Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-10-07

high steep banks, and high rocks on either
side Dark almost at day, but doubly
dark at noon OF night
Then, whistIiDg an old border song, to
keep up his courage, the yeoman dashed
the spurs into his fine horse, and rode off
at quick pace and in few minutes
was out of sight, The landlord listened
for few minutes 10 the clicking of his
horses hools, striking against the frozen
ground, and, thinking him a conlounded
fool, closed the door, and went to bed.
Lethwaito sped morrily along. The
moon shone bright and high above him in
the cIoudless sky, and the sharp old wintry
winds whistled in his hair, and chilled his
manly cheek. An hours riding brought
him TO the brow Of the steep crooked hill,
which had been pointed out to him as the
iavorite haunt Of the ghost.
AT the foot OF this hill, the road took an
abrupt turn, and the high rocks projecting
on either side hid the open space, and pre-.
senied 10 the traveller the appearance OF
a huge cavern, until he reached the bot.
tom Of the glen, when the delusion vanish.
ed. Stunted holly.trees had sprung up
among the crevices of the rocks, and their
close dark foliage cast a sepulchra gloom
into the deep hollow below.
"It is an ugly spot" thought Lehwaie,
as he checked his horse to tread at foot.
fall the steep descent. "Murder may
have been committed here in the oden
time, but pooh, pooh, there are no such
things as ghosts but if ever there was
spot more capable orinspirng such dread
than another, it is surely this"
The side Of the road to his lel, was in
deep shadow. The very Spirit Of Dark.
ness seemed to brood over the gloomy re.
cess, while the moon gilded with a wan
and spectral light the opposite wall OF
rock. LeIhwaite, in spite of his boas ted
courage, felt sudden chill creep through
him as he approached the fatal spot.
"God of heaven ~ he murmcred, in a
tone below his breath, "what can that be!''
as horrd shape slowly and distinctly
rose before him, and became stationary in
he centre Of his path
1t was not the form Of man, and Ger.
tonIy 1t was not beast, but appeared a
shocking compound of both. Imagine a
creature upwards Of six feet high, covered
with shaggy black hair, the head that Of a
bull, with huge, white, widely extended
horns. The sinewy bare arms Of man
extending above this ghastly hea d, grasp.
ing burning brand, which emitted a thin
cloud Of pale blue smoke. The lower
part ofthe body was so cnyeloped in shade
that it only presented a dark, underlined
sbapeless mass.
Le,hwaite, who had never expected to
behold real edition Of the Windermere
ghost, felt his hair sliiien, and his teeth
slightly chatter, as he suddenly reigned in
his horse, and forced himself to look stea
Oily upon the ghaslly phantom. The
horse possessing less seIr.reliance than his
master, plunged, snored, and reared as
with hidious yell the opparilion advan.
ced, brandishing his fiery weapon in a
threatening manner.
"Steady, boy-stcady," cried his mas.
ter, in soothing tone, shamod out of his
own fears by the terror of his steed. "Il
this be the devil, stand still, and let thy
master face him like man.
Reassurcd by the wel.known voice,
and the caress Of the wel.known hand,
the noble animal did as he was command.
ed but he shook aud shivered in every
limb.
Lethwaite had by this time drawn a
pistol from his belt; and riding towards
the spectre he cried out in stern voice,
Miserable imposter throw off your dis.
guse, or you are dead man; for by the
God that made me, will see if your body
is proof against a leaden BALL."
! A wild unearthy yell was the only an.
swer he got TO his threat and the demon
was now within ten PAGES Of his horse
The sharp report Of Lethwaite's pistol
woke up all the lonely echoes of the place,
and the huge hairy monster fell heavily TO
the earth with a smolhored curse and the
yeoman yielding for moment TO uncon.
trolable fear, turned the head of his terri.
/. fed steed, and never slackened his speed
till he reached tho door ofthe public house.
After a few minutes of breathless sus.
pense, his loud hurried knock was answer.
ed by the landlord, who, thrusling his
} head out Of The garret window, demanded,
in no very gentle tone, the cause Of such
an unreasonable attack upon his door.
at is |, Lowther-it is Richard Leth.
waite ; get up and let me in directly"
"Ah, ah thought how it would end"
said the landlord, as he descended TO un.
bar the door; and he called up the groom
TO relieve his guest of his tired horse.
"The ghost has driven you back faster
! than you went. This is 10 disbelieve the
word Of honest folks. Why, man, what
, have you seen you look like one Just
/ risen from the dead"
81 fear have sent one TO dwell with
) the dead little before his lime," said
: Leihwaiie, drinking of the glass of brandy