The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1858-10-09


night, is in itself too common an object -
attract attention; the popularity consisted
IN its drawing up before that particular
house. The house had for sometime been
empty, or was supposed to be so. It's usual
occupants, it was understood in the neigh
porhood, bad left the place for IL period to
seek health and enjoyment at one of the
numerous spots that sanatory considerations
or fashionable caprice, have caused to be
selected as a resort for s'the season. For
weeks the house had remained tightly closed
during the day, and dark and silent by
night; the garden was running to weeds
the shruhbery was neglected and not even
the bark of a watch dog gave sign of life.
Before this house the carriage stopped.
Without a word spoken the driver descended
and noiselessly let down the steps. From
the interior Of the vehicle appeared a gentle
man, who, spite of the uncertain gloom, the
attentive and unseen observer felt satisfied
was a physician residing in the city. This
gentleman assisted to the ground two ladies
the outlines of whose forms and the rustling
& whose dresses, showed them to be fash
ionably and richly dressed. Not word
was spoken by any one of the party. The
driver, as appeared by some faint sounds,
put key in the door and opened it, but no
gllmmer OF light gave glimpse of the in
terror; all was obscurity and darkness. In
the meantime, the gentleman and one Of the
| ladies supported the second lady, who ap-
peared unable to walk unassisted, and from
whom, as she was moved, the soft night wind
bore faint and unruffied means to the ear of
the listener. Thus the 3 entered the house
Tho door was closed, the carriage turned
and driven off rapidly in the direction of the
city, and the house stood silent, lonesome
and apparently as deserted as before. Deep
]y interested in these singular movements,
conducted In the utmost silence, no word
from any one Of the parties having escaped,
the unsuspected looker-on fingered some
, time, to discover if anything observable
followed these mysterious proceedings. No
sound, however, broke on the air; no open
ing door, no clash of household implements
gave sign Of life. He walked cautiously to
different points to reconnoitre the building,
but from no window, no crevice under OF
:, around the door or shutter: could he detect
;, the faintest ray Of a light being used within
Puzzled and wondering. he at length retired
The next day at noon, he again passed be
fore the house. Quietude and silence, a.
before, enveioped the place; stealthil,
3 opened window, no smoke rising from the
y kitchen chimney, no cover left careiessi,
open at the cistern. betrayed the presenc.
Of living beings. The dust near the doc
showed the impression ofthe carriage wheel
and that lying on the steps bore the impress
$ Of feet entering the mansion but ! mar
indicated that any one had come out OF tn
house.
g Some uncertain knowledge Of these fact
IL got rumored about the neighborhood. an
!: rumor added that the suffering female be
90 came a mother in the silent and deserte
house, and that the unconscious offspring
guilty passion was there deprived of lt
How much of truth and how much Of err6
there may be in these assertions: may affor
as matter for speculation, buAk u:sidsd b
investigation. specnlations 1yeyeksI
visionary so5u N lssatsfactd1
pear to supply little or nothing y. the "a
= to take hold Of. A party quietly entered
house which the neighbors supposed to |
unoccnpied, and they were not observed
leave it again, neither were any signs
their continued presence to be observe'
: these things may appear singular but the
involve nothing unlawful, and 1t IS probab
that the mystery of the unoccupied tencmei
may never be esolyed.-LLchcHge.
The S. C. Conference.
The subioned comnnnica ton from Bsie
Aud 1ews which we clip from the coinmns