The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864, 1864-01-08
Old Series Vel. VI.

clpnt COORtrtlcCIOn, WueTc Tue TAtS 0tC VIZ Ss7r
the Able Morrellct's shoes in this pavilion
beds we're made MP for the young visitors.
when there was more company ut the chat-
eau than could be accommodated there.
Just at the time am speaking of, this hap
pened to be the case, and the young man.
whoee courage was under trial, as weiIas
several Of his friends. was sleeping there.
The weather had been stormy all day,
and wien they retired to bed the air had
that hcaviRcss which is quite oppressive,
and makes one feel i'll.
Here's y night for an apparition." said .
the young ra:tlcbrains to their friend.
..i.et It come lift likes replied he; sit
shall he welcome
So saving. lie bowed to them with an
irUnicai air, and retired to his own apart
ncnt.
The air. as have said. was sultryE-the
atmosphere oppressive. The Young man
| threw himself into an arm Chair, the worm
eaten l..ys Of which were scarcely capable
J of supporting him. and there he had strange
| visions. His thoughts soon became con-
fused. and he sank into an unq"iet doze:
| Ills servant awoke him from this KIND Of
torpor he went to bed almost Ill. anu ov-
| empowered by q completely nervous I'M
preston. which could not be natural even
admitting tho cffec: of the temper.
! The chamber in which he slept was at 2
distance from the whole occupied part OF
the pavilion, which, OF itself, was quite
lonely enough. 1t was very large, gloomy
tapartnent. 4 bedstead, with twisted pl:-
lars and curtains trimmed with Hungarian
point was the most conspicuous piece OF
| FURNITURE that it contained. He looked at
it long time before he got into he'd. -.
Good Cod he had said. lit looks just
like n tomb!'
| The drewsiness, occasioned by the over
whelming heat. soon changed into a pro-
found sleep. He was buried in his first
nap, when he was suddenly reused by
lnlaint:ve sound. The noise was close TO
him. He was lying upon his ear. ne rose
in his sitting, and it seemed as II ne was
icontinuing aa interrupted dream. III
four parts of the curtains were turaed vef
the bed post. and against each OF them
lcant u figure in complete suit OF armor,
but motioniess, silent and without any APP
lpcarance OF life. - -.
He gazcd on them at first with surprise,
land presently with sort Of agitation.
"Nha. do you want with me- said he,
u know YOU !: you are here to frighten me,
but i give you notice that am not atraid:
You know our agreement, 80 leave me, ana
tiban,lon your attempt.
As he thus spoke h. Jay down again ana
c!o .ei his ewes. but the figures continued
,notionlcss and silent. They retained the
same attitude. while the thunder rolled aw.
tu!ls over the crazy pavilion, and made 1t
shake to its foundation.
Annoyed ut this obstinacy, he again
raised himself in the bed, and addressed
on,. of the figures. What do you want
with me ." said he Il have already told
Won ina; YOU don't brighten me. You Know
our conditions: adhere to them, and keep
your word a | keep mine
SILL there WIS the same silence. In this
movclcssncss there was something AWFUL
that began to operate on the mind oil the
Young man. "1cgonc!H he cried to them,
big drops of Precipitation trickied down
hi brow and his teeth Chartered. be
gone" he repeated. "begonc. lam fright
.Ned :"
The morncn: Ills confession had escaped
his lips lie sank back in his bed, faint and
l.,Sping for breath. The figures remained
mo tonless and silent as ever.
..Gcntlfmcn.' cried the Young man, De
side himself, Il know not it you have made
a compact with the demons. l believe
for recognize you un
der YOUR visors and yet :.
| know not who You are :, Leave
nc you haze frightened me
what would You have more
The same silence prevailed.
From the commencement of this pleas
aniry, the young man. fearing that 1t mign
be carried farther than he could bear. hac
always kept about him pair of pistols
loaded and ready for firing. He laid then
, on the night table beside his bed, and tina
same night he had examined the pruning
ir.vcry thing was in proper order-ne looi
mp one Of th"r'.
.Gentlemcn.' said he, in voice trem
ilous with emotion, Il call God to wines
hat whatever accident may cnsne. Is tn
fault of him on whom it shall light
He cooked his pistol and fred at one g
the four figures. None OF them stirred
The unfortunate man. around whom the
were planted. ceazed to distinguish any OF
ect-to hear any sound. His hand treu
bled-he made a last appeal.
Another Shot said he. in a broke
voice y" reply. The second pistol Wa
fired. The unhappy man .lookcd-not on
of the figures had stirred. His eyes turne
from the object that hai struck him. to al
other object which he saw before him;
was his own ball that was returned to hir
He caZed aghast, and sank back lifeless.
The young gentlemen who had engage
in this adventure. ccncciving that the
might find their antagonist dithcnit 10 de-
with. had brited his servant to take Il
balls ant of his pistols. Each of them ha
one to throw to him. and this was don
.ry without him perceivinG it, by the one
zee whom he had tired
on