The mountain Democrat., 1863-09-12

Of dau1odS dSnfEitlt II nsSvUGs
that ] thQpght Of daslEiae u i1lng
maid, on DE plea Of Ind aQn, TO sleep
on the sofa near ma. -. But how could l
kprstspd 70 he ~ lxhes1 ha4 jrstNz4esasd
at late hour fFomv ans aEanine naE1Rt-
| would seem unreasonable, aad 4Enever
liked to appear whimsical 70 my servants.
For this night then, I determined to
to morrow I would return to the smoky
I room, and no longer expose myself ned.
lessly to uncomfortable fselingG Com
mittiOg myselfto the benign pESt6csiOA Of
Him who watches over the universe. l
= I4--.---S~..s1---,.--,--
bed but alas |. not 70 Sleep Ie6ddEvOr.
ed to chase w mind the gloomy
subjects Which I'D. Taken possession Of il
to thi6k Of cheerful things orto FeeaN the
cherished remembnncSI Of scenes s10hg
past in vain, fancy WouldshaEo ~ ONn
WY, and, TO my distempered Imagination,
the pale mOOnbeams;as they glanced from
the high arched windows, assumed spec
tral forms, that Fitted in shadoWy mock.
cry before my aching sight, l closed ny
eyes and lay in that breathless state Of
vague apprehension. which is too dFeadful
long to endure. All was stiffness afound
me the plaintive whistling Of the wind
had hushed, the very waves Of the ocean
seemed to slumber: there was no sound
but the quick thFobbing Ofmy own heart.
A cold chill crept over me, and became
sensible Of an unde6able sensAtion Of SOL
emn awe. Presently heard the door Of
the inner room, which led to the back
staircase, open softly; there was . pause
Of total stiffness, and the door Of the room
| occupied opened gently and slowly as
the other. Again all was still; no football
met my ear-no sound to betray that .
living being had entered my lonely cham
ber. For some moments I lay IN A. agony
Of suspence, my face covered With my
hands but curiosity, too painful 70 be
restrained, overeame my dread, ahd fais-
ing my eyes beheld an object more fear.
full than words can described OH the
intense horror ofthat dreadful moment-
There 1t stoOd-that unearthly, CORY 6g-
ure, with its bloodstained hands lifted in
apparent suppiication to that Heaven
whose laws it had violated, whose promis-
ed blessing it had forfeited foreverl It
stood at the identical window at which
Mr.. Norton had been seen by Doctor GrA-
ham the Christmas eve on which the sui
eide was committed. tried to scream
to rise and make my escape from the apart
ment-but l had no power either to move
or speak, nor had l the power Ofayerting
my gaze from the appalling object 1t
turned and its cold, hollow eyes felkupon
me it advanced, slowly extepdings ITS
right hand, and with finger (from which
drops of blood appeared to fall, although
they left no trace on the floor beneath) it
pointed to remote corner Of the chamber
in which stood an old-iashioned bureau.
Earnestly it pointed, and earnestly was its
unearthly look riveted upon mel Cold
dews poured down my faco, my teeth
chattered, and, In the emphatic woFdsbf
Scripture, my very flesh quaked."' Hb-
man nature could bear no more my bead
reeled, and I fell back totally insensible.
When I recovered from my fainting ct,
the morning was far ADVANCED. the bright
rays of the joyous sun enlivened my glOo-
my chamber. heard the dipping Of oars,
the boatswain's shrill whistle, and d.
rafting Of wheels, and thankfully
coined the stirring sounds of animated liib.
I heard, too, aud hailed with transport,
the gay voices Of my children as they pur-
sued beneath my window the innocent
sports Of happy infancy.
Blest hours Of cheering dayi How re-
joiced IN their return! How I loathed the
sable night
"When mortAls sleep, when specters rise,
And nought u wakefui but the deadf'
To remain in the haunted house was ini-
possible, and determined to leave It that
very day. It was necessary for me to re-
turn to the scene Of the preceding night,
in order to remove some paper l had
placed in the old bureau. Whilst was
engaged in searching the different drawers
| felt something give way beneath my fin-
ger; surprised at this continued the'pres-
sure, when q secret drawer suddenly few
open, and Idescovered to my amazed Biaw
q bundle Of old papers, tied With . black
cord, and labeled Certificate Of the mar
riage Of Oswald Norton with MaildA AaA-
ners, WILL" &c. IstoOd for some NO
ments lost in astonishment, but having 70
time to spare, speedy determined on
sending for DR.. Graham, and communica.
ting the discovery to him. ,., 81
related to him in strict confidence the
awful scene of the past night, the EppGF.
ent anxiety of the unearthly INTRUDER to
direct my attention to this bureau, sud
the chance which had just led to the Sex'
traordina-y fulfilling Of his restless wish,
The worthy Doctor heard me with TIE
most profound attention and the deepest
awe. '--s '='-s2-7@.
ut was most strange, most startlingae
be exclaimed, "even if it had been bsat.n
sleeping vision" - ...s $40.
We will not discuss that subject farther
at present." / said. "But / shall Jleeya
these papers with you, in hope that yop
who were present at Mr.. Norto1'sr, aWf fnl
death will take the necessary steps to re.
store his injured daughters to The rights
which have SO long been withheld from
them" i.
Ireceived his promise to this !effect,
and that day quilted S--foreyer:@ -
Circumstance soon alter called me abroad;
remained absent some years, end. % my
return 10 England felt wish 70 ieaFnsi
the papers had found had been The ~
stFGmehts In placing the Miss ees.s n
i the situation they were born to hlISSa
dispatched. accordingly, to pr, Graham a
letter of inquiry and heard from. him ip
return, that the proper legal pfoce edinRs
had been instituted with success Gnd ghtt
the daughters Of the uhtof ftdnat d III. 1spt
ton had received, along With 9tl6j
edgment Of their aIegitinsty. ~ ~
five hundred thousand b6dha gssLSA
had been left them ty IlIslk o. lrIe -.
Dr.. Grahamadded 80 -
was haunted no fOsger tne -
less dead. iits vfs1At OasetEt -