Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-06-20
OLD SERIES.


drops OF blood were still fresh on its oaken
floors, and tho witches came here TO 'nutr
tho always pol!uted air. and to drive infer.
nal revels with Squire ,an.and his imp'.
The whole enehantment depended on one
conditiou-that no human word should bc
spoken there--and the breaking OF the spell
involved the death OF the disturber. | had
come upon the part where q lover In pur.
suit Of q certain flower Tor his lady's hair.
getting lost in q strange forest. which hc
had never 90 much as heard OF, approaches
the vicinity OF the castle, when slight
noise In tho passage drew my attention.
Ny hand lns,inc,ivcly reached for my pi'-
tolls. IL was oil still. Three loud raps on
the door reused me. Very civil to knock. l
thought. for villain or spirit | must not
be outdone In courtesy. SO. in rs firm
voice rs I could command, | answered.
cone in
Tho door was slowly opened. and gro.
to.quc figure entered. frishtful as could be.
Il had rough hairy face. with piercing
black eyes, keen enough, Il seemed, 10 read
ones very heart. long nose. and beard
like bermi,.. Ills teeth ehattercd {" II
with impi.h spite. cannot tell the eiIec,
the Sigh, had upon mo the fret instant. u
am the prince Of this castle. said the fright.
fol arpari,ion welcome here; bu, hast
taken leave Of wife and childT
I, made me rather uneasy. I confess. to
see ,ha, bideous ,hin., rolling hl' eyes and
swapping his teeth, slowly approaching mc.
In Gods name, thought. can thi. he real 4?
Here's proof!-rreseniinsa pistol at hi.
breast. I exclaimed, Stand, or | ,hall fire.
Not every gho-, ,an be frightened by such
means; often the weapon misses fre. or the
ball recoils upon the shooter. Bu,my more
con,iicraio appari,iOn stopped, threatening.
lY raised hi. finger. turned abou. slowly,
aud rctreated with the same disnihed pace
as he had entered
llo. bo' though, I, so Squire Satan, or
whoever l, may be. ha. profound respect
Tor powder aud ball. No danger from him,
I reckon. a, least in his supernatural char.
ae,er. Taking the lantern and my pistols,
| followed the re,rca,Ing spirit, a. he slowly
paced through the hail. Suddenly he dis.
appeared il seemed rs II he bad sunken.
into the ground. l followed cautiously.
All at once the door sunk beneath me. and
| fell through into blaze Of light, which
seemed 10 come from tho flames Of the low.
er world. Earth. heaven and hell dashed
in one dreadful instant through my brain.
hut happily, after fall Of abou, ten feet.
{ alishted without injury on pile Of -oit
hay. and starting up found myself in an
under ground vault. There was a FIRE at
the further side. round which stood hall
dozen men. among them my disturbing spur
it. Another glance showed the true char
acter OF the place. and reused the appre.
hen-ion that had fallen into a worse pow.
er than ,ha, OF ghosts. All sorts OF curl.
Gus tools lay scattered over the floor, and
,hero was large table heaped with coins.
|, was, in short q counterleiter's den, and
the spirit. who haunted there were clothed
with substantial Hcsh and bone. Taking
advantage OF tie absence OF the family,
they had made their way into one Of the
wine vaults. as place Of great security,
aud for ,hc purpose OF carrying on their
work without mole-ta,ion. had coniriyed TO
raise the report that the castle was haunted.
So we'll had they succeeded that US they
told mc afterwards, | was the FIRST who dis.
covered them. No one came twice 10 tho
castle while they were there.
But, as | said. had reason 10 repent Of
my temerity. and TO wish that had not
.eorncd the landlords advice. was seized
by two or three at once. and thrust into a
dark closet. while q council Of war was held
about the fire. Better kill him fr'. as last.
SAID one. tfor could plainly hear) dead
men tell no tales Happily. some were no.
90 hardened. Besides, said they, II he
should be mi,sed. the castle will bc searched,
and then where should We be A hemp
neck.iie costs but trile now .a.days.' IL
was finally concluded to let me live, on con.
di,ion that should take an oath not TO be-
tray them.
We then sat down, like old familiar
friends, and drank to each others health in
rich old Bargundan. stolen from my lords
cellar. ! watched them ply their lawle..
trade till morning. when, just as the sun
rose and the cool shadows lay along the hill
sides, took my departure from the close
no, vault, without noticing that my watch
pistols and handsome pipe we're left on the
table.
God be prai.ed = exclaimed the host OF
the Inn. as came up to his door; we nev-
er expected to zee you alive again. Nota
wink have slep: all night for thinking OF
you. What did you SEQ there? Come in
and tell u.s.
pu, IN oath Is IN oath and one must
no, falsely use the name Of God even to save
b,. life. 50 I told nothing and as the sun
va. shining out in full splendor after tho
storm. and the air was fresh and ln,ieorat.
ing. ordered my horse and rode on.
A few weeks afterward, l received large
bundle BY post, containing splendid PAIR
Of pistols. inlaid with silver. new gold
watch Of grea. value, Turkish pipe orna-
mented with gold. and gold tobacco box.
There was al.o n ,crap Of paper, on which