Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-26
From Robert Dale Owens "Footfalls on the Bound
airy Of Another world."l
The spirIt-Persecntion-S -Sunerings OF an
English Ohicer.

airy Of Another Worid."l
The Spirit-Persecntion- -sunerinEs OF an
English Ohlcer.
Gan Young girls have friendships one with
another, and when was seventeen my friend,
above all others, was Kate L.. She was
a young Irish lady, my senior by three years,
n 0entle affectionate pretty creature, much
devoted 70 her old mother, and exercising
constant forbearance toward a disagreeable
brother who would persist in playing the
fute, though he played both out of time and
tune. This brother was my pete Rotre; and
whenever complained of his bad playing,
Kate would say, 'Ah wait till Robert comes
home; he plays and sings like an angel, and
is so handsomep ia '.f..
This Robert had been with his regiment
for some years in Canada; and his coming was
to be the happiness Of mother and daughter
For three months before his return nothing
else was talked of. If / had any talent for
falling in love, should have done so, in an
ticipation, with Robert L--;bJt that was
not my weakness; and was much amused
with my friends speculations as to whether
Robert would fall in love with me, or with
him first. .i. .1".
"When we met there was, happily, no
danger of either. he told Kate that her
friend was always laughing; and / thought
had never looked on q face so beautiful in
outline and yet so haggard and painful. His
large blue eyes were deeply set, but always
seemed looking for something they could not
find, To look at him made me uncomfortable.
But this was not so strange as the change
which, after time, was evident in Kate.
She had become, in less than a week, cold
and constrained l was to have spent day
with her; but she made some apology, and, in
doing so, burst into tears. Something was
evidently wrong, which felt satisfied time
must disclose.
"In about a week more she came to see me
by myself, looking ten years older. She
closed the door of my room, and then said she
desired to tell me something which she felt
could hardly believe, but that if was not
afraid, might come and judge for myself
"After Roberts return, she said, for week
or so they had been delightfully."- happy. But
very soon--she thought about the tenth day,
or rather night--they were rather alarmed
by loud raps and knocks in Roberts room.
II was the back room on the same floor on
which Mrs. L. and her daughter slept
together in the large front bed-chamber
They heard him swearing at the noise, as if il
had been his servant; hut the man did moi
sleep i'll the hOuse. AT last he threw hi
boots at it; and the more violent he became
the more violent seemed to grow the disturb
ance.
"At last his mother ventured to knock a
his door and ask what was the matter. HI
told her to come in. She brought Lighted
candle and set it on the table. As she en-
tered, her sons favorite pointer rushed out o
the room. So,' he said, the dogs gonel
have not been able to keep dog in my room
at night for years. but under your roof
mother fancied, hoped, / might escape
persecution that see now .pursues me ever
here. / am sorry for Kate's canary bird tina
hung behind the curtain. heard 1t hutter
ing after the first round. Of course it il
dead
"The old lady got up, all trembling, to looE
at poor Kate's bird. It was dead, at the bot
tom of the cage,-sll its feathers ruffied.
"Is there no Bible in the room ? she in.
quired. 'Yes,'-he drew one from under his
pillow: that, think, protects me from thu
blows He looked so dreadfully exhausted
that his mother wished to leave the room, h
get him some wine. No, stay here; do no
leave me he entreated. Hardly had h
ceased speaking, when some huge, heav.
substance seemed rolling down the Gimme,
and Topped on the hearth; but Mrs. L
saw nothing The next moment, as from
strong wind, the light was extinguished
while knocks and raps and a rushing sound
passed round the apartment. Robert L.
alternately prayed and sworei and the oil
lady, remarkable for her self-possession, ha
great difficulty in preventing herself froi
fainting. The noise continued, sometime
seeming like violent thumps, sometimes I'll
sounds appearing to tiekk around the room
AT last her other son, reused by the dii
turbance, came in and found his mother o
her knees, praying.
'That night she slept in her sons room
or rather attempted to do so; for sleep ws
impossible, though her bed was not touche
or shaken. Kate remained outside the ope
door. II was impossible TO see, because, in
mediately after the first plunge down Il
chimney, the lights were extinguished.
'The next morning, Robert told his famil
that for more than ten years he had been II
victim of this spirit persecution. If he la
=. n.
officers, who gradually stunned the societ
of the haunted man, as they called him.
one who must have done something to dra
down such punishment When on leave
absence, he was generally free from visitatiC
for three or four nights then it found hi
out again. He never was suffered TO rema
in a lodging, being regularly warned out |
the householders, who would not endure 4
noise.
AFTER breakfast the next door neighbc
sent in TO complain of the noises of the pl
ceding night. On the succeeding nigh
several friends 1.-TWO or three Of whom
knew sat up with Mrs. L---, and soug
TO investigate, according TO human meal
the cause. In vain They verified the ia
the cause remained hidden in mystery.
"Kate wished me to hear it for myself;
had not the courage to do so, nor wou
my dear mother have permitted it.
"No inducement could prevail on the poi
ter TO return 70 his masters room, by day
night. He was recent purchase and, un
the first noise in London came, had appre
ated Roberts kindness. After that, he e.
IDENTIFY disliked his master 1T is the Q
story over again, said Robert i could new
keep dog, | thought | would try aga
but ! shall never have anything TO love, a
nothing will ever be permitted to love n
The animal soon after got out and they 81
posed it ran away or was stolen.
"The young man, seeing his mother a
sister fading away under anxiety and want
rest told them he could bear his aftlcti
better by himself and would therefore 20
ireland, his native country, and reside
some detached country cottage where
could fish and shoot. 7
"He went. Before his departure | OF
herd the poor fellow say, 1T Is hard TO be
punished but perhaps have deserved IL
~ learned, afterward, that there was m
than a suspicion that he had abandoned
unfortunate girl, who An .l
Loved not wisely, but too weilr y,
and that she dad IN Amarica "a thfa a