The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-30

wall tic TeuectlOn OF the ehd OF my money pe4C
ust visible between my waistcoat nd panta-
looms. l commonly wore this next my body,
but on this morning had accidentally forgotten
it until nearly dressed, and had therefore strap
ped it around me hastily, as had little time to
spare.
recoected with no small disquietude the
opportunity Of observing this which had been
afforded by the dark lantern; and the enigmat
icai remark of the woman, the diabolical lcok CT
my hosts and the suspicious behavior Of the
dog, simultaneously REQUIRED to my mind, and
contributed greatly to increase my disquietude.
My first impulse was not to go tc bed at all !;
but my second was to apostrophize myself un-
der the title of internal fool and following the
line of conduct implied, although hardly ex-
pressed in this remark, l took Off my clothes
and plunged into bed.
The wild meanings of the wind kept me lis
tening for while to their gusty music, and en-
HANGED the feeling Of awe which I strove in
vainto Danish from my breast. After an hour
or two however, as everything seemed perfectly
still, the fatigue of my journey gained the mas
terry of all anxiety, and | fell into state akin
to sleep, but distinguished from it by my retain
Ing a consciousness OF whore | was and how |
was oircumstanced l was powerless to move
or act, but l seemed gifted with almost SUI
.pernatural acuteness of mental activity, by
which took cognizance of the least noise or
disturbance. In this abnormal condition | ap-
peared to remain tranquil for long time, see
ing and hearing altogether independently Of
physical organs Of sense, when I became aware
in my dream-for it was only an unusual kind
OF dreanl-of a scratching noise just outside of
my chamber window, which was near the head
of the bed. This grew louder and louder, I'M
till bursting the spell of inaction which had
hitherto bound me hand and foot, I appeared 70
leap up and rush to the window. All without
was hidden in inky blackness, and Pickering in
its socket, evidently about 10 expire. With
great effort flung up the easement and pecrad
eagerly in the gloom, but l could discern moth
ing. and as | was on the point Of closing the
window again, tor the wind was high and sent
a shiver over my frame, d large object brushed
against my hands and leaped into the room. /
started back, and giving hurried glance round
the chamber, saw BIZ tue latest flicker Of the
dying candle, the strange looking dog ] had
seen down stairs sitting on the bed bolt up
right and staring at me. The next instant /
was in utter darkness.
For some moments, l hardly knew how long,
l stood motloness. while crowd Of conflicting
emotions swept across my mind; but soon re-
covering myself, l luckily remembered there
was plenty of matches in my cigar case; to-
wards my coat pocket therefore, [ CROPPED my
way, and securing them, struck one Of tlem.-I
What was my Joy to see, standing Oh the wood
en- mantle piece, second candle, haf burned.
but still able to give light for couple OF. hours
at least This was speedily kindled, and then
turning towards the dog, Iapproaehed the bed
The animal seemed to have no i'll uatuTed de-
signs, but as ! drew nearer, turned bis nose
upward and gave low growl, aud finding [ cid
not heed his pantomine, but stretched out my
IL 10 a11 bo to1
took every possible means to direct my atteu-
tion 20 the ceiling. Without understanding bis
desire at the time, Involuntary glanced up
wards, and conceive my horror at seeing direct
ly over tt head Of my bed the faint outlines Of
a large trap door.
My frozen blood had hardly begun 10 Jingle
along my veins once more, when my eyes firm
ly riyited on this mysterious object, plainly
perceived it tremble and commence slowly to
open The cog observed this likewise, and uf-
terms a loud howl, sprung from the bed and
out 6SRhe still onen window. The door never
theless assembled gradually, and just as q furi-
Gus gust of wind swept by, and with one of its
eddies extinguished the candle, large, heavy
fell wish crash on The bed. With
a gasp end cry OF suffocation, / started opened
my eyes and discovered / had been dreaming
and the sense of bewidorment accompany ing
my waking did not proven feeling otintense
relief,
At Grst I could not Yecollect where l was and
fancied l mnst be at home but a few seconds
suficed to dispei the illusion. Casting my ewes
around in an effort to identify my self and sscer-
tain my position, I saw the candle on the table
hariEg up every now and then in a desnerate
struggle for existence. Hastily CHANGING at the
mantel, saw another candle hall burned which
I had noticed when I went to bed. was now
aroused, and with foreboding appre-
tensions looked up at the ceiing,and Oh heay-
en-, in TIE dimness Of the light I saw The regu-
lar figure Of "a rectangle traced on The plaster
ing directly above me. Every muscle of my
whole body was paralyzad by this discoverev
and weight seemed TO lie with crushing force
upon my chest and with spirit completely
overcome with superstitioUs terror, ] lay at
tempting TO summon sufficient resolution to
arise and examine She chamber more closely
could it be ?-yes--no yes there
was Enthusiastically q faint sound outside my win
dow, resembling the noise Of ? dogs claws
against the wall 1t grew more and more dig
tinct accompanied at intervals with a low
W Inning and an occasional short, sharp yelp -
No sooner had become convinced that this
was really the case than my self possession re-
turned; got up, put on my clothes, took one
pistol in my hand, leaving the other under my
pillow, and walked resolutcly towards the wiz
dow.
My candle had become extinguished by this
time, and as l looked out upon the black abyss
of night saw that the clouds dashed here and
there with spots Of silyer,were breaking up,aud
that before long the moon would appear. 7
threw open the window, and at once, as if borne
by the gush of wind which rushed into the
apartment, in leaped the black dog which seem
ed so mysteriously connected with This adven-
ture of mine. / WAS now completely my own
by vigorous effort Of the will ! quell-
ed the shadowy fears which beseged my heart, !
and looked out with straining eyes to discern
il possible, the means by which the dog could
thus make his appearance outside second ato- |
~ window. a transient moonbeam showed me
one of the numerous outbuildings before men
toned, at right angles with the wall Of the |
house and from the caves Of this all along the
side Of the house extended q narrow plank, |
about five inches wide. a thick cloud obscu-
ring the moon again precluded further 9Jserya-
ton, and ! turned from the window
felt confident that my cigar case was emp |
ty CT matches, but to test The accuracy Of my
dream, felt for it, opened it and discovered |
at least twenty, ] struck light, and as / ex-
pected, there was the dog upon the bed in The
very attitude Of the vision. All doubtnow var
ishcd from my mind that had been mysterious |
and [ stood moment resolving in my mind the |
best course Of action. This l speedily decided
on. Going up TO the dog, | caressed him, and
was on the point of carrying him to the window
when-to make my dream more exact a prOph- |
ecy-he turned his nose towards the. ceiling,
and commenced whining very low. I instant
ly seized him and hurled him out Of the window
with some little computations at thus treating
my only friend in the accused house, but !
could make no delay
Laying some clothes on tie bed in the form
of man as nearly as possible, and extinguish- |
ing the candle, retired to the corner Of the
room, and sitting down in one Of the chairs, !
had placed against the door, with thy revol- |
yer in my hand determined to await the issue
of events. For half an hour I set perfectly still
listening to every whistle and sigh Of the wind,
which blew internationally through the window |
had left open, and straining my eyes whenev- |
er there was CLEAN oflght to discern wheih- |
er there was any movement in the trap door
At last, when rnomentary ray shonein ! saw |