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

ful. A silent, sombre man, with WAYS SO De-
culiar In themselves that they excited continual
comment among his gosspping neighbors,
saving his little girl, he lived quite alone. The
female domestic left the house every evening
at sunset, for such was her engagement. while
the field laborers had the crops on share. and
seldom entered the old mans dwelling. Alice
he sent to school, and regularly to church but
never himself left the farm-confning his OBJ
servations, when business or chance brought
him in contact with neighbor, to the few
words necessary, and no more. So cold, gloomy,
and repulsive a character, could not escape
criticism and, not only was he severely COM
mented upon, but various insinuations were
whispered about, purporting to account for his
extraordinary conduct.
Times prospered with Thomas Earle, and
little Alice, wandering about the gloomy house,
like stray sunbeam, grew, from slender girl
hood into beautiful woman. This fact made
no change in their mode of life. Of it, indeed,
Captain Earle did not seem to be aware. He
treated her still as child. He seemed to be
absorbed in the affairs of his farm; and, when
not 80 engaged, would withdraw to his singu-
larry constructed room, and pore for hours over
a book, the nature of which none knew, as he
carefully kept it under lock-or he would walk
to and fro for hours within the limits of his
little apartment. This last was q marked Pc
culiarity. Every evening, after an early sup
per, he would retire; and it made no difference
how laborions had been the day, this prone
made would commence; and Alice, in the room
below, would hear the measured tread of the
wooden leg upon the floor, continuing until
the occupant apparently retired to his hani-
mock.
This was a dreary life for the fair girl, and
it is not strange she listened to the first offer
| proposing a change. This came from a young
farmer, son Of widow, who had bestowed
| more than ordinary care in the education Of
her only child. He was handsome, sensitive,
| and sprightly, had been the companion Of
Alice at school, her attendant to church and
at last their intimacy came to declaration of
love, to which Alice responded, and the matter
was referred to her father. He listened in as
constituent to the proposition, and Indignantly
refused. However, on seeing the daughters
tears, he took the affair under consideration,
and ended by giving o reluctant consent The
consent was accompanied by the strange cond-
ton, that the young people should not live in
the same house with himself; and SO he built
for them the little cottage in which we heard
this strange recital. The house was finished
and furnished, and the wedding took place.
Few were present; and, after the ceremony,
Alice and her husband left for their humble
home, and the old man was left alone.
Affairs continued for some time as before,
nothing occurring to break the uniformity of
this strange life, save, indeed, the death of
young Yardlys mother, until the occurrence of
an event which not only changed the current,
but broke up the life SO long and strangely pur-
sued. Yardly took the place of laborer upon
the farm, and worked with his father, precisely
as the domestic had done before he became a
&c <h. fon L., C IL.
wedding, as the young man was returning, one
evening, from his daily toll, he encountered
upon the turnpike tall, slender man, some
fifty years of age, bearing knapsack upon his
shoulders, who asked him if one calling him
self Thomas Earle lived in that neighborhood
He was answered in the affirmative, and, on ex-
pressing desire to see Captain Earle, Yardly
turned to accompany him. Together they as
cended the hill, entered the porch, and knock
ed at the door. 1t was opened by Earle him
self, for the domestic, as usual, had left the
house. His son was about saying where he
had encountered this stranger who had express
ed a wish to see him, when Captain Earle's eyes
fell upon the traveller. The sun had set, but
daylight still held its own, so that the stranger
stood full revealed before the man he sought.
The effect was startling. Grasping the half
opened door, he turned deadly pale-almost
sight that seemed so appalling. However, he
recovered himself, and, harshly sending Yardly
away, motioned the stranger to enter
The young man left, wondering at what he
had seen; but from some reason, scarcely
known to himself, said nothing of the matter to
his wife. The next morning, Captain Earle ap-
peared with the stranger, and, about ten o clock
they separated-Captain Earle sending his
singular visiter to the adjoining town, where he
took the stage, and was never heard of again.
But the interview had its result. During that
day, the old man was dispirited and absent
The habtually stern lineaments of his face had
changed to almost a vacant and painful ex-
preston Of grief and uncertainty The day
wore on, and, in the evening, the son and
father separated as usual. That night, feel
ing of some impending evil fell upon the house
hold of the young husband but no other token
was given of its approach. The bright sun
went down, bathed in glory-the stars gather
ed in their glad array and sleep came at last,
to seal up the senses, and shut out the unsub-
stantial phantoms of fear.
The next morning, Thomas Earle was found
dead. The death had not been peaceful, for
the clinched hands yet grasped the torn side of
the rude hammock. the eyes were staring, the
mouth open-indeed, every feature indicating
scene of horror.
lHcJ CiOScu the eyes, ana 1OlQeQ the nan0S
over the heart, now at last stilled in DEATH
and the once troubled form was borne away to
the quiet country church-yard.
After the burial, the young people thought it
best to remove from their little cabin to the
homestead. This was done, and the first even
ing they proposed inhabiting the house came
upon them. The gloom was gathering about
the habitation, and Alice, in the arms of her
husband wept bitterly, for she loved her father,
when, as the servant was about striking light
all three started in intense terror. They heard
the measured tread of the now buried man
pacing. as was his wont in life, the room above.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, they heard distinctly
the wooden leg as it struck upon the floor. The
girl fled, shrieking-Alice tainted, and when she
returned to her consciousness, they were in the
road where her husband had carried her, not
even he daring to remain.
The son and daughter would have concealed
this fearful event. tending as it did, to cast sus
picion on the family but, from the lips of the
domestic, it spread over the neighborhood. Du.
ring the day, crowds, actuated by curiosity, Wis.,
tied the house, and before night many stout
men, and several religious ones, a preacher
among the rest, proposed passing the night in
the Haunted House. Young Yardly accepted
their services, and at sunset a goodly crowd
were collected in the late Captains residence.
1t was determined that no light should be
placed in the room, that everything might re-
main as when formally occupied by its strange
inhabitant. This, however, was reluctantly
consented to by portion of thecompany. The
sun shot its last golden arrows through the ap-
pie trees that shaded the house-the glory OF
its sitting faded gradually from the windows,
and darkness fell upon the watchers. This had
not continued many minutes, when thrill Of
horror ran through the crowd. Strong men