Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-03-04
a Tale Of Terror.

Ar the "Crow Inn" at Antwerp, some
years ago a white spectre was seen bearing a
lamp in one hand a bnnch of keys in the 9TH
er+-this unpleasant visitor was seen by a va
Tiety Of travellers passing along a corridor.
Nothing would satisfy the neighbors that
an unfortunate traveller had not been at some
period or other, dispatched in that fatal room
by one Of the previous landlords Of the house; /;
the hotel gradually obtained the name Of the
d 'sHaunted Inn and ceasedt to be frequented
by its old patrons. - sa-'
3The landlord finding himself on the brink
of ruin, determined to sleep in.the haunted
room, withla view otproEing the groundless-
ness Of the story. - To make the matter more
sure, as he said, he caused the h0stler to bear
him company, on pretenee Of requiring wit
ness to the abs1rdity Of the report, but il re-
ality, from cowardice. At the dead Of night
however, Just as the tive men were oompos
ing themselves to ,sleepin one bed--leavihg
another which was in theEroom untenated-
the door few open and in gliding the white
spectre! ,eaf.g 7ae-,i. slraf ssf.Fe
Without pausing to ascertain what itnight
attempt OF. approaching the bed towards
which it directed lit course, the two men
rushed naked out Of the room; and by the
alarm they created, confirmed more fully than
ever the evil repute Of the house.
Unable longer to sustain the cost of SO. .un-
productive an establishment, the poor landt
lord advertised for sale the house in which he
and his father before him were born and had
passed their lives, But the bidders were as
scarce as customers the inn remained on sale
for nearly a year, during which, from time to
time, the spectre. re-appeared.
Atlength an officer Of the garrison, who
had formerly frequented the house, moved to
compassion IN favor Of the poor host, UNDER
took to clear up the mystery. by sleeping in
the aforesaid chamber nothing doubted that
the whole.wa trick fsomeenuous neigh-
Dor, desirous Of deteriolatipg the value Of the
freehold in order to become a purchaser,
His offer having been gratefully accepted
the captain took up his quarters in the fatal
room, with a bottle Of wine and brace 81
loaded pistols on the table before him, deter
mined to fire, at whatever object might enter
the room. -e-l c- = .,r .c -a- b
At the usual Hour of midnight, accordingly,
when, the door few open and the spectre,
bearing a lamp and bunch Of keys, made its
appearance, he seized both his pistols, when
fortunately, as his finger was on the point Of
touching the trigger, he perceived that the
apparatiOn was no ether than the daughter OF
his host, young and pretty girl, evidently
walkeng in her sleep. Preserving the strict
est silence, he watched her set down eight,
place her keys carefully on the chimney place
and retire to the opposite bed, which as it
afterward proved, she had often occupied du-
ring the lifetime Of her late mother, who slept
in the room. 51a -.a.'-a- yrs ~.
Z No sooner had she .thoroughly composed.
herself, than the officer, after locking the door
of the room, went in search Of her father and
several competent witnesses, including the
water baiIiff ofthe district who had been one
of the loudest, in circulating the rumor con
cerning the Haunted Inn. The poor girl was
found quietly asleep in bed, and her terror on
awaking in the dreadful chamber afforded
- nr "a l-.,.,, l. IL ,---,.,. II AZ - .s.t.
of somnambuIisn in which she had been en-
traced. r 30, ai
From that period the spectre was seen no
more; probably, because the landlords daugh=
ter removed shortly -aiterward to home of
her own and1the tales of horror 50 freely
circulated to the bewilderment Of the poor
ended in the simple story ofayolng
girl walking in her sleep. z1l. 1..3 L-a .a-z