The Shreveport weekly news., 1861-05-06

ted, too, how anXiously the old wO-
man and her sons had endeavored to
detain him when the other travellers
were departing; and now, therefore
he confidently anticipated a cordial
and cheering reception. His hrst
call for admission obtained no visible
marks of attention, but instantly the
greatest noise and confusion prevailed
within the cottage. They think it
is one ofthe supernatural visitants of
whom the old lady talks so much,
though the boy, approaching win.
dow, where the light within showed
him all he Inhabitants ut their sew
eral occupations the old woman was
hustily scrubbing the stone floor, and
strcwing it thickly over with sand,
while her two sons seemed with cqanl
haste to be thrnsting somcthinS large
and heavy into an immense chest,
which they carefully locked. The
bov, in a trolicsomc mood, thought
!cssly tapped at the window when
they all Instantly started up with
cons arnation so strongly depicted on
their countenanccs, that he shrunk
back involuntarily with AN underlined
feeling of apprehension bat before
he had time to reflect moment Ion
ger, one of the men suddenly darted
out "A, the door, and seiziug the boy
rugby by the shoulder. dragged him
Violently into the cottage. Il am
not what you take me tor,' said the
bov, attempting to laugh, but only
the poor pedIar who visited You last
wear" Are YOU alone p inquired
the old woman, in a harsh deep tone,
which made his heart thrill with ap-
prehcnsion. "les,' SAID the boy
II am alone here and alas y he ad-
ded, with Il burst of uncomfortable
: feeling, II am alone i'll the wide
world also! Not Il person exists
, who would assist me i'll distress, or
, shed :, single tear if died this very
: night
.Thcn You are welcome ~ said one
of the men with snecr, while he
c; st glance of peculiar expression
,. AT the Other inhabitants ct the cottage
! |, was with II shivcr OF apprehen-
= sion, rather than OF cold. that the boy
u drew towards the fire. and III. looks
y which the old woman and her sons
y ,xcl,auge,!. made him wish that hc
- had preferred the shelter OF any "n'
:, o. ,hc routt.Ss cottages winch were
:, scattered near. rat t.cr than trust him
SEX among persons OF such dubl"u:
: aspect. Dreadful surInls,s iittos
across his brain, and ;crr"rs which h'
=, could neither combat or examin"
-. inr.I ceptibly stol. int" his mind
: 'hu, .lanr. and beyond the reach "
assistance. hr resolved to sinolhcr HI
1u,v.cipnS. nr ~ Eras, to Increase til
>, ,a"ycr l., revealing them. lh
.o.m to which he retired 10Y ia
ui.ht had a confused aud drSoEai
aspect; the curtains seemed 10 hav
ih.rn violently torn down from Il!
=, bed, and still hung III tatters "roun
y iit--the table seemed to nave be"
!, broken bv some violent conclusion
i. and the fragments OF various piece
:" of furniture lay scattered upon Il!
lie aoor. The boy begged that ligi
~ might burn in his apartment TIL
~ was asleep and anxiously examine
~" ,L, faste,:ings Of III. door; bur the
az seemed to have been wrcnchcd asu
" der on some former occasion, and we
l.. still lcf, rusty and broken.
=. I,was long ere the pcdlar attem
-, ted 10 compose his aSitatcd nerves
w. ~. rest but at length HE senses beg
,h to ..s,eep t.emsnIvrsin torSettuInrS~
D,n though his Imagination reInaln
I,L. painfully active. and presented h'
- scenes of terror 10 his mind. with
-, the vividurSs ot reality. Sudden
ND the boy was startled from these n:
80, m tated slumbcrs. by what sounded
,,i, him like Il cry of distress; he
w.. broad awake in Il moment. and sat
. in bed but the noise was not rept
3d. ted. and b. enIeayourcd ~ persua
1 himself i. had only been a c"ntinl
,b, of the fearful images which bad u
,;I,, tuSbed his rest. when. on siaueln2
snJ IN. door, observed underneath /
IL, broad red stream of blood stt"n
and stealing its course along the to
,.itb sFrautic with alarm. it was bUt
I;. work Of moment TO spring from
, "a bed. aud rush 70 the door, thr"ug
aJ chink Of which. his eye nearly dl
n,oJ med with afri ght, he could wa
vim unsuspected whatever might be d
an i'll the adjoining room.
:, to His fear vanished instantly WI
yer. he perceived that it was only
allv that they had been slaughter
died and he was about to steal into his
med again, ashamed OF his groundlesS
teps, prehehslohs' "hen us ga. 80 81
ears. ted by Il cop'erSa'ton "Hi'" '.""7
,rred ed him aghast with terror to the :
| his This is nn easier job than
as a dad Yesterday" said the man
ding held the goat. 81 wish all ths 'pr
'ught we've cut were 50 easily ana 4a'
ken; done. Did you eyer bear such an