Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-19

powers; IL cannot be otherwise. For when
we know that the smallest drop Of water Is
inhabited by innumerable living creatures,
how dare we presume that the illinitable
e,hcrspace, which surrounds tho universe,
!. hollow and empty. No, itisnOt po'sible;
round about, within and above US, some
thing moves and works. Di.tan, objects
affect US but little, perhaps because our
nerves are not sufficiently delicate t. become
sensible OF them can scarcely describe my
idea, but II seems to me that some are IN
closer affinity between us-perhaPs mag
nctic-than others. and TO act upon US as
foreboding consciousness.
~ cannot comprehend you at all, b" re-
piled the pastor with smile.
1T is now the third night" continued
his wife. +" that have felt this same anxious
unrest. You know that on the first even.
ing. Just before bedtime, I received that let
ter from home, telling us Of my fathers III
ness"
Only an obstinate cold, as your mo,l,cr
stated, which probably has quite lefi him
by this time"
"No, not cold. Heinrich: II is a worse
case than that, or why did she send the let
ter by express, or why her subsequent
silence' The intelligence could have been
here in nine hours by railway"
"Come chld," retOrted Blrrenkamp.
" let Us 20 10 bed, and tomorrow we will
talk quietly over the matter. See. the wind
at las, has swept the sky clear. ADD the
moon shines with friendly light in at the
window, when the storm abates we shall
have fine weather. Come little one, be my
brave wife you surely are not terrified u,
ghos, stories?"
No, Heinrich, not at ghost stories"
whispered the Frau, staring with almost
lusireless eyes into the corner OF the room,
now scarcely illuminated by the diminish
ing lamplisht-" certainly not afraid Of
tales, | have already nearly forgotten what
the steward and schoolmaster related, but
. Il is in myself, and feel that now, at thus
very moment, something is taxing place
among my friends. lloweyermueh lrr'is,,
still cannot get the image Of my father out
ol my mind. eco hiln continually, with
pale and mournlul face, in bis green dress.
mg.goSn, aud black cap, pass and rep,ss
before me. tvirlins hi. steel waich.ehain,
which he DID only when suck or suffering;
and - plainly do hear the gentle cliLF.
that have lookci behind the many timcs
20 sec what could b. ihe cause but it sounds
only ia my eir--you-,he Others have not
perceived it,
You are excited tonight, child. that !,
the sole cause answered the pastor, sooth-
ingly "eome, once more, to bcd it is late.
aud am tired besides the lamp will 80
out-all the oil seems TO he gone"
I Is he ceased, low plainti,c tone was
heard, which sounded ike distant cry oil
di.tress-whether irom tho courtyard or
the house itseli, was difficult to dccidc-in
the noise OF the yet violent wind. Sudden
ly, too, the dame Of the lamp expired, and
the pastor, who IN consequences Of his wlis's
alarm, could not himself repress an uneasy
feeling, was about to fetch a candle that
stood in the adjoining chamber, when the
Frau selIcd him hastily and c1nyulsiyely by
the arm, and, with voice bali choked by
terror, whispered, while pointing To the
door with out.s,rcielled arm" See, sce
there :"
The two were standing in the shadow Of
the wall in the now darkened room, while
single moon ray isll on the opposite stair
case door; buE, dImmei by a thin curtain,
the objects on which it shohe were confused
and indI,tinct Nevertheless, the pastor
and his wife saw the polished latch lift up,
and tic usually ereaking door open slowly
with,ut my noise, and form glide in,
whose aspect made the blood in their veins
stand s,ll-therc was the green dressing
gown. the black cap, the tall pale figure.
The pastoriln stood, her eyes almost starting
from their sockets, her mouth halt open,
her arm still outstretched towards the spec
tire. while her husband, no longer able to
dispute the evidence Of his own eyes, re-
mained transdxed in bcwildcred surprise.
In another moment, the hitherto notion
less form moved slowly across the dark side
of the room, and sound was heard like the
clink Of steel against steel. Barrenkamp
felt a tighter grasp on his arm, and, pos
sessed by vague terror, scarcely knew
whether to stand still or rush forwards.
Then his wlc's hold slackencd, and she
would have fallen but for his ready support.
When he turned again towards the ap9a.
rilion it had disappeared, and the moon
shone calmly into the quiet room.
His wife had tainted; hc carried her to
the bed in the next room, aud, hurriedly
lighting the candle. FASTENED hack To the
study. down the stairs, along all the passa.
c,s. examined every lock, lound the house
door fast, crossed tho court yard, aud
knocked at tho sections chamber, bat in
vain, the old man had been long asleep, and
was no. TO bo reused. The stiffness was
unearthly, and ye, there seemed to be die
ting and whispering. aud the sweep OF rust.
ling garments went up and down the pas.
sases and stairs. Astudder seized the usu.
ally fearless man, and il was only by an
effort that he kept down choking sensa-