The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-24

thS pee's OF thunder, She sweeping Of the
wind, and the falling rain.
Once | opened NY eyes, and there he
lore me lay the figure draped in whi.c.
The cloth was put on nicely; there was
not wrinkle there. The corners were
evenly adjusted.
looked at my friend Hugh; he was
asleep was vexed with him, but that
did not rou.e him. The thunder mutter
ed nceSsantIy overhead shower after
shower came up and poured It's liquid
drops npon the parched earth.
Hugh slept through it all. | closed
my eyes An! courted somness, but in vain.
o for book, paper, ANYTHING to
while away the time. | arose, looked
round the room, but found nothing.
cast furtive glance al :he shrouGed
figure and wondered that people did not
place their dead in collins, close them,
and thus do away with the horrid custom
OF placing them on boards and employing
nigh, watchers.
had half a mind to remove the cloth
and take peep at the face Of the dead
man. | reached forth my haud-an un
pleasant sensation overpowered me, and
| turned away and again sat down. this
t'me with my face turned from the corpse
The taIIow candle flickered and burned
dimy. Hugh still slept how provoking
Hugh ! | called-but he answered
not
'llugh,'-a second time still no an
swer and arising | gave him a rough
shake which aroused him.
whats the natter he asked, rubbing
his eyes.
Nothing in particular replied 'only
i tried to find some excuse for dis,ur
blng his slumbers--I wanted to talk a
little
We'll talk away, what shall i, be a.
bout T.
Were YOU acquainted with this man
Wilkins Z
Aye, John, better acquainted than |
wished
what sort Of a fellow was he 2
Il believe it is customary to let the ash
es Of the dead rest. but since you have
Propounded the question, will answer.
He was mean, unprncip'ed fellow
What
lie is q rascal I say, and I am no,
sorry the word is we'll rid OF him. You
look frightened rs though YOU thought
my words would bring him to life, and
should be sorry If they did, believe me
there would be more tears shed AT such
and event than at his funeral
you shall tell me what he did in life
to earn such harsh epithc,s.' KEEP, my
eyes rivited on The shrouded figure while
Hugh proceeded!
'He was ,yrant in his family; hi.
children fear'd him AS they would a Ben,
gal tiger, and fled when he approached
his wife has lived the life of slave and
those with whom he has dealt call him
hard hearted and ineyorable. lie had
amas>ed fortune yet he lived here in d
mizerly way, denying his family the com
forts Of life. but he has left his riches a,
last, and others will handle the gold he
has boarded
Hugh cease1 speaking.
had no more questions to ask, anc
he sank back in his chair and was sooG
! asleep again, but | WAS as wakefuI AS
/, ever.
The wind hal gone down, the thunder
had ceased TO roll aud the ram To fall
ali was, silent, it seemed indeed the hous,
of death. The candle buried more diml,
III ;he socket than before the rigid form
lay still and quiet turned aud locke
! he, not still. The covering moved,
saw It the hair Of my head stood erec
- WAS horror struck, yet could not re
move my eyes tried to speak to Hugh
but my voice failed me.
II WAS no fancy of mine, slowly the
white cloth moved off the head; th,
sparsely scattered hair was visible, ther
the high, bold forehead, the sunken
halt closed eyes, and in turn, the long
} Roman nose.
! could not speak but moved slowly
to the side OF Hugh, grasped his arm
and pointed To- the aLcovered face. lie
awoIe, looked, and sprang from his chair
for AZ instant he thought with ne th Al
some supernatural power was at work.
| fully expected to see the dead arise
aLd whispering in !Iughs ear The spirits
was rushing TO the door when he laughed
outright, he had discovered the cause o
alarm.
} A cat had crawed in through the hal
closed shutters, and fastening her claw,
in the sheet had thus slowly and noise
lessly removed it from The face of the
dead.
When morning dawned, and was nor
sorry to see sunlight in the east-we sci
our faces homewsrd.
Now for the sequel TO your ghost story
said 10 Hugh as we entered the sombrc
shade Of .Speetrs's Glen, and he complied
Some weeks after the death Of Alice a
sheet and mask were found concealed ia
the bushes not far from here, and the
mask being perfect cast Of the features
OF the first Mrs Scott many supposed il
to have been worn by some roguish lad
Of the village to have a htlle sport, aud
frightened the widower for thus soon
breaking his promise
And so it WAS no ghos. after all tha,