The mountain Democrat., 1864-03-12


he did thenI You can'tI Well, will
tell you. He put the cat in my arms. /
bruveiy carried the creature of, and he
was satisfied
''But If you carried a cat away, Of
course there was a cat
mot at all But what good would it
have done me to tell him the TRUTH He
would have ordered me out Of the house.
Faith, no! am we'll of here, and mean
to remain. He gives me twenty five
pounds year to see a cat; for thirty |
will see two
Il had not the courage to hear more,
but quietly returned to my own dressing.
room.
The next evening, at eight, my COM
panion was at my side, and did not leave
me until the next morning at daylight
For month this same appariti"n appear
ed every day until the thirteenth day af-
ter the executon-yhen the clock stvnck
eight, and the animal failed to come.
Il was delighted at my freedom from
my spectral visitor, but still counted the
hours the next day with no little anxiety,
and from seven to eight my eyes never
turned from the clocks face and slowly
moving hands. The hour sounded, one,
two, three, four, and. at last, eight The
door opened, and young officer entered,
dressed in the uniform OF deputy lieu
tenant.
MY FIRST impression was that the lord
lieutenant had sent me some message, aud
| hali.roSc to receive the unknown. and
held my hand out to him. lie paid no
attention TO my gesture, but took posi-
ton behind my armchair. did not
turn around, fer was sitting in front Of
a large mirror, and in that mirror l could
See him.
walked across the room; he follow.
ed me. | rang: my servant appeared,
but saw the officer no more than he had
seen the cat sent him away again. and
remained alone with this strange person,
whom examined at my leisure. spoke
to him but he made no answer. At ten,
| went to bed; and then, as if disposed
! to pass the night as comfortably as posi-
/ ble, he took the large armchair that had
vacated, and turning it towards me, fixed
his eyes on mine. Neither Of Us slept
With the first rays of morning light, the
| Ggure faded from my sight-the chair was
empty.
That evening there was a great bail.
Under the pretcxt of preparing my CO.'S
tune, rang for my servant ten minutes
before eight, and babe him lock the door.
He obeyed. Nevertheless precisely at
eight o'clock, the door opened widely and
the officer entered. Instantly | went to
the door; the lock had not moved-it
was still fastened. turned and saw the
visit had resumed his old position be-
hind my armchair, and John saw moth
ing Of him!
Il commenced my toilette, and then
very singular scene occurred: the new
conner assisted John in all his duties, and
John was utterly unconscious Of the aid
! he received; for instance, when John lift
ed my coat by the collar, the phantom
held the sleeves. Never had | seen SO Of.
! ticiouS an attrLlant!
The carriage vas summoned; the
spectre, inStead Of following, preceded
and taken his place behind, the officer
seated himself with the coachman. The
carriage drew up before Lord IS door;
John aud the phantom assisted me to
aight, and then the latter, gliding noise
lessl, behind me, threaded the crowd Of
servants in the hall, turning his head at
each moment 10 ascertain if were follow
ing him; | stopped to speak to the coach
man Patrick said who was that
man on the box with you|
| "What man, your honor?' said Pat.
rick, in aStonishmtnt
mo matter said ], 4 was mistaken,
probably and moved on.
! The spectre was waiting for me on
the stairs. Seeing me approach, he him
self ghded on, and took place in the an
I te.room while | entered the saloon. To
every one but myself tie figure wasjn,
visible Then my fear changed TO ter
ror, and | realized that was rapidly be.
coming a mailman. That evening | was
questioned by my friends as to the cause
of my depression and apparent ill-health.
at my bedside all night. The following
night determined to ascertain If there
were anything tangible in the vision be.
! fore me. summoned all my courage,
and took seat in the arm chair occupied
I by it. I felt nothing, but in the mirror |
saw his head rise above my own.
'For a month this vision never omitted
his nightly visits, At the end Of that
7 time was free for forty-eight hours; but
| did not then hope, as had before, that
the disappearance was total but looked
forward to new form Of tortnre. 1he
next evening. 1 hoard ruStknY Rmurg
INV bed curtains; looking up. saw a
skeleton standing just where they sepa
rated. This figure was, dear friend, if |
may so express it, the living image of
death. that elared at nee from its empty
sockets. IL despair, walked for hours
M and down my room; the head'turHed
and the eyes watched all my movements,
but the figure never stirred. That night
, I did not 90 to bed but as looked at
the armchair, I regretted the officer who
had so long occupied it. At daylight the
phantom disappeared.
The next dav ordered John to move
the bed and arrange the curtains in such
a manner that one Tapped over the other
! At six heard the same rustling. and saw
two bonv hands slowly draw the curtains
apart. This being done, the skeleton took
his place in the opening. That night I
summoned courage and went to bed
The head leaned little forward. and the
ewes fixed themselves upon me. You
may imagine the night ! passed. And
now, dear doctor, let me tell you that !
have counted twenty nights of the same
description. Now you know all will
you undertake to cure me?
Il will try. at least answered the med
ical man, With smile foFI am esn-
vinced that these phanloms are merely