The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-02

"Jamle1 said ArchioI UT was Meaning
--neathing bot the win. Gae down an
get light.". ,,-t ~fs. O.,
"oh, Archie, for the luye o. God take
hold o. melt is nae " ur vOice--you dinnae
speak in your ain voice -
j. The next moment the two brothers were
locked in each others arms, and fell COVER
ing against the wall, shuddering in the ex-
tremety of terror; for another sound reached
them, and one calculated to paralyze the
brayest. They heard with unmistakable
distinctness the sseo half erorR pieces drop
upon the floor!
When the old blacksmith went upstairs
at daylight, he saw his sons crouching in the
corner Of the room; he thought they had
been drinking too much, and began to chide
them. But he soon stopped, for they rose
up. and eame to meet him with wild
expression of joyful relief on their counte-
nances; and pointed to the door at the head
of the stairs. They were not able to speak
a word. The old man, without hesitation;
pushed open the door and entered the room;
but he came rushing back, uttering cry of
horror such cry as none but an old man
could give shrill and tfemulous. They fed
down stairs, out Of the house and into the
street. The neighbors were aroused; the
story told, and in less than half on hour,
there was a tumult. The staircase in the
| blacksmilh's house was econ filled with peo.
pie; bot none had courage to open the door.
: The head OF the coltImn stood tpon the plat.
form, resisting the force from behind. 1t
increased to such violence, however, that
resistance availed nothing. There was an
impatient rush from beow--the door was
pushed open, and in an instant, the terrible
room..was filled with visitors. Not word
was spoken, they could only look.
Here it was that Mrs. s. placed
her hand upon my shoulder, and whispered
in my eur, her breath ,hrobbing painfully
against my excited tympanum.
| One of the benches was slightly moved,
and the left foot of the corpse rested upon
the floor. The eyes We're open; wide open,
and staring ut something far, far awcy.--
Without aby change in the lines Of the face,
there was yet on expression Of curiosity
merging into feat, which taken In connection
with the disturbed position of the body,
forced the opinion upon the spectators that
the dead man suddenly started: Terrcr BE.
gun TO be diminished into simple wonder.--
The people ut length conversea with one
another, but oil they could DO was to close
| the eyes Of the deceased und replace The
half crown pieces. lift up the leg, and again
envelope it in the sheet. Thct day no aork
was done in Haddington-no one ate uny-
thing. But night came on again, and others
must take their turn at watching in the ante
room. Twelve men volunteered, eleven Of
them citizens o! Haddington, but the twelfth
was an up.start student from st. Andrews,
who derided the creduliiy Of the people, and
quoted Dr.. Brewster.
Excellent cheer was provided for the
watchers. A fire kindled in the ante room,
and kettle enlivened The company with 9
song. The student talked necessarily about
spectral Illusions, but his companions did
not listen to him; they slipped their hot wa.
Ter and whiskey in silence, occasionally
holding their breath at some fancied sound
The night wore on and at last the town clock
struck the first peal of the midnight hour
each stroke swelled ON the Oir like groan
it was midnight. The student burst into
boisterous lough. It was at first, a laugh
of derision, but it soon ceased. The young
man rose up, gave one look toward the plat.
form at the head Of the stairs, and fell down
swooning; for the half crown pieces jinged
upon the floor, rebounded and fell again
two benches were turned over, the ends oil
the plunks which they supported dropped
down, and the corpse was distinctly heard to
slide along the inclined plane. The listen.
ers all spraDg to their feet under an impulse
to make their escape, but they burst not pass
the dreadful platform, SO impressed were
they with the certainty (as they afterwards
testified before the investigating committee)
that Andrew Allen would appear in the door
of the chamber aud itnplore them not to leave
him. Long before daylight the house was
again thronged. A crowd rushed up stairs.
TO the relief of the watchers, who hastened
to aceuaint them with what had occurred
Great excitement began to bo manifested.
The people needed some one to lead them,
and no one had the courage to approach with
the intention of opening the door of the ter
rible apartment. At this juncture some one
cried OUT
"Rin for the curate | rim for the cur
ate 1" -r e,A
| This good man, MI. Hyndside, lived in q
neighboring hamlet; he preferred the quiet
he enjoyed there, to the noise In the busy
town of Haddington. He is still alive, and
beloved by everybody but, since his parli-
cipation In the mysterious horrors of the
third night, he has been regarded as man
having knowledge of things which no NOR
tal ought to possess.
He cheerfully obeyed the Summons, and
repaired to the blacksnith's house. 1t was
now after sunrise. The people gathered
/ - lI.l .-g.a ~ - H.