Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-11-04

I" '"e' w WV ""N "' WE =" ''h"' 49,"
in the road brough. me in full viow Of a
large, gloomy.loOking building, situated at
som, distance back from the road, and sur.
rounded by lofty trees and shrubbery.
"a. stood looking at the house, a la.
rid red flame suddenly shot up from the oh
scuriiy Of one Of the crumblIns towers. fol-
lowed by the mos, awful groans and I'M
precautions. Gradually the flame turned to
siekly, gha,lly.looking blue light, aud
then expired. ImpclIed by desperation more
than bravery, rushed forward to the
crumblipg gateway Of the garden. and there
clineIng for support to one OF the pillars,
my hair fairly on end, witnessed the crown.
ing act Of horror.
The door Of tho house had crumbled
from il. hinge. and there fallen among the
weeds which checked the path. remark
ed all this by means Of fain. lish, which
had suddenly appeared in the hall. As |
.,ill gared, gigantic and horribly dslorm'
ed figure rose in tho door yard. Flrst
came i,' hideoa. head, seowling eyes. and
pallid face then its huge shoulders and
trawny arms up, by degrees, 1t reared its
foul proportions. until-i,s head lost IN
the gloom OF the highest eeilins-,hsre on.
" Icmained the bleeding trunk. My blood
fairly CONCEALED at this, and I staggered
like a drunkard. Slowly the figure sank
again down. down, till thought /. would
never cca.c falling. Scarcely had il. mat.
tel lock. disappeared beneath the sill.
when groan. and clanking together Of chains
cnsued, producing the most hideou. dis
cord.
Though my knee. fairly smots together
and cold chill. ran down my limbs, yet
would | not hy. The chat,erinS OF my
teeth was only equalled by my contempt,
Tor my eowarlice my fear by my courage.
determined to investigate the mystery Gus,
what It might.
49, when tho figure sealn appeared, I
drew my sword, rushed forward through
the tangled pathway, up over the ruined
door and STEPS, driving my sword to ITS hilI
in the body VI the ghost. Crash, bang, fell
the body. and Immediately heard foot.
steps in the passage, and a noise as OF some
one dragging a rope. 'prang after the
rctreating footsteps, and though IL was
too dark to distinguish forms. was convin-
ccd that two persons were flying before me-.
That they were human concluded IRON
the cry one Of them gave when | struck
him on the shoulders with the lat OF my
sword Being unacquainted with the
house, I was sJon Lett behind and alter
cropping about ia the dark for some time, ]
reached back balcony just in time to catch
sight OF n man and woman hurryins OF in
different directions. Returning TO tbs hall II
fortunately stumbled over u lamp aud box
Of matches Striking light was soon en-
ishIened regarding the nature Of noises
had heard. Two or three iron chain, were
lying on the door. and jus, before the en-
trace Of the house was the insensibls form
oi the appara,ion which had 50 terrified mo.
IL wa. composed ofrag'. old sheets, and va
rous other dry good, OF a spectral nature.
a. The mystery was solved. All Sicily
had been frightened 10y an usly'looking
rag.doll, exhibited n, curious hours, by
two young people whose history shall
take pleasure in narratins. That large
number. Of phca.ants should havo shiyered
at bcholdiBg these nocturnal exhibitions OF
birthstone. !. no matter for much surprise
considering that il presented pretty fair
picture Of what they might expect here
after.
" Now for the conclusion OF this event
| ful history A few days subsequent to the
events. just described, | rode down TO the
haunted house, determined, IL possible, to
.li, the mystery to its very core. And Gu
rious were the facts learned. IL appears
that the young man whom had seen run
ming Acros. the fields, was the son OF a no.
ble bu, impoverished family. Their pedi'
gree was Us long AS their purse was shors'
aud the pride Of the old Count was only
equalled by his excessive poverty. ! don't
like to in,rude into the private Affairs OF
family, and unyell the mysteries OF domes-
tic economy. ye, how can | refrain from tel
ling YOU that the old Count was sometimes
obliged to lie abed while his shirt was go
ing through an absolutionary process.
Melancholy as il may appear, It was a
fact.
Now this young lord, sen OF the old
Count. was desperately in love with yoons
lass, the same whom had seen running ac-
ro,s the fields, you recollect, and who was
the daughter OF very wealthy farmer.
The passion was returned, and nothing but
neutrality-suspicious. great obstable-in.
tervened between them and happiness. In
this particular case marriage proved de-
cided obstacle, for no sooner had tho old
Count heard OF the attachment Of his son
for the biue-eyei Lass, than calling him
into the library Of the chateau, he proceed.
ed to give him what !. technically termed a
piece Of his mind. lie FIRST called upon
him to remember his blood; the ancient
pedigree OF his house the noble title to
which he would succeed. Finding this
Of no avail, and that bis son siill cluns %
his blue.eyed beauty, the old Count broke
forth as follows
..what to marry pea'anf! the daugh'
ter of q farmer my son to marry far
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