Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-06
By W. D. WALLACE.
THE HAUNTED BED.
BY MARK LEMON.


Why, Betty, if here isn't Mr.. Ponsonby at
the door with hts baggage, III be whipped ~
cried the head waiter at the - Hotel, ut
Cowes, on the evening preceding the regatta.
4" Mr.. Ponsonby, you don't say so and I'd
given him up, and just put that weak minded
gent, as come at ten o'clock, into 42-Mr. Pom
sonby's room, as 1 call it; and there's not A
bed to be had in Cowes for love or money"
What's that you say, Betty" said the new
conner; mot another bed but mine eh ?''
That's it, sir,'' replied Betty; /" kept il
for you till the last train; now as that has been
in an hour, gave you up, sir. What will you
do7"
Awkward" exclaimed Ponsonby; "the
old clock in the room viii break its heart; but
1 must sleep on a sofa"
Mot one disengaged, sir, - said the waiter
"No, SIR" added Betty, "not one, sir
There are four small children put to bed in a
chest Of drawers now in "a. We let every
thing before we would let AZ"
that's The gent that's got your room"
whispered John, as be ushered Mr.. Psnsonby
into the coffoe-room.
The person alluded to was a very mild
milky looking young gentleman Of twenty one.
His present position was evidently a new one,
for he was constantly employed in pulling up
his shirt collar, and using his toothpick.
john" said Ponsonby, L" I must have a
bed. Bring me n broiled bone and glass of
brandy and-water, and put them on tho table
next to the young gentleman, while speak to
Betty"
What the nature of Mr. Ponsonby's commu-
nication to Betty was don't mean to reveal !;
but she laughed consumedly,' and was shor:
ly afterwards seen entering No. AZ with q
warming pan, and then returning without il.
The bono and brandy land water were duly
served, and Mr.. Ponsonby took his place at the
table. The mild gentleman pulled his collar
more frequently, and piled the toOthpck with
increased energy.
Waiter" cried Ponsonby, "hero-take
this thing away"
Capital bone, SIR said John, somewhat
astonished.
Don't tell me a capital bone !" exclaimed
Ponsonby. "The bus driver was complaining
OF the mortality among his horses Take il
away"
The mild gentleman looked alarmed, and
paused in the act of pulling up bis left collar
"NTetched house this sir, > said Ponsonby
confdentially; never come here if L can
avoid 1t; but at regatta time glad to get in
anywhere"
eyes, SIR" said the mild one
"lhey served me a rascally trick once and
shall never forget it, wonder who sleeps
in that room to-night-poor devil.''
MAY inquire what the trick was, sir?''
sob, certainly" said Ponsonby, "though I
hardly like to tell the story, in case you
should @ doubt my vsrac;ty."
"Well, it seems absurd to talk of haunted
chambers in the nineteenth century" and
PonsOnby paused.
''Not at all, SIR" said the mild one, encour-
agingly.
"Bat that there is one in this house I am
ready to swear" EXCLAIMED Ponsonby; ga
room with large, old-fasbioned clock in it,"
"No. AZ" gasped the mild one; chats my
roomI'
"Hush, for heavens sake.' said Pensonby;
"had / known that, wouldn't have said a
word for the world
sir I'm not superstitious, neither am fool
ishly incredulous;" and the mild one wiped
his forehead, and emptied his tumbler at
gulP
story, said POnsOnby. 'lt was exactly three
years ago this very day, that | and my lug
gage found ourselves in No. ~, the last room,
$50 the chambermaid told mel unlct in the
house"
Exactly what she told me-a cockatrice ~
interrupted the mild one.
. L was tired by my days journey and went
70 bed exactly as the clock struck twelve
though fatigued, l felt no disposition to sleep
30 L placed my candle on the bed steps and be-
gan to read had read about FIVE minutes
when suddenly received a most violent blow
IN the stomach. and the clock struck quarter
started up; there was no one-nothiny to ac-
SVahb lOI pucnOnelOQ. AT last concluded
it must have been fancy. read on for another
quarter Of an hour, when received two blows
OF greater violence than the former one I
jumped out Of bed, resolved to secure nv as
sailant. No; there was no one the clock
chimed the half hour"
Another glass of brandy and water ~ cried
the mild one.
1t was brought; and Ponsonby proceeded:
seised the bell-rope, but q sense of anne
would not let me proceed. therefore resolved
to keep watch for q short time. As / sat ND in
the bed my eyes fell upon the face of the old
clock In the corner. 1 could not help thinking
that was In some way connected with the an
noyance / had suffered. As looked. the min
ute hand gradually approached the TX on the
dial, and the momentit arrived there received
three distinct and particularly sharp raps on
the crown Of my head. The clock struck the
three-quarters. was now convinced that there
was something wrong. What was to do? II
disturbed the house and told this story,
should be laughed at, and set down as either
drunk or dreaming. L resolved to brave the
worst. got out of bed, and, gently opening
the clock case, stopped the vibrations Of the
pendulum.
Come, that must prevent the striking
thought L, and laid myself down with some
thing like chuckle at my own brilliancy."
A chuckle " murmured the mild one.
had not been in bed above FIVE minutes"
resumed Ponsonby, when heard the door of
,ne clock case open slowly. 1 felt, confess, a
GemOr''-
Il should think 500
As saw the pendulum throw a somersault
on tne hoor, and deliberately hop-hop-hop-
So"ards the bed. 1t paused for q moment, and
;T os;nTaiog It's round, brszsn face full upon me,
SPOKE" ga,ped the mild one.
oald continued Ponsonby, not needing the
lnerruPtlon,l Sir, L am very much obliged to
yoo Tor stopping my lsbors. People think
never want any rest, but that l can stand be-
Perpetually wound up and kept on the 20.
S "In your permission, IN get into bed - and
"inont waiting for answer, into bed il got.
suppose continued the pendulum,
you are not aware that this is our room"
l." Our room said +.
~ les; mine and the rest of the works.
i.1' t1e man who made US died in this bed, and
80, u 70 Us as legacy You found something
~neT unpleasant, didn't you %
les, 1 answered very unpleasant'