, 1858-12-10

stairs, and at the farther end Of this hall were
two bedrooms. \ staircase commenced near the
door, and led TO the second story, in which
there were what might be called an ante-rOom,
and the large apartment where the body Of An.
drew Allan lay. A door opened into this cham
Der from narrow platform at the head of the
stairs. Any one descending the stairs from the
ante-room must pass in contact with this door.
Evening came on and the blacksmth's two
sons, cousins of the dccea d, were appointed to
sit up the first night. They were to occupy the
ante.room. 1t was too warm for fire; so they
were provided with a couple of taow candles,
a jug Of mountain dew" and some tobacco and
pipes. Jamie was just twei ty--a fine looking
lad, Of quiet demcanor, and industrious habits
Archie, however, twenty-five years of age, was
far more sprightly. He took great delight in
being involved in love scrapes. In fact he was
what they call in the Highlands, "the vera dic
amang the lassies." Hour after hour he enter
tanned Jamie with his cOnquests, until the latter
began to show symptoms of doubt. l...H
"An' are ye sure, Archie" he asked, "you'rc
ma telling me pack o lees."
They had not given their cousin in the adjon-
ing room single thought. They could not dis.
guise the fact (nObOdy coulD that they were
glad he was dead; smothering their graufcation,
however, under the old comforting maxim, ait
was weel the puir body was relieved o his suffer
in" The night dragged on. Archie continued
his amatory "reminiscences to the great annoy
ance Of Jamie, until the town clock 'strak the
twal'--it was midnight
The candle required snuiling, and Jamie
reached forward his hand for that purpose; but
a sound reaching his cars from tho room where
the corpse was-a sound like the moving Of a
bench, caused him in his trcmulousness to put out
the light The darkness was total The young
men held their breath-each one choked by the
throbbng of his heart
Jamie" said Archie, at was naething-
naething but the wind Gae doom an get a
light" -.H arg
"Oh, Archie, for the luve o God tax hold o
me--it is ma your voice-yOu dinna speak in
your ain yoice!" Dee T H
The next moment the brothers were locked in
each others arms, and fell covering against the
wall, shuddcring in the extremity of terror; for
another sound reached them, and one calculated
to paralyzc the bravest They heard with un-
mstakable distinctness the two halfcrown pieces
drop upon the floor. +
When the old blacksmith went upstairs at
daylight and saw his sons crouching in the
corner of the room, he thought they had been
drinking too much, and began to chido them,
But he soon stopped, for they rose up, and came
to meet him with wild expression Of joyful re-
lief on their countenances; and pointed to the
door at the head Of the stairs. They were not
able to speak word. The old man, without
hesitation, pushed open the door and entered the
room; but he came rushing back, uttcring cry
of horrOr-such cry as none but an old man
can ve-shrill-tremulous They fed down
stairs-out of tho house, and into the street
The neighbors were arouscd-thc story told
and, in less than half an hour there was a tu-
mutt. The staircase in the blacksmith's house
was soon filed with people; but none had the
courage to open tho door. The head Of the
column stood upon the platform resisting the
force from behind. II increased to such violence,
however, that resistance availed nothing. There
was an impatient rush from below--the door
was pushed open, and, in an instant, the terrible
room was illed with visitors Not word was
spOkcn-thcy could only lock.
Here It was that Mrs s. placed her hand
upon my shoulder, and whispered in my car
her breath thrObbing painfully against my ex-
cited tympanum.l $500.
One Of the benches was slightly moved, and
the LEFT foot Of the corpse rested upon the HoOr
The eyes were open--wide open, and staring at
something hr-hr away. Without any change
in the lines Of the face, there was yet On express
sion Of curiOsity-curiosity merging into fear,
which, taken in connection with the disturbed
position Of the body. forced the opinion upon
the spectators that the dead man suddenly start
cd. Terror began TO be diminished into simple
wonder. The people, at length, conversed with
one another, but all they could do was to close
the eyes Of tho deceased, and replace the
halfcrOwn pieces; lit up the leg, and again en-.
velop il in the sheet. That day no work was
done in HaddingtOn---no one ate anything. But
night came on again; and others must take
their turn at watching in the autc.rOom. Twelve
men oluntcered-eleven Of them citizens Of
IIaddington, but the twelfth was an upstart stu
dent from St Andrews, who derided the credu-
lity of the people, and quoted DR.. Brewster.
Excellent cheer was provided for the watch
erS A fire was kindled in the ante.room, and