The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-04-21

premacy above all the woe and tumult oI
earth, above all the forces of nature, and the
spirit of man himself, gave him a degree o
composure in his present situation, which,
he owned, he should, without this aid, have
wanted.
With restored calmness, he removed his
hands from his eyes and looked up once
more, hoping he had been the subject OF
some strange delusion of the senses. No
there; another fash showed it nearer,
palmer than before--during these brief mo-
ments it had descended the gallery stairs
with uuheard lightness and swiftness, and
was soon on the same floor with himself.-
By this time the violence of the storm was
some what bated. The flashes of lightning
came at longer intervals. He had to wait
some seconds, straining his eyes upon the
darkness. The lightning came at last
dazz ling and wh,e-it showed nearer yet
Still undistinguishable, vague-a tangled
mass of dark draperies and elf-like locks
and white CLEANS of face Ond hands-humon
and vet not-,chdt was this, thus wild in
form, thus stealthy in it's approach! He lis
tened, with his ear strained to its utmost
capacity, but there was no sound except thai
of the storm without.
To leave the church and encounter all the
| fury of the elements without, now appeared
to him as blessed relief. But, to do so, he
must pass this unearlhly figure. Another
flash OF lightning, which showed his fearfu
companion so near as to be almost within
reach, quickened his lingering resolution
With sudden summons Of oil his remain
ing courage, he rushed from the spot wher'
he had hitherto stood transfixed, ran with hi
utmost speed down the long aisle, and gav'
q long gasp Of relief as he felt the dam
night air, and heard the door shut benin
him. To unite the bride of his horse wa
the work of q moment; he sprang into hi
saddle-at that very moment he heard tn
church door shut violentIy-the horse CAV
a wild leap-but wilder one had landed tn
fearful form sale behind the rider, and hi
waist wus clutched by arms which held
like vice.
The horse, seeming 10 share the terror 0
his rider, reared and plunged and then start
ed forward at his greatest speed. He in
stinctively took the rightroad towards home
and went at such rate as promised soon t.
termidate this terrible journey. With ,h
strength of desperation, Mr.. T. tried to und
the rigid clasp about his waist, but the feel
ing OF hands, Geld as ice, and bony as thos
of u skeleton, was such an additional touc
of horror he dared not repeat the lttempt
He spoke and ndjurcd his companion to tel
its name and nature, but there was no en-
swer, no movement, rot even, as it SCENE
seemed to him. the drawing of the breath
and thus they sped with Wild swiltnes
through The forest path, illuminated only b.
the titful lightning. He could never after
wards give any clear account of his sensa
tons during ride which naturally SCENE
TO him interminable. That he retained hi
reason and his life under the long continue
stress of such mortal terror, was matter c
surprise to himself and his friends. 1t wa
over at last. Home was at hand. lie sa,
its friendly lights, and, with a sense ofrelie
an ] thank fulness never before experienced
lie stopped at his own gate. 1t wns opene
by a faithful servant, who had sat up wit
the anxious lie Of Mr.. r., to await his re
turn. But the frightened horse did not Civ
Peter time even for an exclamation of Sui
prise at seeing his master return thus at
companled-be shot past the CUTE, fie'
across the lawn, and only stopped, finally
at the hall door, with shock 30 sudden q
almost unseated both riders.
The next day it was discovered that tn
companion of Mr.. It's night ride, wos an in
sane woman, who had escaped from he
keepers, and after hiding in the woods, ha
taken refuge from the storm in the churc
just before he entered it. When Mr.. l
discovered the real nature Of the being VIII
had caused him so much suffering, he wa
surprised at his own panic, and was willIn
to attribute it to an unaccountable depres
sion in the nervous energy, such as is some
times experienced by those who boast tn
most robust. physical and moral health.