The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-04-06
THE HAUN TED BED.
BY MARX LEMON.

W IN. Duly u tutIt ISL MI. 1 bllTbll-
10y at the door with his baggage. I'll be
whipped ~ cried the head waiter at the
- hotel, on the evening preceding
the regatta.
Mr.. PonsonLy, You don't say 30, and
ia given him up. and just put that weak
minded gent a. come at ten o'clock in
Forty-two-Mr. Ponsonbys room aS ! call
il: and there's not a bed to be had in
Cowcs for love or money
What's that You say, Betty?" said
the new conner; mot another bed but
mine, eh p
That's it. sir replied Betty: Il kept
il for YOU till the last train; now as that
has been in a hour, | gave you up, sir.
What will YOU do?"
Awkward" ." exclaimed Ponsonby; ''the
old clock in the room viii break its heart !:
but must sleep on a sofa"
Not one disengaged, SIR said the
waiter.
NO, Sir" added Betty, mot one. sir
There are four small children put to bed
in chest of drawers now in Twenty-four
We let every thing before we c0uld let
Forty-twO.'
That's the gent that's got your room, -
whispered John, as he ushered Mr.. Pom
sonby into the cotiee-room.
The person alluded TO was a very mild,
milky-looking young gentleman Of twen-
! ty-one. His present position was evident
| " a new one, for he was constantly EN-
| ployed in pulling up his shirt collar and
| using his toothpick.
john said Ponsonby. 81 must have a
| bed. Bring me a broiled bone and glass
| Of brandy and water, and put them on the
/ table next to the young gentleman, whilst
| | speak to Betty
What the nature of Mr.. Ponsonby's
| communication TO Betty was | don't mean
! toreveal: but She laughed consumedly.' >
and was shortly afterwards seen entering
/ No. Forty-two with a warming-pan. and
then returning without it.
The bone and brandy and water were
! duly served, and Mr.. Ponsonby took hi,
| place at the table. The mild gentleman
pulled his collar more frequently and
! piled the toothpick with increased en-
| ergy.
"Waiter. cried Ponsonby, "Here-takc
this thing away
Capital bone, sir" said John, some
what astoni~hed.
Don't tell me a capital bone ex
claimed Ponsonbv. The bus driver was
complaining of the mortality among hors
es Take il away
The mild gentleman looked alarmed
and paused in the act Of pulling up hi.
left collar.
"Wretched house, this. sir," said Pom
sonby confdentially; never come her,
if | can avoid it; but at regatta time glao
to get in any where :"
'.Yes. sir, said the mild one.
"They served me a rascaly trick once
and shall never forget it. wonder VIII,
sleeps in that room to-night-pOor devil =
MAY | inquire what the trick was, sir?'
ooh, certainly" said Ponsonby. tho
! hardly like to tell the story, in case yol
should doubt my veracity."
ooh , sir"
"Well. it seems absurd to talk Of haunt
ed chambers in the nineteenth century :;
and Ponsonby paused
Not at all, SIR said the mild one, en-
couragingly.
But that there is one in this house
am ready to swear,P exclaimed Pon>onhy
a room with a large, old-fashioned clocl
| in it,"
No. Forty-two!' gasped the mild one
that's my room ~
"IIush. for heavens sake" said POI
sonhy: "had | known that. ] wouldn
| nave Sdi't II worn LOT the WOllu.
MY dear sir, don't say that: pray 9
on, sir. I'm not superstitious, neither al
| foolishly incredulous." and the mild on
wiped his forehead, and emptied his tun
bier at a gulp.
. "Well, as YOU desire it, | will narrat
nv story" said Ponsonbv. at was e.
actly three years ago this very day, that
and my luggage found ourselves in y
Forty-two, the last room, $50 the chambe
maid told mel unlet in the house"
Exactly what she told me-a cock
trice - interrupted the mild one.
81 was tired by my days journey, al
went to bed exactly as the clock struck |
Though fatigued ! felt no disposition
sleep. so placed my candle on the be
J steps and began to read. had read abo
five minutes, when suddenly | received
most violent blow in the stomach, and Il
clock struck a quarter. | started III
there was no one-nothing to account /
i. the phenomenon At last | concluded
must have been fancy. | read on for a
E other quarter of an hour, when receiv,
|, two blows of greater violence than Il
4 former one. jumped out of bed, resol
'r ed TO secure nv assailant. No; there W
no one the clock chimed the half-houI
"Another glass of brandy and water
cried the mild one.
1t was brought and Ponsonby procee
4, ng:
Il seized the bell-rope. but sense
shame would not let me proceed. ! the
). fore resolved to keep watch for she
time. As sat up in the bed my eyes f
tn upon the face of the old clock in the c
RI ner. / could not help thinking Il
- was in some way connected with the
novance | had suffered. As | looked t
\. minute hand gradually approached I
TX on the dial and the moment ii arriv
there. | received three distinct and pal
cularly sharp raps on the crown of ]
~ head. The clock struck the three qu
o0 ters. was new convinced that there v
ao something wrong. What was to do?
sooo | disturbed the house and told this sto
BOO | should be laughed at, and set down
,'cSo ther as drunk or dreaming. resolved
. brave the worst ! got out of bed, al
90 gently opening the clock case, stopped
vibration of the pendulum.
.''Come, that must prevent the 5
5. king thought |, and laid myself do
with something like chuckle at my o
brilliancy."
"A chucklew murmured the mild O
APP Il had not been in bed above five N
be. utes. p resumed Ponsonby, when he
u. the door of the clock case open slowly.
nu- felt. ! confess, tremor -
,ks Il should think so :!
5.r And saw the pendulum throw st
ersault on the floor, and deliberately
ur- -hop-hop-towards the bed ltpau
for moment, and bending its round,
zen face full upon me, said -"
La Spoke ?" gasped the mild one.
,SS'- said, continued Ponsonby; not he
ing the interruption,) Sir, am '
much obliged to you for stopping my
RS, bors. People think | never want
rest, but that can stand being perp
a. ally wound up and kept on the go. "
lah, your permission, I'll get into bed,
and without waiting for an answer, into