Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-10-13


pleasant compared to this
clark !! there is two striking, so
vote We go to bed again, and don't make
ourselves look like couple Of fools dis.
turbing the house and making a fuss
Come v'
Richard reluctantly complied. and
they lay, every nerve on the stretch,
half fearing to shut their eyes, lest on
opening them another fearful vision
should present itself and SO they lay
till the cheerful sunlight streamed into
their chamber, and with its pleasant
brightness put all fears of ghostly visit
ants to rest for that time at least, and
they felt secure enough to fall asleep.
Fatigued with their watchful and terri.
flying night, the two friends slept late
the ensuing day, and when seated at
last at their breakfast it was nearly mid
day.
"Well," said Richard, II suppose
you have bad enough to convince you
that this is no house for mortals to in
habit. I'm so thankful poor little Alice
was away, it would have frightened her
nearly to death if she had seen and
heard last nights sights and sounds. 1
krow l have had enough" a
"Do you really mean to be driven out
of your pretty cottage by the ghosts ?"
asked Nicholson. II should have it
carefully searched and try to find the
cause of it all there must be some
trickeTy."
"Of course / shall leave it," answer
ed Richard {; "why, l would not run
the risk of soaring my wife out of her
wits for anything; besides. l confess
I've had enough to last me considera-
BILE time in the spiritual line. It's very
fine to laugh by daylight, but in the
night it is quite another affair"
81 do not like giving it up" replied
Harry, SIT seems so absurd and I can t
believe it iuexplicable, though it was
not agreeable, must say. l propose we
stay here one more night at least and if
anything more is to be heard or seen 1
shall give 10, and be converted to firm
believer in hobgoblins, etc., for the rest
of my days What do you say, will you
try it?" Richard looked as if it was
rather distasteful proposition. but
partly from dread of his friends sarcasm
if he seemed afraid, and also from hav-
ing to give up his cottage, he thought,
"Perhaps the mystery may explain it.
self somehow" SO he finally resolved to
venture another entertainment by the
spirits.
In the afternoon our heroes took a
long ride, and came in rather tired in
body, but decidedly stronger in mind
and nerve, and after good dinner they
took up books and felt cool and COM
posed, and as little inclined to be nerv-
Gus as any two human beings could, af-
ter their late experiences.
The evening pass I'd away, tea came
and was finished, and eleven O'Clock
struck and they had had no disturbance
es, so hoping that the ghosts had had
their fling the preceding night, they re-
tired to rest and were soon fast as.eep,
and the only sounds heard we're the
steady snores of the estimable pair.
One sounded-all still A quarter
past-at peace. Half past: "What's
that, Hal y
The footsteps in the adjoining room
trod the floor once more, making tbeh
hearts beat quickly. Hush! have they
left off No They see the door soft
Iy opening, and again that ghastly pair
pass by the bedside, 60 to the outer
door, and this time descend the Sroan-
ing stairs.
Dick, get up; let's follow"
Hal had sprung up and was already
the useless bolts, and they
looked over the banisters and saw the
figures gliding on. On they went, step
by step, following their fearsome guide,
and reached the dining room once more
The room seemed lighted by kind of
phosphorescent light. The shutters
we're closed aud no light could pene-
trate through them, and no fire burned
in the CRATE, and they had forgotten to
bring their lamps in their haste! yet
still the room was lighted somehow, not
but enough for them to see
plainly from the doorway the two shad-
owy figures, the male bearing that
CHASTITY corse, standing near the block
Of chimnies, exactly. Richard thought,
where he had often felt that shuddering
cold run through his veins "No won-
der," was bis inward comment. The
male shade turned, and still bearing his
horrible burden, walked to the chair in
which the men had seen the woman fall
fainting on the previous morning, and
gently laid her in it then he moved
towards the window, opened it and dis
appeared. SIS this the end! No !"
Once more they see him enter, this
lime with crovbar in bis hand, and he
slowly displaces panel which reveals
in the brickwork behind it kind Of re-
,ess. Then the ghostly laborer lifts
he poor blood-stained corse once more,
and with a groan passionately kisses
hose pale lips, and gently lays her with
% that secret grave, again replaces the
panel so as to leave no traces of his un-
holy work. opens the window and passes
nut, the light dies away, and the men
ire left iu the darkness, and sick with
,orror, to grope their way back to the
bedroom. They seemed surrounded BY