The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-08
4 ierrily.. and lhreatening q spesdy dIslocalIon

and walked up and down the room, trying to
| awake myself but all to no purpose. The
sailing wild sung Lullaby, which was un-
able to resist; and the Hccompaniment on the
n.of played by the patiering rain, only in
creased the spell. while. even the bright fire.
ght turned against me, and flashed 50 daz-
zlingly Straight III my eyes, that l was forced
tosclose them. And so it came to pass that l
finally decided to lie tlowniin bed. 1t was not
such a curious resolution. after all, for it cer-
tainly looked like most comfortable resting
place-neat and clean, and, moreover soft
and wefl-nlade.5 But still felt a strange re-
pugnanee to it, which only the most over
Powering drowsiness would have enabledsm
to overcome, However, Il made another mi
mute examination of it inside and out, to see
that there were no concealed mice, with well
bailtinests, hidden between the covers, who
would come loutaffer slept, and regaie them
{ selves selves on my fingers and toes !; aud ,thenI
threw myself down, closed my eyes, and in
less than five minutes had fallen into a deep
slumber
81 1 think Il must have slept about an hour in
this ydreaInless way, when 1 began gradually
to grow restless. Horrid visions of robbers
wild beasts, nangled human forms, and wan
dering ghosts, mingled in dire confusion In
my brain, until I awote With a. half sur
pressed scream, and tried to realize where L
was, and what made me so wretchedly ner-
syeus. I hen tried to compose myself again
4 thought of home, and of the interesting adj
venture | would have to tell George about,
Wien arrived. retraced the road from the
house as well as l could, remembering but
diniytheway had come; decided the precise
p9int where commenced going. wrong, and
thought of Georges half triumphant pity at
my misfortune, and regrets that he had con-
sented to MY goingt to Smokieton alone But
the longer l thought, and the more tried to
so sleep, the more restless Lgrew.s I turned
over and over, but could not lie Comfortably.
Phe top4of my head felt cold, and it seemed
as though there was something terrible near
me. which made my hair stand on end, and
opened my eyes the moment they were
closed. l raised myself, and looked at the
head of the bed, but saw only th white cur
tain.sg I tossed about, for some time longer,
but still the dread horror coneinued, and the
fearful celd kept creeping more perceptibly
over me-
At length I jumped up. thinking it was a
draught of wind which chilled me, as the bed
was standing some little way from the wall.
| attempted to push it nearer, but it only
moved a fittle,way. and then stood fast. Z
made another effort, it moved again, and the
outlines of a human form were dscernable
behind the curtain. stood motionIess with
starting eyes gazing at it. i could not dis
tinguish the whole figure-it was not, all
there. l could not see the head--the shoul-
ders were even with the top of the bedstead !;
then the arms and body were easily traced :
the feet must be, below the CURTAIN, butsure
~ they could not tou h the floor bi7s .solfE
l gazed fascinated by that strange sight,
until 4 great dread came over nae, and with a
iereing shrek turned to the door, my only
thought, my only wish being to get away
from the place. 1gpushed against it with my
whole strength, but it only sunk lower and
lower in the mud. belew.sthe steps, l. could
not not raise it. NJ arm was nervelessT; all
power had left me. could do nothing, but
remain where was shut up with that spec
tire behind the bed, till some one came to re-
lease me. l shrieked again and again, but no
one could hear me, I knew. The. lain bat
tered on the roof the wind howled mourn
fully around the corners the FIRE sunk lower
and blazed more itfuliy, and it grew colder
all the time. Iturned wildly around, and
then sank on my knees in abject horror. as
saw, by the flickering light of the dying en-
be-s, human face-purple and swollen, with
starting, blood-shot eyes-staring at me over
the top of the bedstead Above the head
was a beam, which ran across the house, and
from the beam rope came down, and there
the body hung.7 Ie4sfsE esr5 46 .fe15fss as
| contemplated the sickening sight, till the
bursting eye-balls seemed forcing their way
into my brain; and the discolored face made
fearful grimaces, laughing and grinning at me,
as knelt there, creuching like some abject
petitioner before it. ..ss.sf s ,s.,i4s.r-s
Soon a change seemed to come ver,every-
thing. was no longer in this deserted
house in the far. West but in a bright pleas
ant room, in some gentleman's country house.
i think it was a library, for there were shelves
filled with books around the walls. Near a
table in the centre of the room, stood two
persons, man and woman. I could not see
ythe face of the latter, buts she was writing
on the fy-leaf of a book the name {. Walter
1 Talbot"
! Ilooked at the man. His face was strange
~ familiar Surely had seen it before; but
not than, as now. remembered it swollen
and discolored, with sbieared and bleodshot
reyes starting from their sockets. There was
but little similarity between them. This
young mans cheek was brown and ruddy
his bright eyes zwere softened by the light OF
Hove, a smile of winning sweetness played
around the inll-curEed lips, while the dark
curls, clustering around his forehead, contrast
ed strangely with the matted hair that fell
over the brow of the other. - 2 So SAL q
When his companion ceased writing, he
motioned her to proceed, but her merry laugh
rang out a denial, as she threw down the pen.
He took il, and, STOPPING forward, traced few
words then he handed her the book, and l
saw that underneath his name he had written
in bold. manly hand, from his dear Ra-
chel.''7 That was ALL 81 3 saoz aasaI
In the whole interview, no word had been
spoken. It was mysterious vision. which
was passing rapidly away tried to pierce
the mist of oblivion that was hiding it from
my view saw them standing by the VIM
dow, looking out at the bright summersun set.
He had taken her hand in his. and his arm
eircling her; though they were speaking, I
could not hear their words : but saw that as
he drew her, closer tos.hinn, a mouraful fare-
well glistened in the tears that filed her eyes,
while his right hand was pointing to. the
western sky. -,
A dark void S '.cceeaed this strange dream.
When recovered my senses, Twas at home,
lying on my own bed, with George sitting
beside me. -.t.s3 ..,fs k.te SOD
H l VIII not make my story longer sup
posse must have tainted after my distenper
fancy had presented that life.like picture to
my mind. Ia Nsf5 laaetlzZ Iaoi "a
p George said he had. expected me until
NEARLY twelve O'Clock, aud had then given me
up for 1osts but Knowing how useless any
search hsfor inesthat night would be. he had
waited until morning, whens with one efsthe
farm hands to. render any assistance that
might be required, he had explored all the
,roads for miles round. Late in the afternoon
they arrived at the house Tbad taken refuge
IN, and knew l must be there when they