East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-04-18
THE UNWELCoME MONITOR.

| Il
my office to travel frequently in the West
ern States. In those days the means Of
communication between different parts o
the country were much less extended
than at present, and in consequence
very often performed long journeys on
horseback, concealing, commonly, large
sums of money about my person. For
the better security of life and property,
which were not seldom endangered in the
less populous districts, invariably made
il my practice to go armed, and being
naturally of fearless turn, rather enjoy
ed than otherwise the sense of danger
! from which L was never wholly free
One of my adventures-and i met many
well worth narrating-iuvolvsd circum.
stances which at the time seemed to bor-
der on the supernatural, and which have
always been in great measure mysteri-
ously inexplicable. No system of phi
chology has ever succeeded in an alyz,
those occult operations of the mind, by
which the Imagination is determined to
represent on its canvas scenes which are
yet enveloped in the impenetrable dark
ness Of futurity. But to my story.
The occasion of my business in the
year 1S3-rendered it necessary for me
to traverse the western part of the State
of Ohio, and made the journey, as usual
on horseback. The State, now one Of
the most lustrous stars in the Federal
constellation, was at this time eclipsed in
glory by many q sister luminary which
has since grown dim beside it. The
greater part of my route lay through a
thinly-peopled region, in which the houses
were ''like angles visits, q few and far
between" and in which | was frequently
obliged to put up with Accommodations
of the very plainest description. One
wet, raw, windy day in October, | had
ridden further than common on wretch
ed road, which had greatly taxed the
powers Of my willing horse, and as the
afternoon wore away, and still no 81 On of
a house appeared, began to feel anxious
no less on his account than on my own.
Just before evening closed in, however,
| was ovcrjoyed by the distant prospect
of house, rudely built, indeed, but as
welcome to my eyes as the low-fying
shores of Guanahan to the strained WIS.,
ion of Columbus and his comrades.
Patting the neck of my jaded steed,
and speaking encouraging words to him,
| pushed OH to the haven which promised
US rest after the toll and WEAKNESS of the
days exertions. Through the uncurtain
ed windows of the lower story streamed
out into the increasing darkness a cheer
ful light, whose wavering brightness in
dicated an open fireplace. As | drew
near the house, | could partly discern
through the gloom the shapes Of irregular
sheds aud outbuildings attached to the
main structure but l only curiously
glanced at these, being more intent on
reaching the inside than scrutinizing the
outside of the edifce. The sound of my
horses hools acted the inmates, and
a man issued from one of the outbuild
ing dark lantern, which entirely con-
cealed his own figure, while it plainly re-
vealed mine.
"Can you take care Of my horse, and
give me food and lodging Tor the night?'
| inquired. 1--WE are both exhausted,
and can hardly 60 further before to NOR
row."
"Yes," was the laconic answer.
/ dismounted and followed the man as
he led my horse into the barn, and hav-
ing seen him well provided for, we went,
without an additional syllable, into the
house, my companion all the whether ac-
cidently or designcdly, keep the brigL:
side of the lantern constantly turned tow
ards me, and it was not until we entered
the apartment containing the fire that |
could obtain sight of him. involun-
tary turned my gaze upon him before
even glacing at the room into which |
now entered, impelled by an irresistible
curiosity for which was at a loss to ac-
count. He was man Of rather more
than average stature, with breadth
across the shoulders l have never but once
seen equaled; indeed, so athletic was his
appearance, that saw instantly that /
was but babe in comparison Of physi.
cal strength, although at least two in
ches his superior in stature.
His features were not ill.shaped, and
if it had not been for low forehead, he
might have been called almost cookbook
ing; his complexion, however, was dark
and profusion of bushy beared rendered
the expression of his mouth hardly visible.
l was Just turning my eyes from his face
to observe the aspect of my new quar-
ters, when for second his glance met
mine; it was instantaneously averted, but
q thrill of horror, loathing and dismay
shot through my frame like an agonizing
electrical shock.
1t was rather small black eye (the
other being sightless and nearly shut)
which had thus powerfully affected me;
in its horrible glitter seemed to lurk tho
concentrated quintessence of devilsh
malignity. No words can describe the
convulsivs rccoil with which I shrank
from that glimpse into the depths of his
soul; it was as if the earth had yawned
beneath my feet, and in the abyss L had
half described the deeper blackness, vast
and i'll defined, Of the prince of evil.
With an immense effort Of will, how
ever, / shook off the influence Of the man,
and directed my attention to the objects
that surrounded me. The room was not
large, and was rougly plastered, although
-. l..k., a 1,o s.r.l .-o. q 80, 4.