Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-04
Gully Emtpirt,
[Fron Che Boston Leader
A Night with a Ghost.

the Sioneham road in Medford, an old two
story house, half the lower front Of which WAS
occupied As a confectionery and fancy bread
store, and attached to the rear of which was
a bakery. II was then occupied by a young
man, intelligent and energetic, who had re-
Gently come into business and whose every
moment was devoted to its advancement. Ger.
tain circumstances, which il concerns not my
reader TO know, threw me into Connection with
this gentleman, and became an inmate of
his family for several months For my own
reasons | sought to make no aequaintan1es
outside. | pre- erred solitude. rarely at-
tended church, for at that time entertained
peculiar theological ideas. My Sabbaths were
in fair weather spent up hill a mile back
from the village where read, wrote and
wandered FROM, early morning until sunset
My opinions have somewhat changed since
then; but etill believe | might have done
worse. EIf#
Between the owner Of the establishment
ard myself there sprang up, or rather always
existed, an habtual reserve. Not from any
dislike, for he had my full respect, aud de-
served it, but the cares Of hs busines, de
manded his whole attention, and he was, be-
sides, too much the gentleman % vince any
curiosity to know more of my affairs than
chose TO reveal
| At that time contributed somewhat to
literary journal, and occasionally visited the
city to carry in Ms. and purchase books
seldom saw my friends while there, and few
of them knew my whereabouts SO my life
passed on with nothing to vary its everyday
monotony or excite feeling above the com
mon routine of daily still-life.
have written thus much, though il has no
particular bearing on my subject, because the
reader can perhaps better understand my hab
| its and situation, and NICE easily account IN
his own mind for what am abont 10 relate
One night-a wild, rainy, windy night in
I April, not cold, but With q wetness in the air
that seemed TO penetrate TO the bones--l had
been into the city to visit a family with whom
had formerly boarded, and notwithstanding
their invitations to stop, set out at late hour
on my return | half repented as | stepped
from the brilliantly lighted hall into the out
side darkness, and would have turned back,
had not my refusal been so peremptoriy Civ
en- Had | done so, l might have escaped
what in all the years since then has been
slowly wearing away my life.
From Green street | passed down Couch
into Merrimac, and from its then dangerous
precincts into Haymarket Square. 1t WAS
very dark, and the wind, as turned the cor
ner, blew the chill rain into my face, aud tug
ged violently at my raglan, which IhAd thrown
on loosely, aud was now obliged to grasp
tightly to prevent its being carried away. AS
| entered the square, in a sudden lnll Of the
wind heard voice. or something resembling
a voice, in so close a proximity TO the that |
started, aud 1uug out my arm on that side
whence it seemed to proceed. There was
nothing. l stood for a moment the cold
| ala frpn /
lifted my foot, IL came agam-a hollow, un-
natural, crying sound, not loud, but distinct
as il the lips Of the utterer had been at my
ear, and had striven to break into words the
silence it might have KEPT, God knows how
| long Not another sound-no vOice--no|
plashing of footsteps on the wet pavement
nothing but the rushing of the wind and the
gurgng Of the rain-swollen cutters in the
| darkness Overcome with terror | plunged
| forward, until reaching Causeway street, the
| long line Of lights across the bridge partially
| dspeled my fears, and | slackened my pace,
When about half way across the bridge
became conscious Of Presence--nothing hui
| man--uothingI could hear, or see, or feel
but il was fhere--l knew II / knew II was
walking beside me, its face turned to mine, as
truly as il its hand had palpably grasped. my
own. uI felt that there was no escape from ii,
| even should plunge in the current below
And went on dared not think Of the long
road which stretched before me 10 the dark
ness, and dreaded to leave the DIM street
lamps which skirted part of my way. On
and on l went through the square and down
Main street. until the last light twinkled far
behind me. The Shape still kept close by
my side, invisible still; but once or twice
there was a fancy that its hand touched my
arm ! ran, / shrieked aloud, and flung my
arms about wildly in the vain hope to rid my
self OF IT, dreaded repetition OF that fear.
full sound which now knew proceeded from
its lips, and stopped my ears in is anticipa-
ton
had now arrived at what was then called
Cutters mills, Just half way home, and in
the midst of that dreaTy moor lying
between Charlestown and Medford A
light was moving about in the mill
yard, and in an agony Of hope and
fear | sprang towards Il, shouting at the top
Of my voice There was an immediate answer
and the light moved in my direction. 1t was
carried by the owner OF the establishment, who
| for some reason was abroad Al that late hour
lie started on seeing my pale face and fright
ened look, and hastily asked the matter. As
the light flashed from the lantern into his
face, and knew was no longer alone, feel
ing Of relief came over me, and my nerves,
which had been strung to their utmost tension,
relaxed, leaving me the next moment weaker
than a babe Another, and, thank God the
Thing Was gonel stammered an apology
pleading sickness, and called for a glass Of
water Ny request was readily complied with,
and, following to the house, Islood upon the
step till he fetched the water, when, thanking
him / turned again into the darkness
Hurrying on in the face Of the wind and rain,
which nov came. more fprionsly, expected
everv moment 10 feel the fingers of the Shape