The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-04-07

sonby; Ga room with q large, old-fash-
ioned clock in IL.
"No. Forty-twol" rasped tho mild
ono; "thats my room'
"Hush, for Heavens sake" said Pom
sonby; chad I known that I wouldn't
have said a word for The world"
"My dear sir, don't say that; pray go
on, sir. I'm not superstitious, neither
am I foolishly inoredulous;" and the
mild one wiped his forehead, and emp
tied his tumblcr at a gulP.
'Well, as you desire it, I will narrato
my story, said Ponsonhy. ut was OK
actly three years ago this very day, that
I and my luggage found ourselves in
No. Forty-two, tho last room $50 the
chambermaid told me- unlet in the
house"
Exactly what she told me--a cocka-
trice" interrupted the mild one.
"I was tired by my days journey,
and went to bed exactly as the clock
struck twelve Though fatigucd I felt
no disposition to sleep, so I placed my
candle on the bed-steps and began to
read. had read about five minutes,
when suddenly received a most violent
blow in the stomach, and the clock
struck q quarter. / started up, there
was no One-nothiug to account for
the phenomenon. At last I concluded
it must have been fancy. ] read on for
another quarter af an hour, when ae-
ceiyed two blows ofgreater violence than
the former one. jumped out Of bed, !,
resolved to secure my assailant. No;
there was no one!-the clock chimed
the half-hour."
"Another glass Of brandy and wator'
! cried the mild one.
1t was brought, and Pousonby pro-
ceedcd.
II seized the bcll-rope, but a sense
Of shame would not let me proceed 1
therefore resolved to keep watch for a
short time. AS sat up in the bed my
eyes fell upon the face of the old clock
in the corner. 1 could not help think
ing that was in some way connected
with the annoyance I had suffered. As
I looked, the minute-hand gradually APP
preached the TX on the dial, and the
moment it arrived there I received three
distinct and particularly sharp raps on
the crown of my head. The clock
struck the threc-quarters, / was now
convinced that there was something
wrong. What was I to do? If l dis
turbcd the house, and told this story, I
should be laughed at, and set down Ell
ther as drunk or dreaming. 1 resolved
to brave the worst. ! got out of bed,
and, gently opening the clock-'asc,
stopped the vibration of the pendulum.
"Come, that must prevent the strik.
ing, thought I, and laid myself down,
with something like a Chuckle at my
own brilliancy."
"a chuckle" murmurod the mild
one.
"I had not been in bed above fvo
minutes, resumed POusonby, "wheu ]
heard the door of the olook-case open
slowly. / felt, 1 confess, a tromor-'
81 should think sol"
"And I saw the pendulum throw 0
sOmersault on the door, and deliberate
! ly hop-hop--hop-towards the bed
1t paused for a moment, and bending its
round, brazen face full upon me, said
"Spoke?" gasped the mild one.
"Said, CONTINUED Ponsonby, mol
needing the interruption,) Sir, I am
very much obliged to you for stopping
my labors. People think I never want
any rest, but that l can stand being
perpetually wound up and kept on the
60 With your permission, I'll get in.
to bed; and without waiting for an an
swer, into bed it got,
i suppose, continued the pendu-
lum, you are not aware that this is Oul
room.
SON rooml' said I.
"'Yes; mine and the rest Of oul
works. The man who made us died il
this bed, aud left it to us as a legacy
You found something rather unPleas
ant, didn't youY
ayes" answered, every unpleasant
"'Ahl that was the striking weight
he always serves intruders in that way
when We are going When we are not
and 1 come to bed, he is quiet enough
But as / am likely to be set going agair
ia the morning, and it's now nearly half
past one, I'll wish you a good night.
"Good night, sir, j" I replied, quakinl
from head to foot. So, thought /, who
ever sleeps in this bed must either sub
init to be thumped black and blue by thu
shiking-Weight, or accept Of this horri
bic monster for a bed-fellow At thi
moment the pendulum, / suppose, fel
asleep, for it commenced an innocen
tick tick, 'tick-tiok, that rendered al
attempts at forgetfulness on my part i'm
possible"
Another glass Of brandy and water!
cried the mild one.
ono, no, said Ponsonby, II woul,
advise you not. Have your chambe
candle, and SO to bed.
eco to bed in No. Forty-twol" OK
claimed the mild one. "Nevcrl"
! "My dear fellow, matters may hav,
changed since the period j have beet
talking Of Go to your room, and il
Ianything occurs it is easy to ring tht
bell Come, I'll see you to the door.
. And, taking their candles, the pair pro
oeeded to No Forty-two.
i "Herc We arc said Mr.. Pousonby
! "good night"
The mild gentlemen could only wav
his head iu valediction, as he entera,
Ithe haunted chamber. In "a minute h