The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-20

OF tho occurrences Of the evening,
looked casually across the room at
the cripple, who had been for some
minutes sitting silently upon the floor
The freight revealed bis face. tho
his body was bsthed in shadow and
saw that he was leering darkly
upon me. 'Out OF all.patience with
the fellow, | called to him in no
very amiably voice: "My man,
haven't you a face in yonr repertoire
less deviIsh than that you are wear
ling to nieb?"
lie grinned contemtuously, but did
not speak. ts' s-f ......r ....r.
81 shall be under the necessity OF
tossing plate at your hoad PRESENT
Ily. so yon had better rcmove out OF
distance. .... .....r.
He rose from his place, limped to
tho stairway, and heard his heavy
unequal tread overhead for some
Itimo, when finally it ceased. and the
house was given over TO silence. -
Having emptied the pail Of cider,
and supped plenteously, threw my
sell upon the spread in the corner,
and resumed my contemplation. -
Why were thesc people ont of their
beds at so late an hour2 Had they
expected visitorsg Why had they
alternately shuddered and vaunted?
Had come great rcmorsc with them
blended with some yet more wicked
purpose? Might not their fane,i.
cisn mean more than it had seemedi
Wac I, iu short, safe in this house,
travel worn, disarmod, solitary and
asleep! Pshaw! cripple. tge
girle and gsrrilnuus old doiard.-
What were These pitted against q
a vigilant. active soldier, clole Ia
camp and prepared for any emer.
gencyg had unmqnnod myself
thrice tonight; shonll | brcome
again a proy Of childish terrorsl
tossed my sword contemtuou,ly upon
tho table, spurned my hols,ors with
foot, and leaning my head upon my
arm, studied the bare floor. tho huge
chimney, the beaming and white
washed ceiling, the sqnsre and rope.
SEATED chsira A lew coarss pic.
tnrcs hung upon the wall irotline
horse, a popular preacher. a Con :
iederato Gsneral, head OF Wash.
ington. Opposite, lay u door, and
two windows; at my feet, a door,
and these looked ont upon the two
Iporchrs. a rough mantle pioco sur
mounted the chimney, orn amentcd
with = stutfad coouskin and a psiI
o! unsightiy csndlesiicks. | con,
traeted the boorish denizens of this
place with my own family and those
Of my friends in the North; tho,
Of the plain frock an pretty features
Of the youn tr girl, whose rare. as
bad heard, was that Of my own a0i,
anced. Msrths; and, touching this,
then, | folded my arms upon my
bre,st, aud drppp;d into fcvprisl,
sleep. Ii might have been the
strange Influences and events OF the
evening, or more directly tho drinks
OF whisky and cider that troubled
me, at snyrate nay slumber was bro.
ken by dreams and 1nick awaken
ing, and, curiou-5 enough, tho old
we'll in the yard recnrred again and
again among these isnciee. i my
visions turned, during any moments
upon tho companions Of my mess
the associates OF my boyhood, tht
incidents Of my night journey, the
sffianced Of any love, they fa;lcd in
nc case to return 10 tho ancient we'll.
At one time, it seemed thy huge
shaft had tslen npon my heat. and
bruised it nost cruelty; sgain | had
fallen iuto the we'll, and climbing to
the surface, found that | had been
swimming in blood; and, in the end
both shaft and well esolved them
selves into the hldeous cripple, who
sat leerin2ly upon . bucket, and as
pursued him, lmped away like At
appari,iop.
( At this latest phase Of my dream
Il svated tramnously. Was it q
sbsdoT that fitted by the opposite
winaowl Surely something had
moved across the transparent panes
lqnck, spec'rical and q 'iseless.
sat up Immediately, rubbing my
eyee, took note of the doors ard
windows. Tho ! tch was closed the
ro IN deserted. My sword remain
ed on The table, my holster and pis
tol, etill lay upon the hpor where
hsd thrown them. With a sneer
and an exccrstion lay down again.
hut only to dream snqw Of the Grip
pie, the Cd well, tho lonely road
the pony tAat stood saddlsd in the
stable, the grim warrior waiting for
ny return. Again started fiIlully
sud sitting bolt upright, beheid Ger
tainly as hsd sight human hand
reaching.tlr ugh in the door towards
my holsters. Quicker than though
had 10 o,ped TO my feet and reached
tie threebold Fool |! } Nothing
stood without but the solemn dark
ncss. An uuaceoutable thirst pos
sessed me; my throat nd b come
t bee IN, elu,d fsverishly together. -
: Staggering, rather than walking
| .,rnse tho craakino nnrch | turna(