The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-17

whom the love of plumber may tempt to
do deed Of violence. 1t will be as well
to examine the loading of my pistols"
lie returned with the landlord to the
house, and both were not little pleased
TO find the butcher gone. Lethwate
continued chatting some time with the
landlord.
81 do not like this ghost story Of yours" -"
he said. "if such spectre has really been
seen, depend upon It it, is some deep con-
triVance to hide a worse danger. | wish,
for the good of the community, that |
may be lucky cnogh TO fall in with the
ghost"
"Ah, Mr.. Lethwaite, sir, you are only
tempting Providence when you talk in
that careless way. The ghost is a real
ghost; for, though it has frightened many
and myself among the rest, never heard
of any person being robbed Old Dodson.
the lame beggar, lost his senses but then
he was always n half witted creature. and
mans reason is not his money. Did, |
not see the horrid thing myself, who,
God forgive he, had made game of it.,
and those who believed in it, just as you
do at this moment-l saw the monster
with my own eyes: and how l escaped
from it never could tell. | ran so fast
that never felt the ground under nv
feet, while it parsued me with the most
trightful yells. | kept my bed for week
after, aud have taken good care never to
tread that road again by night"
1T is strange" said Lethwaite, musinc;
"Some truth must he mingled with this
fantastic error. What time of night
does this spectre generally appcarl"
ut has been seen at all hours, from twi-
light until the gray dawn OF day. 1t was
about nine O'Clock in the evening when i:
appeared to HE. 1t is near eleven, now,
sir. You will just reach that black, crook
ell turning in the road, which winds round
the foot of the hill, by midnight. That
lonely spot is tho demons fasorite
haunt"
IL know the place." said Lethwait.
"fes, it Is a frighful, gloomy spot, with
steep banks and high rocks on either side.
Dark almost at noon-day, but douby
dark at noon Of night"
Then, whistling, an old border song, to
keep up his courage, the yeoman dashed
the spurs into his fine horse, and rode of
at quick pace; and in few minutes
was out of sight. The landlord listened
for few minutes to the clicking of his
horses hoofs, striking against the frozen
ground, and thinking him confounded
fool, closed the door, and went to bed.
Lethwaite sped merrily along. The
moon shune bright and high above him
in the cloudlcss sky, and the sharp cold
wintry wind whistled in his hair, and chill
ed his manly cheek. An hours riding
brought him to the brow of tie steep
crooked hill, which had been pointed out
TO him rs the favorite haunt OF the ghost
AT the foot of this hill, the road took
an abrupt turn, and the high rocks pro-
iecting oil either side hid the open space
and presented TO the traveller the appear
ance OF Il huge cavern, until he reached
the bottom OF the glen, when the de.usiln
vanished. Stunted hoIly.trets had sprung
up among the crevices Vi the rocks, and
their close dark foliage cast a sepulchral
gloom into the deep hollow below.
ut is an ugly spot" thought Lethwaite,
as he checked his horse 20 tread at foot
fall the steep descent. Murder may have
been committed here, in olden time, but
pooh, pooh, there is no such things rs
ghosts; but it ever there was a spot more
capable of inspiring such dread than an
other, it is surely this"
The side of the road to his left was in
deep shadow. The very spirit Of dark
ness seemed tc brood over the gloomy re-
cess, while the moon giided with wan
and spectral light the opposite wall Of
rock.
Lethwaite in spite Of his boasted cour.
age, felt sudden chill creep through
him as he approached the awful spot
God of Heaven" he murmured in
tone below his breath, what can that bel"
as a horrid shape slowly and distinctly
rose before him, and became stationary
in the middle Of the path.
1t was not the form Of man, and GER
tainly it was not beast, but appeared a
shocking compound Of both. Imagine
creature upwards Of six feet high, cover
ed covered with shaggy black hair, the
head that ola bull, with huge, white, wide.
ly extended horns. The sinewy bare arms
of n man, extended above this ghastly
grasping burning brand, which emitted
thin cloud Of pale blue smoke. The
lower part Of the body was so enyelopcd
in shade that it only presented a shapeless
mass.
Lethwaite. who never expected to be-
hold a real edition of the Windermcre
ghost, felt his hair stiffen, ard his teeth
slightly chatter, as he suddenly reigned in
his horse, and forced himself to look stead
lily upon the ghastly phantom. The horse
possessing less sefreliance than his mas
ter, plunged, snorted. and reared, ms with
,hideous yell the apparition advanced,
Brandishipg his fiery weapon in threat
ening manner.
STEADY, boy-steady," cried his mas
tef, in soothing tone, shamed out Of his
own tears by the terror Of BIS stced. 'If
this be the devil, stand still, aud let thy
niastcR face him like maa."
Reasssurcd BY tho well-knowu voice,
and she caress Of tho we'll known hand,