, 1863-08-01
The Hannted Inn.

/
years ago, a white spectre was seen, bear
ing in one hand lamp and in the other a
bunch ofkeys. This unpleasant visitor was
seen by variety of travellers passing along
a corridor.
Nothing could satisfy the neighbors that
an unfortunate traveller had not been at
some period or other dispatched in that fa-
tai room by one Of the previous landlords
of the house, and the hotel gradually OBJ
tanned the name of the Haunted Inn and
ceased to be frequented by its old patrons.
The landlord finding himself on the
brink of ruin, determined to sleep in the
haunted room, with a view Of proving
the groundlessness of the story. To make
1t more sure, as he said, he caused hos
tier to bear him company on pretense of
requiring witness to the absurdity of the
report, but 10 reality for cowardice.
At dead of night, however, just as the
two men were composing themselves to
sleep in one bed-leaving another which
was IN the room untenantea- a--tha door few
open and in glided the white spectre.
Without pausing to ascertain what it
might attempt on approaching the other
bed, toward which it directed its course, the
two men rushed 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 cause of so
unproductive an establishment, the poor
landlord advertised for sale the house in
which he and his father before him were
born and had passed their lives. The bid
ers were as scarce as customers, and the
inn remained on sale for nearly year,
during which from time to time, the spectre
re-appeared.
At length an officer from the garrison,
who had formerly frequented the house,
and reccolleted the excellent quality of its
wine, moved to compassion in favor of the
poor host, undertook to clear up the mys-
terry by sleeping in the aforesaid haunted
chamber er-nothing doubling that the whole
was tlct of some envious neighbor, de-
sirous of deteriorating the value ofths free
hold, in order to become purchaser.
His offer having been gratefully accept
ed, the captain took up his quarters in the
ll-fated room, with bottle of wine and a
brace of loaded pistols on the table before
him, determined to fire at whatever object
might enter the door.
At the usual hour of midnight, accord
ngly, the door few open and the
white spectre, bearing a lamp and bunch
of keys made its appearance. He seized
both his pistols-when fortunately, as his
finger was upon the point of touching the
trigger, he perceived that the apparation
was no other than the daughter of his host,
young and pretty girl, evidently walk
ing in her sleep. Preserving the strictest
silence, he watched her sit down the
lamp, place the keys carefully on the
chimney place, and retire to the opposite
bed, which as it was afterwards proved,
she had often occupied during the lifetime
of her late mother, who sleptin the same
room.
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 in
cluding the ater bailif of the district, who
had been one of the loudest in circulating
the rumors concerning the haunted inn
The poor girl was found quietly sleeping
in the bed, and her terror on awaking in
the dreaded chamber afforded sufficient ev-
idence to all present of the state of SOM
nambulism in which she had been en-
| tranced.