Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-03-29

LlOn. 10e LIdllf MAS AIbOWS -4SttSF04I4S
through shrubbery thickets,y and was
riding slowly along, looking down in the
hope of detecting the track of some OF
your horses, when the violent shylng of
my horse caused me to raise my eyes:--
And by George! it. was enough to have
stampeded regiment of horses. On the
left of the trail stood very talH skeleton
like figure, dressed in skins; one foot ad-
vanced sif he had stopped in the act of
stepping across it, and long, heavy
gun Just swinging down to the level,
bearing on me. Of course, my heart
leaped up into my throat, and my flesh
shrank and crept. Before 1 could think
of raising my gun, my eyes met these of
this strange figure; and such eyes II
Surprise at their cold, unnatural express
sion, suspended my action; burning with
light of singular brilliancy in their deep
suuken sockets, they looked as ifthey had
never winked. Dwelling steadily upon
my face for moment, he seemed to be
satisfied, and the gun was slowly thrown
back upon his shoulder; and pIucking at
long, grizzly beard, with an impatient
GESTURE of his bony hands, the figure made
stride across the trail, and without
speaking word plunged into the thicket.
l was SO confounded by this dumb show,
that he was nearly concealed in the brush
before found my tongue to shout to him
to stop; but he kept on, and lost sight
Of him in a moment, and whether he can
talk at all or not. is more than can tell. 3"
Did you look at his feet, Henry ?"
interrupted one Of the party. 81 expect
it was old"
Never mind what you expect-hear
me OUT" he continued. al followed the
trail which wound about it seemed to
me, towards all points of the compass, for
an hour or more, when at last it led me
out into prairie, which l thought 1 re-
cognized. 1 stopped and was looking
around. to make out the landmarks, when
horse burst out of the woods behind
me, and tore off across the prairie as if
he too, had seen the devil"
"What color ?" exclaimed half dozen
voices in breath.
" He was too far for me to distinguish Ii
more than that he was dark horse-say
about as mine-I could distinguish the
pummel of the saddle and the stirrups
flying"
" Stoner's horse was dark" was buz-
Ecu dIOuuu llC ldOlG III INV bOnEog ChOl y
one looking seriously in his neighbOr's
face.
"Yes," said the Squire rising and
stepping uneasily to the window. Sto-
ner's horse was good deal like yours ;
he must have got away from him and
that is what detains him. But then the
nag was very kind creature and we'll
trained. wonder it should have behn-
we'd So"
Don't believe he would have done
it. Squire" said one ofthe men. ''Some-
things gone wrong, l think: Was the
bride down, Mr.. Henry ?"
1" 1t was too far off for me to tell l
followed in the direction the horse took,
and found myself here, and expected TO
find it here too"
"No. Stoner'sis beyond here" said
the Squire. "That wagon trai! you were
turning and twisting about in. is road
have opened to number Of board trees
we cut and rived out there ; you might
have followed it for two hours, and not
been more than mile or SO from the
place you started from. The ghost OF
yours, by the way, may be some crazy
fellow who has wandered off in these
parts with mischief in him. Did you
hear no gun %
IL thought l did, about an hour after
| parting with that man, or devil, or what
ever he was, but the sound was So faint
and distant, that for fear might be mis-
taken, did not go to it; and the road
had turned so frequently could not tell
whether it was in the direction he went
off or not"
Here driver interposed, saying that
| he had heard rifle about that time on
the right. but supposing it TO be Henry or
Stoner, he thought nothing about it
A half-laughing discussion followed as to
the probable character of the wood ghost
Henry had reported of-some asserting
that he was quizzing us-for these men
were too much accustomed to the ext
gencies of a hunters life to be more than
a moment seriously affected by the cir
cumstance of Stoner's non arrival. In
the midst of this, horses feet were
heard yaIloping up to the door, and a
loud '.hilloo," followed. The Squire
rose hastily and went out. In moment
after, he entered, looking pale and excl
ted.
" Tom Dix, one Of Stouer's near
neighbors says that his horse has come
home without rider, the reins upon his
neck, and a cIot Of blood upon the
pummel of the saddle. Boys, he's been
Shot Just what expected from the
| first"
Everybody rose at this announcement,
looking in the face of him opposite with a
"The crazy man p calculated several.
" Strange !'' Very mysterious business
'A1 Il tell you what y said the Squire. af
ter a pause, ''has struck me from the tlrst
Il i that his strange LOOKING fellow Hen