National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-04-05

"My friend" said |, ~ am tolt
your house has the reputation of be
ing haunted"
He eyed me sharply, CLEAN Of
something | did not clearly under
stand in his keen grey eye. He an
swered me impatiently.
"FOOls will be fools! and there
be son people that have nothing
better to do than report evil of theil
neighbOrs. It's an old wOman's
story, stranger and l give We my
word your slumbers will not be dis
turbed. Good night
He turned with rude attempt at
politeness, and left the room. | Sc
cured the door by pushing a heavy
press against it I; and, feeling no in
clinatiOn to sleep, | sat down under
the one window which lighted the
room, and which was in the Roof.
l can hardly account for the
strange spirit that seemed to possess
me. Two hours before. | had been
SO weary | thought | could rot well
hold out to ride to the Pine Tree
House /: and, now that | had reach
ed place Of rest. | was i'll at ease,
and vaguely restless. Perhaps,
sad, 1t was the effect of the magnet
ic atmosphere for the weather,
from being cold and chilly. had
changed suddenly, and was now
warm, and stirred by an electrical
wind. We should have a thunder
gust before long. Then as the
thought came, glare of lightning
burst in at the narrow window. 1t
excited me as the smell of powder
does the war horse. | suppose this
sympathy which have with tLun-
der ard lightning was born in me.
for certainly | have ncvcrcultivated
it. But from my earliest youth, |
have always found my intensest en-,
joymcnt in a thunder.shower. In
this lonely wild, I thought the scene
must be unSpeakably grand. |
felt pent up in this low eaved cham
Der. stood on chair and pushed
the window open and by dexter
ous spring, gained the roof. 1t
sloped a very little, and was batten.
ed with rough boards, atfording me
a secure foothold.
The night was magnificent. The
heavens were black as ink: the red
glare of the lightning burst the
blacknesS asunder momentarily from
zone to zone the thunder reared
like the tides in the Bay of Fundy ;
and the grim old trees swayed like
reeds before the blast. No rain fell,
the air was full of sulphurou heat,
and affair of in the forest the titful
voice of frightened whippowil
rose and fell on the night, To the
west. a belt of lurid light told me
that the weather would soon be
clear; and even as l looked a faint
star peeped timidly forth, and hid
itself again behind the veil of clouds.
took out my watch, and a friend
ly flash showed me the time. Just
twelve o'clock. The storm--if it
could be called such was fast abat-
ing. might as well return to my
room, and get some sleep; for | had
"A long journey before me on the NOR
row. But something seemed to hold
me back My will urged me to go
back and 90 to bed but some in
flucncc held me to the roof. / be.
gan pacing back and forth and as
l did so l observed that there was
an east wing to the house, though
partially detached from it.
| went nearer and saw q light
shining from window in the roo
of the wing. 1t was hardly honora
BILE to be thus prowling about, but
some uncomfortable impulse impel-
led me to clear the space interven
ing between the main building and
the wing. AS did SO, | head a
voice-the very sweetest | had ever
heard--singing softly, an old melo
dy, which | had listened to some
years ago on the banks of Lake Lo
mOnd. l had remembered it al
ways, it was so sadly, exquisitively
touching. l was very uncivil, | con
fess +; but | felt as though must SEE
the singer. What could one wh'
sang like that be doing in thi.
wretched place ? | stole closely t.
the window, and, STOPPING over ii
saw to my surprise, that it wa
strongly grated Then the singe
must be u maniac. What else coul,
no ,,,. r,ccson for a grated window
| stopped down, and pecred throug1
the dusty glass, had gone too ia
not to have my curiosity thorough
satisfied.
In an arm. chair swaying slowl
back and forth, sat a young cir
certainly not more than twent,
Her face was pale, as from illness
long seclusion from the air he
hair brown, curling and falling owe
her white uncovered shoulders. Sh
lifted her eyes moment to cOar'
engraving of the crucitiXion, and
caught their full expression. Oh
look from them made me her sla,
forever. You think me an impr
sive, impassioned boy. Well,
grant it. She held in her lap a "
, low and black purring kitten.
. knew it was purring by the slcel
, look of the grey eyes, and the lux
rious folding of the white paws.
Z ! took second look. No; til
/. girl was no maniac. Why, the
G was she sitting here alone, singh
| that plaintivc air beneath u graf