The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-10

When / woke Charlie was bending over
me.
"Did you hear it?" / whispered.
"Yes 1t is not gone yet. But don't
be frightened, Lu."
was Drawer now for was not alone.
For half an hour we sat holding to each
other then the room was still ; the OPP
preston, the nightmare which we had
both felt was gone. Charlie spoke first
"The co-tcnant has made lis a pretty
long visit" he said, with smile which
seemed ghastly enough.
"Did you hear anything before
came ?" / asked.
Before Charlie could speak there was
sound rs Of rapid running along the
entry; swift steps descended the stairs
there was something like struggle;
and then heavy fall
We both sprang to the door. The
bright light of the Kerosene lamp was
flung over the entry and staircase. But
there was nothing to be seen.
While we stood hesitating, new Sc
ries of sounds commenced further Off
medley which we could not well de-
fine.
"We'll follow it up. Can you come,
Lu?"
could not stay alone, and l followed
timorously, along the dark, narrow
entries, through the kitchen, and final
ly through the narrow passage-way
which led to that room in the wing
which had been the scene of our first
singular experience. And here laid
my hand upon Charities arm and inn
plored him to stop. For there were
strange sounds within--a confused
tramping about the floor, so hard and
heavy that the walls beside US shook
presently fall, with sharp, metallic
ring.
"There goes the oven door" exclaim-
ed Charlie.
There followed sound as of a heavy
body drawn over the floor; then came the
strain and tug of liftinga weight, and
then the iron door was slipped into its
grooves with clang.
simultaneously Charlie flung open
the door of the room. 1t was quite
empty, of. course. 4 pale moonlight
shonein at the unshuttered window and
revealed the cobwebs on the wall-re-
vealed, too, something which we both
shuddered in looking at Il dark, ir-
regular stain upon the floor which in.
evitably suggested pool of blood.
80, come away!' / cried, and drag.
ged Charlie away, almost, until we were
well into the body of the house again
Just as we reached the head of thu
stairs the clock in the dining-roon
struck two. Charlie sat with me hal
an hour, but there was no further dis
turbance.
81 guess the entertainment is over TO
tonight" said Charlie. "You goto be-
Lu, and I'll finish the night on the sof
in mammals sitting-room.
This arrangement was adopted. A
ter while fell asleep. Thought wa
in my first nap when Patty's voice q
my bedside awoke me.
so Miss Lu, who do you think
come? ! was never to tell you, but yo
was to come down stairs, and find hir
there, and be beside yourself in you
surprise. Hurry then, for sure it's eigh
o'clock, and that's late enough for you,
And with this Patty hurried away.
dressed hastily, ran down and ther
: was our darling old Will, alive an
well. All ny long heart-sickness wa
over.
Home on furlough! All ! the me al
ing compressed into those words. o,
u it should be "a holiday And it was.
We were all as merry as birds. Wi
!, was, in himself, enough to bring SUI
shine anywhere. My load was inc,
u pressibly lightened. He was older tina
y |, while all the rest were younger, an
so | slipped off upon him many ca
Is that had borne uneasly.
= And first Charlie and took him II
u to our confidence. OF course Will W,
u incredulous, and when wehad scornfu
II ly routed the whole battalion of natur
/ causes which he had brought into Il
tield--nerves, tancies, fears, illusions
" he stubbornly declared himself unco
u vinced.
!, "Wcll, you will see,' | retorted.
II And that night he did SO, and he
also. The whole performance of L
: preceding night was repeated, wi
IL | snrurrlp,S nJbarap.a IN tho ln,tn, Of .
! programme.
Is Only | had taken the precaution
= install Will in room next my own,
Is that at the first call he was beside II
With him near, | was not much afrai
y and of course soldier who has fac
'e the cannon's mouth is not to he rout
III by an invisible army.
50 There is great deal in use. Ev
le the supernatural becomes divested
Il its terrors when we become accustom
III to it.
m These singular manifestations W,
IS frequently repeated. We became in
measure habituated to them. All
IL Older members of the family heard
sounds, also, except mamma, and IN
y fortunately she was never disturbed.
u, AT last would wake, hear thesoul
~ betokening the presence in my roc
~ and fall asleep again. Will decla
Nv it was Il gentle ghost that haunted m
not the one, he was persuaded, v
W made the racket in the old kitchen.
eu One night there was peculiarly
III rious phenomenon. Little Jamie
q. 90 showed symptoms of the Group, an,
W. had taken him into my bed. In
IL night he woke and cried-not violer
but sleepily, and as if disturbed and
les easy. My coaXing did not still h
lat But, by-and-by, there was a low sh-
rol prolonged as II mother sometimes hi
ne. es her babe.
"Will?n | called.