Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-11-04
MIS- C L. LII A n Y
The Haunted House of Sicily.

tleman and soldier. Such was the man
from whom | heard the story, which as
nearly Ms possible shall be given in his own
words:
"During the revolution Of Is, | found
myself, in company with three or four OH
GERS Of the patriot force, at a small village
few leagues distant from the coast. lrn.
portant information had reached US, the
substance of which IL was necessary to com.
munca,e 10 some OF our friends, who had
collected together at a large town some ten
/ league. IN the interior. As the business
was exceedingly important, quite = discus
sion took place as To who should undertake
the journey. which was bcse, with dliieul.
J tics and danger. The government was su.-
picious and tho officials very eIaeting; to
be suspected Of treason was almost equiVa.
lent to death. In proportion as the dan
ger. we're magni6od, each one Of US the
more strongly denied the Others right to
meet IL. A. We all claimed the privilege of
going. there was clearly bu, one way OF set
llin: IL, and tha, was by lot. Tho lot fell
to me. aud thus by singular chance, was
enabled to investigate one Of the most tI.
traorlinary mysteries Of the time.
For many months there had been con.
siderable excitement in this part Of the
country concerning an old house, situated
on lonely road, which was said 10 he
haunted. Strange things had bcen seen
there; elanking Of chains had been heard,
fearful groans and other equally terrible
noises. Sime OF the more adventurous OF
the sicilaus. who had gone bra'sly to work
to Investigate This singular affair. hearing
hidro1s unearthly sounds. had taken 10
their heels instead Of investigation, and thus
added fresh fuel to popular superstition.
The place was Stunned by all; no one
would pas. it after nishthll ; and even in
the daytime. the peasants would cross
themselves dcyoutly, and say an Are they
hurried by. The mos, proaIgh,e seemcd to
grow pious, in proportion as their knees
shook with terror.
"On account of tho vigilance Of the po-
lice. | was obliged to travel At night, and
as much a. possible, by unirequen,ed roads.
Aftor mature deliberation, concluded up
on the bgst rnusc, which was an unirequen.
,cd road lying TO the norihwari.
WHAT" crio4 my CO mPanions when !
told them the path had chosen, "do you
temp, hcaven' Are You not aware that
the road YOU have chosen leads by the hduH-
frd house 30
TO this replied, that though | was
not before aware Of the location Of the
house. now that | did know, certainly
should not lose 80 excellent an opportunity
Of .ccine it. They tried to dissuadc me
from what they considered foolhardy
r-ckle..nc,. thcy painted in vivid eolor'
NJ horror. oftho place, and even whisper
ell Of fearful murders, said to have bcen
perpo,rat,d there. lpro'cd ineorrisible.-
Finding their prayers and "arning' alike
incG,ctual, they grasped me warmly by the
hand aud with many God ~ with you,
| Issued into the grA-.grown streets Of the
village, and in few minutes more was
ealloprns or toward. the interior.
81, va, lovely nish,-'uch one a.
fair Sicily alone can produce the air was
laden with the perfume Of many nower'.
and through the branches OF the lofty trees
which grew upon the borders Of the road
the air murmuted soit and delicious music.
| | fell into decp rc'ery. abandoning my
self TO the most delicious thought. My
horso slaekened hi, pace to a deliberate
walk. and for aught know To the contrary
was dreaming also. How long this state
of things lasted, am not certain, but was
suddenly startled by my horsa falling back
on hi. launches. trembling violently, aud
snor,ins with terror. Ny frstimprcssior
wa. that robbers had attacked me, and in
the excitement Of the moment drew my
sword, determined to sell my life as dearly
a. possible. A moments observation con-
WINGED me. however, that my fears were
rroundlcss. Not living soul could see
| i'm any direction, nor could discover the
cause Of my horses terror. Placing my
sword in il. sheath, now endeavored to
urge forward my horse. With great relde.
tance he obsyed my whip. trembling vio-
lontly, and giving other signs OF great fear.
The .ky was no longer clear great mas
scs OF clouds drove through tha heavens, and
n distant rumbling of thunder betokcned an
approaching storm. In the midst OF this,
the moon which had struggled in occasional
climpses through the ragged and lowering
clouds. sank beneath the horizon OF the dis
tan, mountains. leaving the night gloomy
and dark. My horse now became utterly
unn,.nageable 80, dismounting, determ-
ined 10 discover the cause. HItehing the
bride careiully to tree. | moved forward
ON the road, scanning as | went, every
shrub or nook where might lie concealed an
enemy. The stiffness OF the night the late
ness of the hour. and the excitement conse'
quen, upon the mission ! was performing
all con.pired to produce great physical nor-
yousness; tie very absence OF danger
heightened my fear. Up to this moment
no, a thought Of the haunted house hsd
crossed my mind, bat just as was on the
point Of returning to the spot where ! had
tied my horse, a fearful shrek rose on the
air. and a pale blue li:ht cleaned through