Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-09-27

open. tnDu1n sue sdlu slle na! C'lfciUlil
closed them all before going to bed. Mr..
King who lad not yet heard of the rcpu
tation of the house. naturally concluded
that this was the offspring of tiniid i'm
agination.
On the following night all in the house
retired early, and nothing occurred to dis
turb their sumbcrs until about an hour be-
fore midnight. Then, suddenly, Mr.. King
WAS aroused by pounding OIL the door Of
the wood house-tllc most remote of the
dsipnted outbuldings. The blows were
those of an axe, and the thought of the
startled man was that burglars were at
tempting to break into his dwelling -
springing ont of bed, he hastily threw OH a
portion of his clothing, aud hurried down
the stairway. As he went down the noises
increased blow after blow sounded OH the
door, and echoed through the building and
then; with n loud crash, the iron banded
frame seemed to give way, and to fall in
ward into the wood room. i shall be too
late. thought Mr.. King, as he rushed to
the outer door of the kitchen. This was
fastened and, placing his foot against it,
he awaited the attack of the burglars. AT
first he heard low voices in earnest con-
NpISUItOll. anu liltH slldI y. fHlCh bNiNS aS
of an axe hcwng the fallen door into ten
thousand pieces. Making no sound he
waited and listened; but i'll a few moments
the sounds suddenly ceased, and deadly
silence fell upon the loony out-buidings
Then the man Of nerve lighted Il candle,
and holding it above his head went cooly
into the wood room. Everything was in
its appropriate place, and the barred door
hung. as usual, firm aud strong upon its
hinges
Thinking his ears had deceived him as
to the true location of the sounds, and
that they had really come from detached
on building, Mr.. King re-fastenel the
kitchen door, and with the candle in his
hand, went back to his sleeping apartment.
His step was light for he was in his stock
ings; but as he went alonga a heavy tread.
kept pace with his every football. Hold
ing the candle above his head he turned
about again and again. but nothing was
there but the impal pahle air and the now
uncarthly silence. Followed by the sounds
he went slowly up the stairs and entered
his chamber; and then the cchoing tread
died away, and lying down on the bed he
soon fell into uneasy slumber.
As the clock down stairs struck for mid
night he was reused again by his wife. who
said the bell ut the front entrance had just
rung violently. Getting up, he went down
and o,rmcd tha door. wondering what vis-
tor could he coming at such late hour
The moon was at the full. not a cloud OBJ
scored the clear wintry sky, and the hem
lock grove, the vacant barn, and the leaf
les. trees which girdled the silent road
were all lighted up by II sort of dim day
light. He saw, or thought he saw, in the
clear moonlight, q carriage. drawn by Il
white horse, standing at the door. just
then sudden gust of wind blew ont the
! light which he bore. He turned to re-
light it with II match. The interval was
hardly moment; but when he again look
cd out he could hear or see nothing that
wore the scmhlance or gave out the sound
of moving mortal. Turning round he re
entc red the house, and then II soft hand
was laid lightly on his arm. and an unseen
form glilcd swiftly by. with Il rustling
sound. as of heavy silk brrSht. agains,
some solid substance. Itrapidlv ascended
the stairway. and, holding the light above
his head. He saw nothing; but still the
soft rustic smotc on the air. and now a
gentle fuotstep sounded on the carpet
Pas. his own room it went, past his child
ren ;. and then paused at the door of a re
mote chamber. which, as if nuched by
some invisible hand, swung open at its
coming. Then the brave nau entered the
rooH, aud found it as empty and desolatc
as a beggar's pocket.
He went back to his chamber. threw
himself upon the bed, aud closed hi. eyes
Tor another short snmbcr. His wife lay
awake, not alarmed. but with the thought
that no earthly visitors We're breaking the
uulet of their peaceful dwelling. Sooii she
heard loud rap on the open ,!oor OF their
hcdronin, aud Springing up, awakened her
husband. who are yea! What do you
wantl' asked the startled woman. \
law, rattling. musical laugh was the only
answer.
As the man rose from the bed and went
to the doorway his wife Suddenly eyeaim
ed: Its against the wali--a woman in a
silk dress and mmtilla!' Her husband
looked hut saw nothing. Same eyes Ii is
Said, are naturally open, aud some natur.
ally closed to ghostly spectacles.
Again the man Went to.slcep, and again
was awakened hy loud noiscs in the lower
part ri the cottage. This time they scc.n-
ed to come from the kitchen. At first he
thought the roonl door was broken in, then
that The chairs We're tossed wildly about,
and then that the stove was thrown across
the room with Il crash that shook the whole
h,,ilding. He rose again and went softly
down To the lower story but 30 little of
giostiv impression had all this mad, upoa
liln that he opened the kitchen door fully
.ynrct,ntr tn pu.oiluter three and uprna. a.ls