Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-11-05
CHE Sturp :Teller.
the HAUNTED PRAIRIE CABIN.

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THE HAUNTED PRAIRIE CABIN
BY MARTIN g. HALPINE. ~- ss'
1t wanted but an hour Of sunset, and / was still
traversng the pathless prairie in the western part
of Illinois. was beginning to fear that L should
have to spend another night out on the lonesome
prairie, with the cold; hard earth, for my pillow,
when to my great relief saw upon slight swell
of land two-story log cabin. -e.g..,.:
The hollow echo of my horses feet, as rode. to
the door, sounded unnaturaHy distinct amid the
solemn silence that reigned around, while looked
yainly at the windows for the ianun,erable heads
generally seen in every western cabin at the ap-
proach of stranger. = -
Dismounting,sI pushed open the door, which
was supported by only one Of its leathern hinges,
and walked in. There was no one visible. The
rough stones that composed the huge fireplace,
though black and grim with smoke, looked as
though they had not known the warmth OF a ire
for mapy day. The rest ofthe furniture consist
ed Of long table and d number Of chairs and
stools, A somewhat smaller room opened ont Of
this, similarly furnished but no signs Of life we're
visible, with the exception Of prairie dog that
darted past me as Iopened the door, and the Hut:
tering Of the bats that cluag to the damp wallis.
ascended the rude stairway. The upper part
of the house vas divided into two rooms. In one
Of these there were indications Of considerable re-
fpemeut, The remains of carpet we're upon the
floor, while on the walls hung the oval frame Of
mirror, of black oak and beautifully carved Up
on the other side was what was evidently once M the
portrait Of q young and beautiful woman, Though
now defaced and mildewed by exposure to the
weather, whose large black eyes sstartledme By their
mournful intensity Of expression. 1t also contain.
ed toilet table and bed, IKE everything else bear
ing the mark of neglect and decay, The other 9th
room contained nothing but a rude bedrstead and
broken chair; but there were some dark red
stains upon the floor chat filed my veins with an
inde6nabse feeling of horror " hoover had occu'
pied the house, they had evidently left suddeenly'
and without warning, and the longer Ntieccted,
the more strongly was. I convinced that there was
some terrible mystery connected WITH ITS abanaon-
,,ent IA sZi.a l. !. .4stHsiJ ~ .N.t1l
descended to the. lower part pf the house, and
had nearly concluded to remain until morning,
when I sew man,op horseback ppreachipgr de
was evidently a hunter, for he had gun and M some
lind of game aupg over his shoulder. When bear
u onposte. he cast q fartiye look at the hopsei
and then endeavored to quicken the speed OF hls
horse. Pereeiving that he wasgoing BY, rushed
out and hailed him. -,
To INV astonishmept, instead Of hating, he dis
charged his gun ct me, and then, without pansinR
10 observe its effect, dashed hurriedly along For
tuoately, haste made his aim uncertain, and the
hall whistled over my shoulder. '7T S's'7':'tZ
Convinced that, IN some unacconutable TT ot
terror, he had mistaken me for q robber, I mount!
ed my horse and followed him. AS soon as he
heard the clatter of my horses hoofs, he turned
and cast terrified glance at me; but either re-as-
sured at my appearance, or thinking escape impos-
sible, he stopped and waited for me to come up
'sWhat do you mean," inquired, as soon as !
reached him, by attacking an inoffenslVe traveller
in this way?"
The man pushed back his bear-skin cap from hIs
forehead, and regarded me for moment with an
odd mixture of embarrassment and wonder. =,
'sMay be hugged to death by bars, stranger,
he calculated, IF ldidn't think you war sperit
"a spirit?" repeated, smiling IN spite OF my
indignation. ssYou must have queer idea OF
spirits Pray, do spirits travel round in this coun,
try,in boots and leggins, and armed with bowie
knife and pistols T. ss.-,.''r~~ ts ...-r! q
Cant say as to that, returned my companion,
his oounteuance assuming its usual expression OF
careless good-nature, never havin' seen EN- But
there are those that has, and they do say that the
old cabin is full of 'em. kin face any Twin bein
bars, wildcats, rattle-snakes and ipjuns; amt a
feard of nary one of 'em. But tell you what it
is, stranger wouldn't step my foot into that ar
cabin fur all the cattle in Suckerdoml What on
arth were you doin' thar p ..s..- - :.
ssI was thinking of putting up there for the
night friend, for the lack of more agreeable quar-.
ters Do you know Of any house hereabouts,
where could be better accommodated =.
sShould't wonder eff did, stranger, an eft yop
will only jes' foller me an old Bess, you'll lind
yourself thar afore ye know it. ~. i'" &c E;
was pleased with this proposition, and weiiac
ouainted with the peculiarities OF Western man
ner and phraseology, had no scruples in accepting
it. 3D.. -y... f.r.E =
ssWhat is the matter with the house you were
speaking of" I inquired, as We rode along side
BY side. Sand why was it deserted?"
s'You must be stranger in these parts, not to
have heard of the haunted cabin on the prairie,
returned the man, giving ma scrutinizing look
ssFrom the East, I reckon2' tSr . -
"Not exactly; from New York. ." ~
"Sho, now, you amt tho y he exclaimed, look
ing at me as if he had suddenly discovered an old
friend. "Squar' Dexter, my old woman's pop
halls from them parts The old mani be power
full glad to see you An he'll tel ye stories bon
that ar cabin heap better kin; tho Iv'
heerd it from his own lips more q hundred times
A right smart critter is the Squar'. He was
lawyer in New York. .--....- =, .-.. ..
We soon arrived at the cabin. was introduced
to the "Squar )" and after supper he told the tol
lowing story:
'It is now nearly ten year" " said the old man
after lighting the pipe that his daughter dutltuil'
brought him, "when learning that my eldest daugh
ter had married and settled down in these parts,
set out to pay her visit. I had just come from
California, and had few thousand in gold witt
me, together with some presents for Jane, here
-Lo,, T boI pot coon since she WAS a little glrl