Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-05-14
/ fssrransed the curtain, and, bokias and

( rsarranged the curtain, and, pkias and
boiling and locking the door, crept into
bed; bu.-must confess it'll left the
candle burning. S. s~....<>I = -
g, Foe some time attempted in vain tc
sleep Icounted five thou sand, and count.
ed Eve thousand backward. repeated all
the poetry knew, and tried to think Of
u nothing in a word, resorted to every
,expedient By which sieepless mortals WOO
the drowsy god but still Somnos would
not cone. My imagination kept me wide
awake, and rendered me thoroughly un-
comfortable. A score of times was on
the point Of returning to the commercial
4 room, but was each time prevented by the
fear Of incurring the banter of the guests
next morning at the breakfast table. l
regretted exceedingly that l had not con.
tinued my journey to Y, for a strange
presen.ment Of approaching evil had taken
possession of my mind. Ashamed, how
ever, Of my weakness, and Gliding myself
for thus allowing my imagination to get
the better Of me, tried to dismiss the
feeling, and, tired nature at length assert
ing her claims, I fell asleep. Imust have
been asleep about two hours, and was
dreaming that the curtain had risen, and
that a horrible tragedy was being enacted
before my eyes, when / was started from
my troubled slumber by . sound similar to
that produced by the rustling Of dress.
The light had gone out, but the moon
beams were struggling through the narrow
easement. With heated breath and tbrob.
bling heart, | listened with an intensity
known only 10 those who have been in
Kindred situations. - heard nothing, how
ever but the moaning wind and the monot,
onous ticktick of clock; SO, persuadsng
myself that had been deceived by an
oser excited Imagination, lwas just again
Composing myself to Sleep, VIXEN, tie same
sound once more fell upon my ears AID
to my horror, seemed to proceed from be
hind the curtin. Filled with the most hor.
rible imaginings, with eyes almost burst.
ing from their sockets. / attempted to
discover, through the thick folds cf the
curtain, what was passing behind. Sud
denly the curtain yielded to the pressure
of some object behind, and,he next mo.
ment. as though by accident, i. was par
TALLY drawn aside. Ny God what did
see? Would that the sight had destroyed
my consciousness. There, gazing intently
upon the exposed face of the corpse. stood
a figure clothed in white. The coun,e-
nance, turned directly toward me, was
rendered distinctly visible BY the moon.
beams falling upon it, ann was that Of a
female; but oh how pale ard spectral
tried in vain to cry on.--in vain to move.
Ny tongue clave to the roof of my m ou,h,
and was chained to the bed as firmly as
Prome,hus to his rock. was rapt, petri.
fed, and could only utter a mute prayer
to heaven to deliver me from evil. Sud.
denly the idea flashed across my mind
that it might be a practical joke, got up to
brighton me, and / eiutched at the idea as
does the drowning man at straw; but
no, it could not be, for had | not boIted
and locked the door, 80 that no one could
have entered the room except by violence ?
These thoughts rushed through my mind
in a moment bu. seemed to gaze for an
age upon the fearful mystery before me.
At length movement Of the figure caused
the curtain again to resume its position
the spell was broken, md | fell uncon.
scious on the bed. .-...-..
How long continued in this State
know not but, when opened my eyes,
the sun was shining brightly 10 at the
window, and some one was knocking at
the door, and telling me that broadcast
was ready. Ny Grst impression was that
l had had horrible dean but, upon
collecting my thoughts, rejected the idea,
and felt convinced that had witnessed
some mystery yet to be explained. | felt
very weak and languid however, I at
once arose, and hastily making my toilette,
Quilted the room, for | felt repugnance
to staying in it moment longer thaa was
necessary. determined not to mention
the occurrence to any one in the house,
feeling certain that it would not gain cre-
dence, but would ba attributed to the
nightmare or to morbid imagination.
"Good morning." said the landlady, as
l entered the breakfast room. " You have
slept very sound
"Oh! yes" carelcssly replied e"
have slept well enough" '9@@
EYES, said a woman dressed in black,
who was conversng with the landlady
when entered the room cit Is sad
thing to lose ones husband. Poor Charles
/ went to see him last night while you were
all asleep, for --''Il-s1fpaY
La me |" exclaimed the landlady, "do