The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-04-25
4 Ghost 14LresstHre---G Conclusion.


consultations But all these were mere
fOrerunners to the more dire and terri
BILE events yet to befal US. Scarcely had
thi, squabble about the boards ended,
when sudden expulsion of air from
the chest OF Wilberton, who had stray
gled out several yards from the PARTY,
an air pump, blended with whisper
from Brown, which, in his excessive
fright, had an unearthly thrill, annouced
the approach OF a new and yet more ter
ribIe danger. As our attention was
wholly centered upon the singular phe-
nomenon of the condition Of the grave, it
was several moments before we could
be made to comprehend this new aspect
of affairs, and what threatened us.
When we did, had :. that urb;me, yet
dreaded parsonage who is represented
As rowing departed nlortals over the
waters of the StyX to their future, ill.,
hospitabe home, stood among us with
thesalutation. syour tickets gentlemen, y
he could hardly have caused more con-
sternation than was actually felt at the
sight Of the shape which now confront
ed Us. It was, apparently, the figure Of
A man of perhaps five feet in height
possibly exceeding this-very broad
and heavy, -and standing of some
twenty feet, perfectly motionless. A
garment, which had the appearance of
a cloak, and black as black could be, Ell
veoped it from top to bottom, so that,
while it bore the general outline of Il
man, except as to height, it Was impes-
sible to distinguish any feature by which
the creature could be elassed. Whatever
It's intentions were, whether pacific Or
otherwise, it certainly must have been
highly delighted with the ltulricous ex
additions of human weakness which its
presence produced. The cracking to-
gether Of knees, the shaking Of joints,
and those long, deep respirations, as If
each W Is the last, and Of which the chest
is capable only in moments OF ungov-
ernahIe terror, no doubt made 4 deli.-
ious symphony for his ghost-ship's ears
all the more acceptable. as according
10 approved authority, the only music
thatevprgreeted his ears, Was the MOURN
ful and querulous complaints of his own
lost anil wandering companions. a
that the students had ever imagined Of
the terror Of Il ghost adventure, now fell
short Of the absolute reality; for at this
iuncture. the unearthlv presence, drawn
no doubt by these fascinating sounds,
indicated, by a slight forward move
ment, an intention Of cultivating the
further acquaintance Of such charming
and approaching gentleman. The sus-
pense now became almost unbearable;
the hair of affrghted collegiates stuck
out something like porcupine's quilts,
even the power of motion seemed to
have departed; and it was we'll for the
hopes of their friends, that at this aW-
full crisis, a tremendous crash against the
fence in the rear sounded a new alarm,
since it served the double purpose Of re-
calling-or, rather, concentrating their
demented faculties, and of electrifying
them into state of motion. 1t was no
time now for ni:ety of observation.
Without stopping to ascertain the cause
of the disturbance in the rear, which
was nothing more than the precipitate
approach of our sentinel in the woods,
who had discovered some fearful object
without even so much as a glance
backward, the appalled, students, with
every nerve stretched to its utmost ten
sion, bounded away ia Il race Whsel!
illustrated, If es-ea !, MAS iill'sfrats 4,
the old saw severy fellow for himself,
and the ID take the hindmost.' The
course that this extraordinary stampede
took, Law directly across the cemetery,
to the gate on the South, and the fugi-
tives were headed by the athletic Brown,
who outdid himself on this occasion.
His thirty seven feet jumps were mere
pigmies by the side of the prodegies he
now performed in that line; and could
victor of the Olympic races have seen
him as he held the lead, by at least two
lengths, he would have felt himself up
on his best metal. And then his yells.
Ordinarily distinguished for the Won
derful capacity ofhis vocal organs, hav-
ing performed, as was alledged, on one
occasion, the marvellous feat of drown
ing the tumuIt of a darkey's revival, on
this memorable night, he gave vent 70
some yells ofgenuine terror which would
have thrown Camanche "Bravc" into
despair or petritied him into fossil.
Those crooked legs of Prof, too. who
ran cheek by .jowl with Wiibfrton and
Wallace, as he bounded over the sthor-
vitae. sweet brier and lockwood. mounds,
slabs and tombstones which lined the
way, described some figures not MEN
toned in Euclid, and which neither he,
as proficient as he undoubtedly WA, IN
the Mathematics, nor the renowned
pythagoras himself could have demon
,trated. | have no doubt his ghost
ship regarded this performance with a
cyrno% loo1 of ocmuloca,,cx. IF hn did