Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-19
MIS- c Il l. A N Y. .
A STRANGE STORY.

Ih.NHN hH'iI WahhNfh Hi"sNt !" "h' y. 'h"s
the earth had become. rs It were, the field
Of their boisterous sports. On flew the gale
over the dark and drcary country. now
whirling through the streets Of busy town,
now soaring some peaceful village, bowling
in the ehimneys, serceching among the queer
old gables, and making the rusty weather.
cocks crcak again. lEolus had II all bi.
own way. and was beside himself with tur-
bulencc.
Far different was the scene in the comfort.
able study Ofthe worthy pastor BarrenkamP,
where he sat with his wife. the good Frau
pa.torin, and two Of hi. old friends-tbc
schoolmaster and the steward Of the manor.
A quic, conversation was going on, inter.
rup,cd IRON time to time by the whirs from
three pipes, and the sips which the smokers
took from the tankards Of warm beer that
stood on the massive oaken table The fr,
blarcd brightly on the hearth, and except
when herccr bias, or heavier gust Of rain
shook the window. the talk went on a,
though the party sought to forget the tenn
pcstous weather outside.
IL was during rau-e, while the pastor
rose, and, drawing aside the curtain, pccred
out into the darkness. that the steward said
"You did quite right, Frau pastorin, in
being little out Of the common way to-day
aud taking up your quarters in this snug
apartment, for the great room is anything
but comfortable in such weather. Yet /, i,
worse outside. and at times one cannot
help fAncyins tha, strange words aud spoken
tones are heard in the bowling wind
shodld not like to cross the ehurehyard to,
night"
"No, cross the churchyarl?" replied th,
pastor, with a smile, as be returned from
the window, what are you afraid Of, friend
stoward2 la, ha, man Of your years
My bee, Heir pa'tur," rcpined thc
steward. shifting hither and thither on hi,
seat, "with me IL is not a question Of fear
| am not wicked mn myself, ani-do mol
believe in ghosts, why then should b,
afraid? Yet"
Yet said the pastor laughing, with q
playful glance at the speaker, yet, our
good steward leaves a back door open"
may" was the answer, ~ moan, only
with respect to tho churehynrd. know As
well a, any other iha, the dead res, quictl,
there below, without coming up at nigh, tc
.it upon the cold mounds, and play at hid,
aud seek behind the white tomb.stones
but purposely avoid any useless excitement,
which always causes lnc n headache aud di.
comfort afterwards. There is something
disagrccablc TO fancy ,ha, you sco forms II
white garments, lI,,ns about among III,
waving willows and shrubs in the dim ,wi
light. and that every minute somebody il
coming behind you For the same reason
do not like 70 ,ii alone in q room at nigh
with my hAcF towards a halfopen door.
know well enough that no one i, in the o,het
room, and tha, no one can come to tue from
thence, and yet. strange 10 say. canno
rest until either turn myself round, or shu
the door"
A. was to be expected, this turn in III,
conversation on such a night led to III,
supernatural. II the pastorin attributed
phantoms to the workings Of lively im
asina,ion, the schoolmaster on the con,rar,
dctlarcc. his belief IN forebodings and warn
inc.; aud on, and the other had some fear
iul mystery to relate, or some plausible cH
plana,ion 20 oGcr. The steward had ono
encountered phantom on the skirts Of I
forest, which there was every reason to be
lieve was that OF his brother, who, when
soldier. had been killed and buried on th,
spot where the shadow had disappeared
and the schOolmas,er narrowed the feeling
OF his auditors by an accoan, Of what bcfe
gay Lieutenant, who one night called OF
his image 10 step forth from large looking
glass before which be stood IN lonely room
In one Of the pauscs the good Frau starie,
up, pale with alarm, declaring tina, she Ia,
heard faint cry for help at distance; :h,
schoolmaster tried to persuade her 1t wa
but the over excitement Of the Imagination
and the pastor looEed again out Of the win
dow, but saw nothing except the rudol!
shaken branches Of trees in the dismal dark
ness.
Presently the guests departed, resisting
AL inducements to PASS the night at ,hJ
parsonage, on account OF the weather; th'
wife began to remove the drinking vessel
from the table, suddenly she uttered an ex
clalnation Of terror. aud. one Of the jug
falling from her hand, broke into shiyers OF
the floor.
What's the matter with you?" askeC
the pastor. turning hastily round to his wife
who stood ashy pale. listening with intcn''
attention towards the window. Nothing
however. was to be heard outside but til,
wind, and occasional gusts OF rain from th'
driving clouds.
81, was again that same cry for help,
.he replied, in a hollow whisper, the sam
tono and. Heinrich, as hope for Heaven
aid in my last need. 1, sounded exactly lik'
my fathers voice." She bid her face IL
her hands. and shudder ran through hel
whole frame.
"Folly," replied her husband petulantly
lifting his black cap from OF his icit ear
.. cJIyt tho s,lIy tales have excited you