Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-11-11
EDENSBURG, FRlDiY, NOVEMBER Il, 1853.

had had the courage to look the dead body so long
in the face. At the same time, was frightened
at my own situation. There was, hundreds OF
miles away from home, in place the name Of
which had never heard untilI was appointed
commissioner Of justice in it, in order to Prus-
sianizs it. The only person knew in it was
dead, and I was left entirely to myself The
quesspn was, where shall lay my head where
has thf dead man ordered my lodgings2
Whilst lost in such reflections, the rusty front
door hinges screeched so piercoiugly that the
noise almost tore every nerve in my body. a
rIsRle, airy fellow, dressed in livery, sprang up
s5Nrs. stared at me with perfect astcni5hment
and finally addressed me. Ny knees trembled
lhe fellow talk as long as he choose, for fright
had deprived me oflanguage. Besides, the Ian
guas ne spoke, never had possessed, for it was
the to'ish.
AShe saw that did not understand him, and
now translated himself into German, which he
spoktas fuently as any Berliner, I took courage,
told I'm my name, business, and all the aiven-
turesI had had since my entrance into The dctes-
tablstown, the name of which 1t still made me
chel; to pronounce. He soon became corteous,
tooksfhis hat, and related to me, very circum-
stantally. all that here follows, With comncnda-
be bcvity:
Nanely, that lie himself was called Lcbrecht
had ten a faithful servant and Interpreter to the
late tlief tax-gatherer, until yesterday evening.
whc1ii had pleased heaven to promote that good
gent faaa from this temporal life to better state
ofexitenoc. The promotion had to be sure been
entily against the desire Of the deceased, who
had ouch rather have remained by his post of
ax-gtherer, but he had yesterday engaged in
play lith several Polish noblemen the wine glass
had awakened Prussian pride in him, and Sar-
InstiA patriotism in the Poles, a lively exchange
of wods, and finally blows had followed, where
upon 'ne of tn: Sarinatians had given the deceas.
cd gcElcmanfrom three to four stabs in the heart,
althogh one would have been quite sufficient to
have aused death. In order to avoid any disa-
greealc encounter with New East-Prussian JUS
tice, he victors had escaped in the same night,
no on knew where. Shortly before his depar-
ture tr the better world, the deceased had hired
and fl cd up several apartments for the expected
Commissioner Of Justice that is for me, furnish
ed then with every thing necessary, and even
engaged a well experienced German cook, who
was raly to enter service any moment, so that
Twas Ton provided Tor. The Poles. The narrator
remarked incidentally, were sworn enemies TO
the Prussians, and / would therefore be obliged
20 accustom myself to such tokens Of division
The dumb eloquencc of the lady in tire gateway
had expressed 10 me. He pronounced Peter to
De a simpleton TO be sure, but supposed he had
only wished to inform me Of the death Of The
Chief tax -gatherer, to do which, he had not pos
szsscd a sufficient supply Of words. From which
circumstance mutual misunderstanding must
live taken place. He the narrator, nevertheless
advised me 10 be very cautious, as the Poles were
truly in a state Of suppressed rage. He had de
taunined to leave the place himself, as soon as
his unfortunate master was buried.
After giving me this information, he conducted
me down the broad stone steps, to show memy
new habitation. We passed through suit of
large empty rooms and finally arrived at one in
which there was a bed shaded by ancient yellow
damask curtains, an old table with half gilded
legs, and half dozen dusty chairs y prodig-
ioIs mirror frame covered with gilded ornamen-
tai work, hung against the wall, Of which the ia
ded tapestry, representing scenes in the old Tes-
lament, was halfmoulded away. King Solomon,
seated on his throne to judge, had lost his head,
Susanna's bath had rotted away from him. The
dreariness of the place made me shudder. had
much rather have chosen an inn for the place Of
my abode. 0, had only done it But | said
nothing-rartly from bashfulness, and partly to
show that was not afraid Of being in the same
house with dead body; for doubted not that
Lebrecht, and perhaps also the well-eXperienced
cook would keep me company in the night. Le-
brecht quickly lighted two candles that already
o9d o s aidd dd fgggSd fgs6d dwta taf aTar far t to & &sfcb cold
meat, bread, wine and other necessaries for my
supper, to order my trunk to be brought from
the post Office and to notify the well-experieuccd
cook of my arrival. The trunk came, the supper
also. but Lebrecht, as soon as ! had given him as
much money as he had spent FOR me, wished me
good night and took leave.
/ first understood him when lie had disappear
ed the fellow made off so nmlly as soon as he
had got the money. l started up frightened to
follow him and beg of him not to leave me, but
shame held me back Should make the miscra-
BILE man witness ofmy fearfulness? 1 doubted
not that he would pass the night up stairs in one
Of his murdered masters rooms. But suddenly
heard the hinges of the outer door screech most
piteously. The noise pierced the very marrow of
my bones. l rushed to the window and saw the
fellow flying down the street as if death was af-
ter him, lie soon disappeared in the darkness +;
was lefl all alone with the dead body in the old
Starosty.
THE SENTINEL.
do not believe in ghosts, but fear them at
night. Very natural Who beiieues everything
nossible Yet every one hopss and fears every