The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-02-17

! ed into the possession of a Mrs. Waiel,
whose husband, on his disease left among
his personal effects several slaves, with
eodcil.in his will giving them not only free-
dom, but entailing upon the estate the bur-
den OF support during their natural lives
At the time of the thrilling scene we are
about to relate, Mrs. Watel and ell the
slaves, save only the youngest, had paid
the great debt of nature, and for a time the
old HOMESTEAD was left in all its ehosiiy
! grandeur and decay TO the mercy OF the
winds and the marauding expeditions of
the neighborhood, guarded alone BY the
faithful negress, who amid all its gloom,
| still remained, for it was the only home
she had ever knewn. Some two months
| since, Mr.. Halmer, a sturdy Teulon, as
brave aud phlegmalic as ever Teulon was,
with his wife, descendant OF ine same
hardy and fearless race, took the homestead
with the incumbranca of The old slave, and
commenced pre- parations 10 improve it,
But il seems he got more than he bargain.
ed for.
Wearied with moving and fixing up his
sIeep--that blessing was denied them The
witching hour of Twelve brought no rest to
their heavy eyes; when, just as the last vi
bsafion of the old Dutch clock announced
| that the hour of midnight had passed and
been buried with the centuries which pre-
ceded it, strange aud unusual noise was
heard in the UNFINISHED room over head.
AT times il appeared as if devils were hold
ing high carnival there aron rush like
that OF many waters would be heard, and
then stiffness as profound and as deep as
that which is supposed 10 follow the wreck
of matter and the crush of worlds after the
last note from Gabriel's trumpet proclaims
the end of time and man. Thus did it con-
time until the first gleam of the morning
sun dispelled the noise and confusion which
reigned in the chamber above, and restored
the old Tory's homestead 10 lis natural
quiet.
Strange to say, the negress % d heard
naught OF this her sleep had been like
that of the seven sleepers, as deep and as
profound as if famed by summer zephyrs
while reclining upon bed OF poppies-a
bed, be it known, that will bring sleep to
the brightest syeIid that ever looked love
or anger 10 mortal man.
The morning dawned fair and mild as
that which ushers in May morning. The
Tenlon and his Teutonic wife, rose with
rueful countenances from their unblessed
sEumbers, yet determined to unravel the
mystery--to solve the nights problem and
the nights horrors, 10 tLeir very depth Al
ter an axious consultation they visited the
chamber above-a rude floor beneath, run
ning he entire length of the dwelling, light
ed by single window, the glass of which
had long since been broken. Their search
was long and anxious, but no hiding place
for a nocturnal visitor could be found, and
the twain made one in kin and flesh by the
hymenial sacrament, determined TO be one
in a midnight watch for the cause of the
strange noises they had heard Passing
along, the woman saw dark stain near the
GENRE OF the room upon the foor-a stain
which seemed 10 have eaten into the dark
oak floor and by lis deeper darkness TO be
strangely visible from all parts of the room;
glowing, as II were, with a luster which
seemed bu: 10 make the darkness more
visible. Each had passed over the same
spot, and repassed il moments before, when
they saw nothing but the dull oak, yet now
the dark, the blood spot, shone out as with
iviG luster.
The night was devoted to watch and
ward in the haunted chamber, and there,
at twenty minutes pas, eleven the German
and his brave wife took their stations. with
lighted candles so placed as to illuminate
all parts of the room-ihe husband, as in
duty bound, for why should husbands peril
their lives unnecessarily, nearest the stair
way, whence escape was easiest, while the
obedient wife took hers at The far end of
the room. Time seemed to move with
Ieaden wings, so slo wly the minutes moved
on. Every rustling leaf, which the Winters
frcs. had spared upon a grove of oaks
which stood near by, brought that unac-
coun,able thrill TO the hearts OF the twain,
which supernatural terror alone can give.
AT enthg The whizz of the old Dutch clock !
commenced, and soon the measured strokes 1
from one to twelve announced that the ia
tai moment, and perhaps fatal hour, had !
come. Scarce had the clock ceased lis
count of twelve, the very candles seeming |
to emit blue flame, when a rushing noise |
for moment was heard, and vapor seem
ed to overspread the center of the ROOM
Soon it seemed to gather into form, and The
startled watchers saw it take the human
outline of female dressed in the costume |
OF past ages, while long hand, detached
from the drapery, pointed sorrowfully TO the
dark stain, which seemed darker, and yet
more visible in the floor beneath. Thus
for moment it stood unmoved, and as the
poor Teuton's face showed the more Of
- r.