The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-27

| bead, when 70 her horror the picture slowly de-
| scended from the frame and gradually approached
the bed. She heard its heavy breathing "a il adj
| vaneed. She tried to scream but could make no
| sound, her limbs were powerless to move. 1t
| came 80 near that she fancied she could feel its
breath on her cheek. She struggled vainly to
utter cry or make movement, her muscles were
| paralized
When reaching the bed, IL seemed suddenly TO
be possessed of two enormous arms, which
stretched out to grasp her. Under the influence
| OF terror, by superhumaa effort, she sprang to
| the floor.
For while she was so bewi'dered az scarcely
| TO Know whether she had been asleep or not,
| whether she had been the victim of imagination,
or if the vision had been a reality. She saw, how
ever, the picture in its original positon aud was
| convinced she had been dreaming, but before she
| had time TO enjoy any satisfaction from this dis
| covery she became conscious Of the presence Of
| another than herself in the room.
| This terrified her almost as much as the dream
OF the satyr, until she recollected that old Mily
| Yves TO return 10 the room and Immediately sup.
posed she had done so while she was asleep.
To make sure, she rose, CROPPED round the room.
and, curled up IN corner, found old Milly, who
was wakened by Agnes stumbling over her.
Miss Du5archett was very brave girl. but it
must be acknowledged that her dream. added to
her other little disturbances, had considerably
shaken her nerves and made her regret the spirit
| of brsvado which had induced her to spend the
| night in her present quarters.
| Heartily wishing herself back again with her
companions, she examined the fastenings of the
windows, went to the door and locked it, fully sa-
| tisfed she was safe from any ordinary Interrupt
| ton. and from anything else she had no fear.
Much treasured by the presence Of MiIly. she re.
turned TO bed, thinking she could spend the ba-
lance of the night in quiet.
just as she lay down, the large clock outside
her door began to strike she tried not to know
the hour but her mind was superior to her will,
and made her know il was midnight.
AS the last stroke died away there came faint
n Distance. MISUNDERSTANDING
and another, becoming more and more distinct.
Old Mily jumped, as if bombshell had exploded,
to the side of Agnes.
"Oh. Lordy, honey, what's that?"
Her question was answered by another groan
and cry, as Of some one in the greatest suffering.
Agnes became excited, while old Miy was on her
knees, bowling, as the walls continued.
"Oh, vine Marster 10 Hebben, save me; know
it's righteous judgment for US a sleepin' in this
gbos house, but Milly didn't want to ; IL was an
other, Hebbeny Father, it was another only save
me this once TO 'pent and believe. Oh, hallelu
yah! p" as the mournful cries came nearer and
nearer "Oh, young 'ooman, say your prayers
for you're goin now; | tried to warn you off'n
this place, but you wouldn't mind me, and now
see what you've brunged an innocent pusson to-"
and claspiDg her hands, she broke out with
Comm. Lord, comin'-oh, my souls march.
in on"
At last footsteps were heard ascending the
stairs and seemed 10 stop on the landing, and as
another mournful groan echoed through the room
the door, but as che was about TO open 1t q tre-
mendous yell overcame the equilibrium of her
spirits and sent her back to her bed.
She remained listening, as she heard the object,
whatever 1t could be, approach the door. AS
Agnes knew she had securely locked It, she had
no fears that anything could enter but her excite.
ment increased to horror when she saw the door
slowly open and figure clothed in white glide
into the room.
She gave one piercing shrek and fell back
epnaplQse. started hQtf ha faa rfn
cry of Agnes, and with her head between her
knees how)ed forth:
ooh! ples,e, mars'r ghost, don't touch me, eff
you dc, Pm dead 'owsn. Take the white pas
sun fust Il ere she is lynn the bed, all ready
take her andeave poor Milly to 'pent." How long
she would have continued, there's no telling, for
q hand laid on her shoulder rendered her speech
less, while voice fell on her ear,
"Ohj on-h J.? nanny, my to0ths KILN me,
can't you GIN me some tar for it ?"
The familiar tones restored the old woman to
her senses, and with bound she sprang to her
feet, and seiZing the intruder by the wool, used
her fists upon him, right and left till he yelled
with pain.
"0h, you tsrnal scoundrel, I'll larn you to
sceer white pusson agin thar she is lyn in
heap whsr you've killed her; Mlly told her she
needn't be sceered, she spected il was some of
Sans tricks, she knowed him. You tryin to be
a ehost!" and here bsttering in the face effect
ualy drove the pain from Sans tooth to his head.
But to the poor fellows relief, at this jnncture
Frank Stanton and Harry Sherwood rushed into
the room, and the incensed mother desisted from
the righteous punishment she was INJECTING, to
give an exaggerated account of Agnes's fright
and her own bravery.
Agnes was soon restored TO consciousness and
made to understand the cause of her terror, and
also of the presence of Harry and Mr.. Stanton.
After accompanying the young ladies back to
the boat, they had returned to Woodside, aud un-
known to Agnes, intended to watch over her
all night, in case any one should attempt to dis
turb or brighten her.
Milly's son Sam was taken with the toothache
and thought he would ease his suffering by below.
ing. He had at first disturbed Mr.. Stanton and |
Harry. who told him to tie up his face and go to
his mother, not knowing she was with Agnes. he
took the first thing he Laid his hands on, which |
happened to be a sheet, in which ne completely |
enveIoped himself, and groaning and bowling, |
made his way to Agness chamber to rouse his |
mother. Finding the door open, which Agnes |
had unconsciously unlocked when she started |
TO ascertain the cause of the noise, he made his |
way into the loom with the effect we have de. |
scribed. His screams. of course, brought the |
gentlemen on the scene. |
LAS for the other idle rumors, Agnes, concern |
ing the place." concluded Mr.. Stanton, "they |
were doubtless caused by the grief of Mr.. Archer,
who, IN the stiffness of the night would give vent |
to his sorrows little thinking of the surmises and |
coDjectures that would be drawn from them"
Agnes spent the remainder of the night down |
stairs with her friends, in the large dinngroom,
warmed by cheerful fire, and nothing further /
occurred to disturb her serenity. In the morning /
she recounted the events of the night to her COM |
panions, and using her powers of rhetoric to de-
pict the thrilling and terrible, made them shudder
with terror, then burst into merriment at the /
ridiculous denouement. They reiterated their as
sertion that she was the bravest of the brave.
Our friends after much difficulty managed to
reach the plantation of Mr.. S., where they were |
received with every demonstration of pleasure.
Mr.. Stanton was induced to defer his business to
and become q guest also, and the |
pleasures Of the visit almost drove from the mind |
of Agnes the teIrors of the night spent in the /
Haunted House.
Long afterwards, whenever Mrs. Stanton would |
preface any remark with . ''rsally, Frank, / am
afraid"-
Her husband would interrupted her with, "Oh,
no, my love, you who have braved the terror
Of a haunted house can never be afraid of any.
hing"
The picture of the satyr, which had played so
important q part In the nights entertainment was
purchased by MIR. Stanton from the owner and now
sdorns the walls of Agnes's sitting room.
Whilst on tour Of inspection recently, trough
he different first class furniture establishments,
With view to replenishing our personal stock,
We were particularly struck with the remarkable
beauty of the assortment found at Messrs. Meyer,