The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-07
"A Tale of Terror.

y iAt the "Crow lnn,' at Antwerp, som
years ago, white spectre was seen, bearin
a lamp in one hand and a bunch of KEYS il
the other-this unpleasant visitor was seel
by variety of travellers passing along tn
corridor.
Nothing would satisfy the heighbors tha
an unfortunate traveller had not been a
some future period or other despatched i,
that fatal room by one of the previous land
lords of the house the hotel gradual,
I obtained the name of the "Haunted Inn,
| and ceased to be ,frequented by its ole
patrons. .-'---.'''- 49, ...rI, u
The landlord finding himself on the brink
| of ruin, determined to sleep in the haunted
room, with a view of proving the groundtss
ness of the story. To make the matter m ore
! sure as he said he caused the hostler to boar
MIN company, on pretence of requiring a
witness to the absurdity of the report but
T! IN reality from cowardice. At dead of night.
! however, just as the two men were compos-
ing themselves TO sleep in one bed-leavino
another which was in the room untenanted-
the door flew open and in glided the white
spectre.
Without pauslrg to ascertain what it
might attempt en- approaching the bed, to
which it directed its course, the two men
rushed naked out of the rcon, and by the
alarm they created, confirmed more fully
than ever the evil repute of the house.
Unable longer to sustain the cost of so
unIrodqctive an establishment, the poor
landlord advertised for sale the house in
which he and his father before him we're
born and had passed their lives. But bid
ders were as scarce as customers the inn
remained for sale for nearly a year. during
which from time to time, the spectre reap
peared. o.
At length officer of the garrison. who
had formerly frequented the house. moved TO
compassion in favor of the poor host, Under
took to lear up the mystery by sleeping in
the Aforesaid chambers nothing doubted that
the whole was n trick of some euyious
neighb0r, desirous of deteriorating the value
OF the freehold in order to become a pur.
chaser.
His offer having been gratefully accepted,
the captain took up his headquarters in the
fatal room, with a bottle Of wine and brace
of loaded pistols on the table before him. de-
termined to fire at whatever object might
enter the room.
At the usual hour of midnight, according
ly. when the door flew open and the white
spectre, bearing lamp and bunch of keys,
made lts appearance. he seiZluy both his
liASt'A7r WIN 4iiAtlititiN- as MS Niger W1S
upon the point of touching the trigger. he
perceived that the apparitiOn was no other
than the daughter Of his host, young and
pretty girl, evidently walking in her sleep.
Preserving the strictest silence. lie watched
her set down the lamp, place her KEYS care
fully upon the chimney place alI rctir. 70
the opposite bed, which as it wa, aftersar,ls
proved. she ] ad occupied during the lifetime
OF her late mother, who slept in the room.
No sooner had She thoroughly composed
herself, thar the officer, after locking the
door OF the room, went in search OF her
father and several competent witnesses. in
cluding the water bailiG cf the district who
had been one of loudcst in ci-cuia,;on Of the
rumols concerning the Haunted Inn. The
poor girl was found quietly asleep in bed,
aud her terror on awakiug IL the dreadful
chamber afforded sufficient evidence to all
present Of The state of somnambuiism IN
which she had been eutranced.
From that period that spectre was sedn no
more : probably because tae landlord daugh-
ter moved shortly aitcrwa rAs 70 n home of
her own; and the tales of horror SO frequent
y circulated to the bewilderment of the poor
neighbors, ended in the simple story o;
young girl walking ia hcfsieep.