The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-03-30
I walked on. The scenery around me

revealed new beauties almost at every
fresh step took, and the morning breeze
tanned my cheeks with delicious cool
ness. When ] had tFaversed q mile or
two, I reached q somewhat lofty emiNence,
and from this place gained . view Of the
tunets Of Ehrenbreitstcin. saw them
very indistinctly, although my eyesight
was remaTka6lc for the ago at which |
had arrived. ] could not observe the
Tavages which time, understood, had
made upon the castle. The season har-
monized with its decay. Il was towards
the close Of the year. The trees were al
most stripped Of their foliage, and ever
and again q sudden hreeze drifted the
withered leaves in whirling eddies around
me.
After travelling on for some hour longer,
I emerged from the forest, and the old
castle Of Ehrenbreitstein stood before me,
rendered only conspicuous by an OCCASION
al beam Of moonlight being shed upon it..
I quickly traversed the park, and ap.
preached an old tree which stood in the
center and which had become popularity
known o. the 4" Haunted Oak" stood
for moment absorbed in profound medi.
tation; my eyes were directed to this
venerable tree. Ha what was thatf A
feeling rushed across me, TO which had
all my life been q Stranger-A strange
terror seized upon me-a damp sweat
gathered upon my skinny limbs shook
beneath me, and nv mouth became sud-
denly 50 dry and parched that fancied
was choking. My brain was in tumult
my temples throbbed with burning
f;v RI reeled-I fell my full length upon
the green sward. Happily the earth was
soft, and was not In the least injured by
the heavy fall had sustained. lay upon
the ground for several minutes, unable to
move-a dreadful weight seemed to be
resting upon me-a horrible nightmare
that was unable to shake Of Oh
what agony ] endUred-what conflicting
thoughts shot across my bewildered bFainl
When recovered. | reproached myself
bitterly for my cowardice. !, who Rad
no little to fcar-I, who had so little to
live for, who had laughed to scOrn the
idle tales had1hearrl, even l was paral.
yzed and struck dumb with terror, almost
the moment l had entered upon this mys-
teriOuS domain.
FOoll unbelieveri Why had I dared to
repudiate the evidence Of persons to whom
perhaps every credence Was duef Why
had I presumed to ridicule doctrine
which had had supporters in every age
and in every country upon the face Of the
earthi Was | able to fathom the designs
Of Infinite intelligencer Was abls TO
penetrate that incOmprchensible mystery
in which the Great Author Of all exist
encc had thought proper to enshroud him
selff Was It for me to say that such and
such things were not, because my punny
and finite faculties were incapable Of COM
pretending theml And were the judg-
ments and opinions Of other men to be
completely set aside, because, f6rsoothI, 4
did not concur in themY Ny conscience
upbraided me for my skcpticism. had
been rash, foolish, obstinate; I had seen
enough to convert me to those opinions
which short time before had affected
to despise. FROM the hollow trunk Of the
huge oak distinctly saw figure in white
emerge it seemed to flit rather than run
act o.s the lawn. ] saw Il as distinctly as
any thing. had ever beheM IN my life.
What it was knew not. Il might be q
spirit, might be mortal. Ofthe vision,
however, there was no manner Of doubt
A mortal creature it could scarcely be.
Who was TO be there at that hour Of the
night l-who was to be there, indeed, at
alIS Nay, in the broad light Of day, when
the sun was shining with oil his meridian
glory, when nature was most bountiful.
when The cheering voices Of the country.
man and milkmaid might be heard in the
distant fields, when birds poured their
songs from every branch and tree, no liv-
ing creature had dared to penetrate into
these dark recesses, how much more un.
likely was It, therefore, that any human
being should be on this unhOly spot ai
this dreary season Of the year, and At
midnightY The idea was simply prepos-
ferrous. No; the vision I had seen was
not Of this earth, Il belonged to that other
sphere which had hitherto been wisely
closed to all mortal eyes.
Ny mind began to waver. What should
I dor Should I proceed, or rttrace my
steps to the distant village agai6e
looked towards the castle, and fanciedr |
beheld light glimmering in one Of the
windows II was Inhabited, but by whom!
That Was a problem which ] could moi
solve. So far the reports which I had
heard had been confirmed; the vision oI
the d" Haunted Oak" the light In the
chambers, oil testified to the accuracy ol
the stories in circulation.
took another draught Of my brandy,
and with this Stimulant my courage re-
vived again. walked on, and within q
few minutes stood beneath the walls O
this anscient building. l entered tht
court yard, assembled the noble staircase,
and at length stood in the principal hall
Of the building. II was spacious and
lofty, and Oaken pannels lined the walls
The windows were much shattered. and
the glass had nearly all fallen out A few
articles Of ancient furniture were placed
upon the AOOr, but with these exceptions
the room appeared to be perfectly empty
| ] took held Of q faded armchair, IL
which I seated myself. determined to
await any intrusion which might be ex
posed to. I drew my watch from my
pocket, and found that it wanted but /
few minutes Of twelve I sat musing IL
silence, but presently . noise caused IN,
to start from my chair as though had
been shot Gracious heaven! the great
bell Of the castle tOllede the hour Of mid
aightl l,cO0Nted every stroke. A faint
nesa came ever me, and my limbs turneC
icy cold and shivered cOnvulsivcly. NJ
heart beat loudly. SO much SO that coulC
hear il beating within my breast, l sa
listening In the greatest anxiety, but
heard nothing save the EaiR, which haC
begun to descend in cOpiOus quantities
and which beat iorcibly against lhe win
dows Of the castle / advanced 70 th'
windOWs and looked out bot ell was dril
ness. A distaAt peal Of thun6sR,NAEiS.
occasionally the .mOnotOHy produced b,
the falling rain, and . gleam Of lightning
ever aud Ggsin 'illumined the dark cham
Der b which I stUod With q ns6saentnry
bEiliancy. agaiN seated MyseE u III
chair, and relApsed into my former con
temDlalivA mood -1N