Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-03


OF all the sunbeams that ever derted
across the pathway Of man, sending q
warm cheering ray into the remotesl
depths OF his heart, Madge Murray was
the queen Yes, there / have It in a
nutshell; she was the very queen on sun.
beams Her soul seemed the condensed
essence of sunshine, and through her
eyes, her mouth, and every line OF her
face, little rays twinkled and played IN
cessantly.
As for myself, At the time Of which l
write was thirty-fve, and an ineorri-
gbls bachelor 16attefed myself that
was toerable good looking, with sufi-
cient accomplishments to ensure me a
good standing in society, aourishing
business and every way quite an eligible
match for some fair damsel, whom, how
ever, had decided TO reject upon the
very first advances, forswearing matri-
mony in my Utmost soul, and its conse-
quent evils. s9 hsI5e -,s
But these resolutions were ell formed
before l had ever seen Madge Inmy
younger years had been a ward of her
father 9, but spending most of my time
abroad, l never met the daughter until
received an invitation from Murray TO
pass month with him during the fish
ing season. The thought of fishing was
an inducement in comparison with which
all the women Ia the world could not
hold out 80 great one Therefore, q
June morning found me fishing tackle
in hand, at Mr.. Murray's door. oOo. q
The spacious dwelling, with It's
grounds covered with noble elms, present
Ing cheerful sghtto my comfortloving
soul; but was nothing in compaEisep
with the warm welcome received frorn
my hospitable host and his lovely daugh~
ter, "a little emphasis upon the daagaserD
kind reader $3.50 a55o fae
had been in the house scarcely 6f-
teen minutes, before fair, dimpled
hand was lain on my shoulder and q
merry voice exclaimed
I'm ever so glad you've come, Henry,
for despaired Of ever eettiaga glimpse
OF yon, although you've always seemed
like an old friend fathers had SO much
to say Of you. - Ai' F77
"Jupiter and Marsr' inwardlv ex
claimed. Wasn't fairly taken by stern
and to be called by my Christian name
b7 from the lips of such dainty piece Of
humanity 1t was more than one man
~ could bear, even if his heart was as cold
as ice. In vain tried to bestow some
pretty compliment which 1 was sure she
must be expecting. But Madge, SEEM
ing to anticipate the dilemma in which
was placed, quickly remarked: go
Dont feel obliged to say any quaint
~ OF pretty things to me, sir as. you are
accustomed 10 do with your city laaies,I
Tllexcase you ssa@
Then followed merry laugh at ny
expense. ,SuReN'
What shall / do?' mentalIgnin-
CURED for was placed in a most awk- |
ward position at this moment nv kind
host invited me to take lunch, Of which |
gladly availed myself, for / could main
tain considerable ease In general con- |
versation-save when the large blne ewes
OF Madge met mine, then i must confess !
to certain pulsadon which somewhat
disturbed my equanimity; but summo- /
ing don't care exterior | contriy, a
pass the morning tolerably we'll : 70
Don't think, gentle reads = ,bs, -.
frozen heart had commeDtt.sd ~ tbsa, ~
this short application snnsb;r INV NY ~
~ lnueeo: ~ Woald take long sue
.';u y. sun y days to make an i'm.
PIon upJn an iceberg Fancying
nea' in this condition remained
- pO-eeful security, but. all decisions
Sst sooner or later end, and mine was
brought to an abrapt termination In The
following manner
Not great distance from the dwell
ing OF mine host was a dilapidated
ouiIdipg which, by the old women and
foolish maidens@ OF the village, was
known as the shaunted house Inlor-,
mer years family after family had lived |
IN u and were driven from it on account |
Of the nnearthly shrieks and friobtful
apparitons, which they affirmed haunted
the midnight hours. An instructive
5000 dread OF the spot possessed the minds of
the village people generally, and none
OF them could even find heart to relate
tbs marvellous sights they had seen, Oh.
The hideons shrieks that greeted their
ears. .,,.l .s.st, =, az . Tfgi
Now IL had any one weakness -raore
prominent than another,it was half.
way belief in ghosts, or if not an actual
belief, at least dread OF venturing
within ghostdom. An old creaky,
riokety house Was nay detestation. I'm
u agine, then, my CONSERVATION, when to.
wards the close of my visit my nirth-s
loving Madge, with her cousin Lou,
commenced q bantering attack upon
me in relation to the old house in cues
ton, Twas stoutly maintaining my ut.
ter contempt of such nonsense when
Madge said:lo tffI sIa8 y
"If you are an unbeliever, come. lust
90 over there and pass the night, and
my word for it, you'll be q believer ever
after that 4S4 Il ssaaa xaial
Eyes" continued Lou, Ego, Mr.. Lang
don, and if you escape. alive, what won.
derfal stories you can relate" sefrf&r
OF course my chivalrous disposition
would not allow me to decline the propos
al. II, instead, I had been commanded TO
enter lions den, 4 should have Welded
seeming joyful acquiesence There
fore it was arranged That at mini q clock
should enter the house, and without
company to commence my midnight
r02 yigilaa UnfortunatelYefth night Wal
dark and dreary, not star pierced he
al cold, forhidiug eloads7JA low mon rpsuI
wind, like the vail of a sorrowfuy vo;cs
swept through the frees; all III ele.s.
ments seemed to conspire to make NV
errand one from which 4 sahrant v;tSa
indescribable feelings - '.' w.
smothering my emotions in the pres
snce Of my fair companions, and max.
ing some necessary preparations, bads
thsm good night with a merry isurhA
which died to the fairtest echo ere ii /,
reached my heart NY walk was short.
and soonyfound myself within the a..
serted building, My 6rst. movement
t- was to search the-yheuae from cellar to