Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-11-01
OFFICE IN PETERS, BL03x.
VOL. XIII -, :: NO, fl,

stiV HDuSuullUt, Wltu WHICH VcsHte HUI
formerly entertained James, were one or
two stories Of strange rights seen about
tthis swamp. to which. I suspect, she mali
|cioasly added Some embellishments Of her
own. .sel.. l..s--sssa-s..- st s.. Y. = f5.s
James heart did.not heat with its u.u.
Pal caimncss as he approached the swnmv.
But his tiinidity rose tn fear, and his "fcas
no agony. and his whole frame shook, and
\ cold sweat broke Outat every pore, ashe
saw a figure in white come out from tho
y ushcs. and made slowly toward. him., liz
stood rccted to tte ground without the
power to fly, hut his hands instinctively
fnmbIed with his fowling- piece, as though,
,he wouh have used it against the object Of
his tears. The spectre raised it's arm with
a menscing Ecstnrc; md the piece fell from
Fhis handsto the gfound, As the apparitina
drew nigh. he could perceive that it was
wrapped in linen sheet, and the white
feet that showed themselves under the Nw-
er edge. left him no doubt that it was the
tenant Of coffin who stood before him.
He cssaycd to speak. but his throat SEEM
ed filled with ashes nor was tnsccssary.
for the arm Of the spectre was aguin raised;
he saw its eye glistening under the ioldsof
the shroud lie saw its lips move; tha
words came ferth in clear and solemn ac-'
cents; he swOoncd. and fell to the ground.
The same evening. rs Yok was quietly
smoking his pipe by the firesidc, and watch.
ing tie changes in the cmbers, Gesllie en-
tered the room. qaitc ouHof breath, with
an expression Of unusual agitation and
anxiety on her countenance. She seated
hersclf. and after moments silence. \
have been thinking. saidllshe, .tlat you
are not very good, neigllbor to Willans,'
'Why so. my daughter - E. s. LA
1t Is sGflOng since you have bccnsins see
him. / hope he has taken no offessse at
it but, you know, he has Inot calledat our
house lately, aud James, whom you used
he so fond Of, and WHO diverted us so much.
has not darkehcf our doors for many a;
long day. uta==s ..rI f.53#-...
That is true. girl; lwill, sec Williams
tomorrow evening. .-.-5...
why not to night; il is beautiful
night; the sky is so clear, and the moon
so bright it may he bad weather to- NOR
row. you know; besides. if Williams has
really taken offense at your neglect Of
him, the sooner it is made up between ysu
! the better.
why that is true, again; and will
} even go tonight and Gcshic, with "A
pleasure she could hardly conceal reached
! him his hat, and heard him walk away'i,i
the direction Of Williams house witt, a
, pace quickcned by the dampncss Of tho
t evening air. OL tie way. lok fasnd James
t lyihg'in the road dapparcntly lifcfess, and u
. nlan who was passing about the same time.
assisted in bearing him to his fathers house
= where, by applications he was soon brought
to himself. On his return. Yok related
I these circumstances TO Geshic, who ap-
pearcd as much surprised aud interested.
, as if she had known nothing of the mat
ter.
To the numerous questions put to him
respecting tue condition in which he was
found, James returned no direct answer.
( but desired to he left to ri'posc. Sleep did
e not visit his eyes that night; the event OF
the evening; which h. had remembered
! but family on first coming out Of the swoon,
: returned to lin ,n all its circumstances,
: with an impression that grew stronger ev-
a cry moment. Again they seemed present
+ to him; the haunted spot, the spectre. the
/ white feet and hand. the glcam of its eye,
perc.p,ible motion Of its lips, and tho
piercing and selsnp tones Gf'its voice
Then, also. the fearful words it uttered.
} returned. one by one, to Lis recollection.
aud. as they returned. engraved themselves
} there, as the diamond ploughs its cliarac.
ters on the rock; ngaih' he heard himself
denounced as treacherons, faithless. and
warned to escape ah unsimcly end by
speedy repentance. The morning found
him kaggarl and exhausted, in a state of
mc,anekolly bordering on despair.
1t happened at this time. that the minis
! ter Of the parish in which Williams had tor.
me rly lived, was on visit to his old neigh
bar, Williams. who had been ono Of the
pillars Of his church, had implorcd him so
Eathetically to come and dispense the word
FOR a season in that destitute place; that
he could not find it iii his heart to deny
him. He was one of that race of excel
lent old c!ergymcn. of which some speci
mens yet reMain, am told, in New Eng
land, Renowned equally for good sermons
in the pIlpit and good stories ont of it
His roun4 and somewhat florid fncc was
set off by short fox-colorcd wig. and the
> severity Of his brow temporarily the jollity
of his cheeks and chin. The clergy, yon
know. We're in those times the nobility Of
tine country their opinions were oracles,
l and their advice law. Those We're good
days, when the farmer sent the best of ev-
err thing he had to the 'msnister when ev-
9 cry hat was doffed as he passed, and when.
in every house he entered, the great cnsy
. chair was instantly wheeled ior him to tho
7 front Of the fireplace. the housewife ran to
! comb her children and the husband to
lbroach the beat barrel Of cider in his cellar.
@ Williams minister was not a man to abuse
: the reverence in which he was hell tho
G |peniteut are always ready to apply TO q
# clergyman. but this good man was also the
# friend Of the unfortunate and unhappy.
. In the morning rs soon as the clergyman
Y was up. James sent for him, and commg-
g nicated to him the adventure of the night.
g A long conversation ensued. The clergy
# man examined James with great minute
i, mcss concerning all the circumstances, and
Satisfied himself Of the truth If bis story.
:. he then inquired Of him il there we're Rnv
), particulars Of his late way of life, which
!, = might have given OCCASION to so rcparka-
;, = Bile a visitation. james besitatcl f6F 8
!. while, and at last confessed that he had
loved Mary; that he kelicvddhc had won
her affections that they had talked rt
marriage that he had Discontinued lis wis.,
= its and that ne had been told she Was mn.
Z lhappy. Another series OF questions GU
= sued, aud at the enl Of the conference II
: was settled. that James should Immediate
y ly perform his engag' ment to Mary, and
\ that the incident Of the ghost should, ip
y the mean time, be kept. secret between
: him and the minister.
Mary did not know 70 what event she