The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-11-29
A TRUE GHOST STORY.

friend Of mine. 4 medical man was
on fishing expedition with an old college
acquaintance, an army surgeon, whom he
had not met for many years, from his
having been in India with his regrlent
VI Donald, the army surgeon was tho
rough Highlander and somewhat tinged
with what is styled the superstition of his
countrrmen, and at the time speak Of
was liable to rather depressed spirits from
an unsound liver. His native air was
however, rapidly renewing his youth and
when he and his old friend paced alenc
the banks Of the fishing stream in n quiet
part Of 1rsyl-shre, and sent their lines
like airy gossaner over the pools, and
touched the water over a salmon's nose
SO temptngly that the best principled and
wsest fish could not resist the bite
u Donald had apparently regaiued his
buoyancy Of spirit They had been fish
ing together for about a week with great
success, when N Donald proposed to make
a visit 10 family he was acquainted with.
which would separate him from his friend
for some days. But whenever he spoke
Of their intended separation he sank down
into his old spending state, at one time
ase erting that he felt ~ if they were never
to meet again. My friend tried to cheer
him but in vain. They parted at the
trouting stream, n Donald's route beisg
across q mouHtain pass, With which, how
ever he had been acquainted in his youth.
though the road was lonely and wild IN
the extreme. The Doctor returned early
in the evening to his resting place, which
was shepherds house lying on the very
outskirts of the settlements, and beside a
feaming mountain stream. The shep-
herds only attendants at the time were
ID Iox Il -
to the hut, and communicating with it by
a short passage, was rather comfortable
room, which the Laird had fitted up to
serve as a sort of lodge for himself in the
midst of his shooting ground, and which
he had put for fortnight at the disposal
of my friend.
Shortly after sunset on the day men,
ton, the wind began to rise suddenly to a
gale, the rain descended in torrents, and
the night became very dark. The shep
herd seemed uneasy, and several times
went to the door to inspect the weather.
AT last he aroused the fears OF the Doctor
for McDonalds safety, by expressing the
hope that by this time he was "owre that
awfu black moss, and across tie red
burn Every traveller to the Highlands
knows how rapidly streams rise, and how
confusing the moor becomes in dark
night. The black moss and burn" were
words that were never after forgotten by
the Doctor, from the strange feelings they
produced when first heard that night. for
there came into his mind terrible thoughts
and forebodings about poor N Donald. and
reproaches for never having considered
his possible danger in attempting such d
journey alone In vain the shepherd ASA
sured him that he must have reached II
Il - G.. l.y 81
storm came on. A presentiment W hch he
that he conld hardly refrain irnn tears
But nothing could be done to /, licye the
anxiety now become so painful.
The Doctor ut last retired to bed about
midnight. For long time he could not
sleep. The raging OF the stream beneath
the window. and the thoughts OF the storm
made him feverish and restless. But at
last he fell into q sond and dream
sleep. Out OF this, however, he WAS sud
denly aroused by y peculiar noise i'll his
room, not very loud, but utterly indescri,
bable He heard lap, tap, tap, on the
window /; and he knew, from the relation I
which the wall Of the room had to the |
rock, that the glass could not be touched /
by human hand. After listening Tor |
moment, and forcing himself to smile at
his nervousness, he turned round, ana |
began again to seek repose. But now
noise began, ,:teo distinct and loud to make |
sleep possible. Starting and sitting up in
bed he heard repeated in rapid success
sion. as if some one was splitting in anger
and close to his bed" Fit! fit! fit!' and |,
then prolonged 'whir-rr' from another
part of the room, while every chair began
to move, and the table to jerk. The !
Doctor remained IN breathless silence. with |
every faculty intensely acute He frankly
confessed that he heard his heart beating,
for the sound was SO unearthly, so horri- |
ble and something seemed to come so
near him, that he began seriously to con. |
slider whether or nat he had some attack
Of fever which, affected his brsin,-fog re- |
he had not tasted drop of the |
shepherds small store of whiskey.? lie |
felt his own pulse, composed. his spirits,
ana compelled himself to exercise calm
judgment Straining his, eyes to discover
he plainly saw 9. last a white.
object moving, but without sound, before
him. He knew. that the door was shut
and the window Also. An .oxerpowering