The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-06

tage over the hill. Months passed, and autum
came without the red house being disturbed b.
visters of any kind. Persons passing at nigl
along the turnpike, affirmed that they saw light
CLEAN from the windows, and others declare
they could hear the sounds of the strange steT
even at that distance. Many tales of like cha
acter filed the neighborhood; but none care
to investigate by another invasion. About this
time there came to l. o lecturer on Spirit
ualism, who professed to be inspired, indeed q
talk by inspiration, and quite conversant VITA
supernatural manifestations. He heard of t. I
extraordinary affair, and, announcing publicly
his intention to solve the mystery, came in .
the neighborhood. )
A man filter for such an enterprise could nft
have been selected, with sunken, piercing eyes,
sallow cheeks, long nose, and thin lips, added
to black hair worn in straight tails-a bead
coarse and grizzly, that came out in spots-afd
a slender, ungainly body, made him look as il
he might either lay ghost, or raise the evil
one. Yardly, accepting his offer, invited bis
minister to make one Of the party. The poor old
man reluctantly consented. Alice insisted upon
accompanying them, saying that now she knew
the i'll, she was well prepared for its investiga.
ton.
The lecturer proposed they should repair to
the house at the hour indicated, when the
troubled spirit saw fit to manifest itself Accord
ingly, the evening of the day when the propo
sition was made, the four collected in the room
lately the scene of this dreadful mystery. The
night did not come to them, as it had to Others
soft and quietly. A storm was gathering at the
southwest, so that, long before sunset, it was
night in the room they occupied. They waited
more than an hour, in the dead silence which
sometimes precedes tempest, when almost at
the exact moment the dreaded noise began.
AS it did, the first heavy breathings of the storm
the first huge drops of rain, struck upon the
house. AS the walk went on, the storm grew
loud and, in the vivid flashes of lightning, the
terrified Alice clinging to her husband, the
frightened clergyman, with his hands clasfed
In prayer, saw the mesmeriser standing erect,
his arms stretched towards the door, and an
expression almost ferocious on his pallid face.
And they heard the door open and shut again
IN momentary pause of the tempest, they
heard his step upon the stair, slowly descend
ing.
The storm grew loud again-grew loud in a
strange, fearful manner. 1t was not the ordi,
nary blasts of wind, and dashes of rain upon
the house and trees; but the wind was slfilI,
and fairly whistled as it few; while sound, as
of creaking cordage and straining timbers, was
almost drowned at times by sudden, heavy
roars, as of mountain waves breaking on a yes
sells bows. All this the listeners heard, or i'm.
agined they heard, while that step slowly de,
scended the stairs. On it came-the door open.
ed-the ghostly visiter approached when, sud.
denly, the mesmeriser exclaimed, in shrill
voice
I'm the name of all things sacred, tell to pie
your troubled"
At this question, so boldly put, the storm
seemed to burst in all its fury upon the deco
ted house. The doors few open-the window
panes ratified in pieces to the ground, or were
carried singing upon the wind and, in -ehe
midst, shrek, a wall, feeble, yet piercing, was
heard, carrying in its tone sense of horror
and despair no words may express. The cler-
gyman could bear no more-covering his ears,
he fed through the open door, away, along the
road, to the first human habitation.
What was made known in that fearful inter
view, has never been revealed. The next day,
Yardly and his fair wife left the country, with
out saying for where, nor have they ever been
heard from. The mesmeriser was found wan
dering about the fields, insane. The exposure
and excitement were too much for heated
brain, already somewhat unhinged. He was
removed to an asylum, where he now is, some
times raving about pirates, hidden treasures,
and murdered wives; but generally Images
himself st. Paul, and preserves digai6ed
silence.
AS we rode away, l expressed my firm. con.
viction that this Earle was great pirate re-
tired from business, and that in his orchard
could be found hidden treasures.
Perhaps so,' responded D.; "but, il my
humble opinion, the treasure is already found,
in the shape of this beautiful farm, and the
squatters upon it are decidedly interested IN
keeping alive this Ghost Story"
know better than this, for have it ak writ
ten down in the book carried away, anS will
publish it sometime, for the sake of confound.
ing all unbelievers.