Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-11-11
DEMOCRAT And SENTINEL.
LOCAL ITEE3S.

night ghost or a something had been seen walk
ing, with measured tread and stately mien, - on
different streets of our town. Those who saw it
described it as being Amazon-like woman,
clad in dark habiliments. 1t walked with ra-
Did step; avoided the light, and looked like for
midabe fiend let loose to frighten the good people
out Of their wits.
Excitement ran high. Children avoided the
darkness, and women when eft alone almost fain-
ted. Some of our masculine citizens armed them
selves and determined to ascertain If real flesh
and blood composed it. But their search was
vain. 1t avoided them, and escaped without a
contest. 1t remained incog in spite Of all scru-
tiny, and finally disappeared no one knew how,
no one knew whittier.
Many were the tales its appearance gave rise to;
and there was '-scarce nook in a the land y but
held its kindred spirit. Among others of SINH
lar kind was the following:
Everybody who has visited or resided in Eb-
ensburg knows something about the ruined set
tlement Beulah. Nothing now remains of it but
old walls, old fields, and old graveyard. 1t
is lonely spot, and just such an one as rest
less spirit would seek for It's haunt.
- Some years ago had been roaming over the
surrounding hills in search of game and like the
larger portion of fsportsmen, had been unsuccessful
had climbed over precipices and through ra7ines
until weary and exhausted when I sat down be-
side the ruins of house in the deserted village
to rest The sun was fast sinking in the West
but the evening was pleasant | felt no fear in
fact the solitude for me had charms. How long
remained musing know not. but my eyes grad
ually closed and slept and dreamed Dreamed
of the many busy feet tlrat had trod the spot
where recHncd: of the many voices that had
broken the stiffness of the valley and awakened
the echoes Of the surrounding hills; and of the
many forms that now mouldered in the old grave
yard near by. My slunlbers became restless.
It seemed that form bent over me-that cold
hand pressed my brow. | tried TO turn away
but could not that icy hand held me fast. In
my efforts to release myself awoke; and o hor-
ror of horrors my dream was but too true
" There, beside me, as l lay by that old wall
sat form clad in flowing sable garment with
long waving hair, Of snowy whitencss, and face
calm and pale as death The eyes, fixed and IN
movable, rested upon ne-thc cold hand pressed
my brow. l tried TO speak but could motto
turn from its gaze, but in vain. Sill that I'M
movable figure remained beside me-s.iu that
deathly countenance bent over mine. | attcrnp-
ted to pray for deliverance but my thoughts
would not leave the horrd image 4 cold perspi-
ration oozed from every pore ofmy body, and
felt myself sinking into a swoon, when those pal
lid lips moved. Ii spoke:
Mortal be not afraid I seek not 10 harm
theeno- troublcthy spirit am lonely and cary.
Many years ago. when these fields were tii!ed
and the houses which have rottcd away were in
habited, dwelt in the tenement beside whose r-
ted the morning sun with q smile, and watched
ii sinking behind the western hill with happy
heart Bat loved gold more than God I sinncd
and God cursed me. The crops failed and ls~y
friends died or abandoned their homes. But
could not die-could not leave this spot. For
one hundred years I was doomed TO roam over
these hills and linger round my once loved home.
Time, with me, passes slowly. O, would to Gcd
that my probation was over"
4'It was gone. breatled frecr, my heart
throbbed quicker, and / arose. Ny limbs
benumbed with fear, and it was with difficulty
reached my home When there I fell into a fe-
yer and for weeks those words seemed ringing in
my ears-thst cold hand pressing my brow.
recovered slowly, but even now, when my usual
health and buoyancy Is restored, that form visits
NE in dreams, and at midnight, when all is 81
lent, hear again those words would to Sod
tha: my probation was over! -
Il have never before told this tale, for knew
that men would call it creature Of the magma
ton. Even now would not have my name con-
nected with it,.
Such, reader. is the tale Of the troubled spirit
of Beulah. We have wrote it as we heard it, and
for its verify we cannot vouch. 1t may have
been dream or the workings of the imagination
of the narrator Be that as it may, we can see
no greater for doubling it than there is for
doubling Irving's rip Van Wrinkle, or Sues
Wandering jew
PLANK ROAD ELECIIoN.-At the election held
IN this place ON last Monday, the following ex
cellent Board of officers of the Ebensburg and
Susquehanna Plank Road, were chosen for the
ensuing year: President, George j. Rodgers;
Managers, Rev. P. II. Lempke, Ezekiel Hughes,