and
the comfortable ghos; stretched himself every
night in capacous kennel. without any need
oil disturbing his slum5ers by calls To disturb
those oil the guests OF The haunted chamber.
Having made tn s revelr ii IN, the farmer and
his vi e again imPlored their guest 10 preserve
their secret. He hesi.ated
may, sal ne, Il think i, would no, be rieh,
10 do that. That would he 10 make myself =
public deception. 1t would be kind OF frauG
on the world and the landlord. 1t would serve
to keep up those superslitious terrors which
should be as speedily as possible drssipated''
The farmer was in agony. He rose ane
srode to and fro in The room. His count =nance
grew red and wratLful. He cast dark glance:
at his goes', whom his wife conurined 10 i'm ,lore E
and who sat siien, and as il were, LOST in reiisc
ton.
"And do you think it right thing. SIR sal
the farmer. ''thus t, force yaursel into s.raa
gers house and family, and in spite Of the
strongest wishes expressed 10 the contrary, int
his very chambers. and that only 10 d., him a
mischief Is that your relgi1n, sir? thought
you had something bett,r in you Than That. Am
now to think your mildness and ieiy were
only so much hypocrisy put on t. rui, me ~
@Nay. friend, don't want 10 ruin thee said
the Quaker. ---..z
"8ut ruin me you will, though, if sou publish
This discovery. Gu! must turn, and be the
laughing-stock of the whole country 10 boot
Nov, if thai is what you mean say sn and |
shall know what sor. of m1n you ure Let
me know al once whether you are an honesl
man a cockatrice %
"My friend" said the @ lake,, "tans thou call
thyself an honest man, in f,racticing Ills decep-
tion for all these years, and depriving tay land
lord Of The rent be would otherwise have gol
from another? And dost thou think ii would be
honest in me to assist in the continuance Of this
Frauds"
q rob the landlord of nothing" replied the
farmer. a pay good, tai reut; but dom;
want 10 quit The Old spot. And il you had No,
thrust yourself in this afflir, you would have
had nothing t, lay on your conscience concerns
ing IL. ! must, let me till yon, Look on it as
piece of unwarrantable inperriuence 10 come
hus to my house and be kindly treated and only
tn turn Judas agans, me.'''
The word Judas seemed to hit the friend great,
blow. ~, @t
"a Judls!"
"Yes--a Judas! n real Judas!" exclaimed The
wife. WHO could have thought it?"
Nay, nay" said the old man. II am no Judas.
1t is true forced myself into it; and if you pay
the land ord an honest rent, why, do It know as
1t ls any business of mne-at least while you I've
''This is all we want" replied the farmer his
counfenance changing, and again f1inging, himself
ny his wife on his knees by the bed "Promise
US never to reveal it while we ve and we shall be
quite satisfied. We have no children and when
we go, those may come TO the old spot who wi L.
Promise me never to practice this trick again"
sail John Basiford.
3" We promise faithfully" rejoined both farmer
and wife.
Then promise too" said the friend, that
not a whisper of what has passed here, shall pass
my lips during your life there"
With warmest expression of thanks the farmer
and his wife withdrew; and John Bassford, hav-
ing cleared The chamber of its mystery, Iay down
and passed one of the sweetest nights he ever en-
joyed
The tariher and his wife lived good many
years after this, but they both died before Mr..
Bassiord; and after their death, lie related TO his
friends the facts which are here detailed. He tou
has passed years ago. to his longer night in the
grave, and TO the clearing up of greater mysteries
than that of-the HUNTED House of Charnwaol
Forest.