Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-12-07

discern nothing, anl was on the point o
closing the window again, for the wind was
high and sent u shiycr all over my frame
large object brushed against my haads
and lcaped into the room. | stared back
and giving hurried glance round the
chamber, saw, by the latest flicker Of tho
candle the form Of the strangc-looking dog
| had seen down stairs, sitting on the bed
bolt upright and staring at me. The next
instant | was in utter darkness.
For some moments, | hardly knew how
Ione. | stood motionlcss while a crowd OF
conflicting ngemotions swept across my mind
but soon recovering myself, luckily re-
membered there was plenty Of matches In
my cigar case ; towards my coat pocket,
therefore, | gropcd my way, and securing
them struck one Of them. What was my
joy to see, standing on the wooden mantle
piece a second candle, half burned, but
still able to give light for Il couple OF
hours at least This was speedily kin
died, and then, turning towards the dog, |
approached the bed The animal seemed
to have no ill-natucG designs but as drew
nearer, turned his nose upward and gave
a low growl, and finding | did not heed
his pantomilne, but stretched out my
hands to seize him, he repeated the action,
and took every possible means to direct
my attention to the ceiling. Without un-
dcrstandins his desire at the time, iny0l-
unfairly glanced upward. and conceive my
horror at seeing directly over the head OF
my bed the faint outlines Of a large trap
door.
Ny frozen blood had hardly begun to
tincc along my veins once more, when my
eyes, firmly riyitel on this mysterious OBJ
ject, plainly perceived it tremblc and COM
mence slowly to open. The dog observed
this likewise, aud uttering a loud howl,
sprung from the bed and out Of the still
open window. The door, nevertheless, as
cendol gradually, and just as furious
gust of wind swept BY, and with one Of its
eddes cxtinsuishal the candle, Il large,
heavy something fell with Il crash upon
the bed. With 4 gasp and cry of sutio-
cation started, and opening my eyes dis
covered | had been dreaming; and the
sense Of bcwildermcnt accompanying my
waking did not prevent u feeling oflnlensc
relief.
first | could not rccollert where |
Wa., aul f,ueied must be at home; but
Il few seconds sufiieed to dispel the illusi-
on. CASTING my eyes around in an effort
to identify myself and ascertain my posi-
ion, saw the candle on the table tlarlng
up every now and then in a desperate
struggle for existance Hastily glancing
at the mantel, | saw another candle, hall
burned, which had noticed when went to
bel. WAS now thoroughly aroused, and
with torbgl.H5 apprehension. looked ~ at
the ceiling, and, o heaven, in the dlmness
Of the light saw the REGULAR figure OF a
rcctaaeIc traced upon the plastsrins di-
rcctly above me. Every muscle Of my
whole body was paraly<elby this discovery
AMI a weight seemed to lie with crushing
force upon my chest; anl with spirit
now completely overcome with suPe'st.-
tious terror, lay attempting to summon
sufficient resolution to arise and examine
the chamber more closely, whcn-hark,
could it be2-yes-no-ycS, there was
unmistakably faint sound outside my
window, resembling the noise Of a dogs
claws against the WALL 1t grew more
and more distinct, accompanied at enter
yals with Il low whining and an occasional