The union Democrat., 1869-08-28
Written for the UNION DEMocRAr.
THE SPECTRAL EYES.
A TALE OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.

For eighteen years have withheld and
brooded over what now record on paper. 1
have struggled to keep it buried within my
own breast, fearing that the few who know
me should deem me crazy. Year by year,
the feeling TO reveal it has grown stronger
and stronger; snG at last, giving way to the
temptation, the barriers that have hitherto
kept it secret are broken down. and / now
proceed to narrate an event that has cast a
baleful shadow over the latter years Of my
miserable life.
Rrutus had his evil genius, and alas l
have mine, and I stand in momentary dread
of encountering it again. Indeed am con-
vinced that the second visitation will prove fatal
to the mortal portion to my mysterious being
/ have en- inde6nable presentiment that. ere
many days, months, or years, it will rear its
frightful shape upon my vision, force my soul
out of its clayey tenement and pursue my f1eet-
ing shade far into the realms of space. For
hold an opinion that could no more stand
before it in the spirit than l could when cloth
ed in the body.
/ will cease prognosticating, and anticipat-
ing, the evil that is sure to ovetake me, and
confne my pen to picturing the horrid sight
that nearly drove me insane. Oh! for the
power to force conviction upon the minds of
nv readers-to make their eyes start from
their sockets-to chill the blood in their veins
to freeze the marrow in their bones, and
make their hair stand erect like the quilts of
the porcupinel But, alas? Ihave it not, aud
! fear that instead of giving credence to what
I reveal, the smiles of incredulity will break
over their faces. But, while they may reject
this, and look upon it as a " fish tale" in the
authors opinion, they will still believe in
stories more scsly.
Eighteen years! What small wave on
the ocean Of time, but what huge one in
the life of man. was not then, what am
now. was as light, in spirit as a feather.
No sad recollections, of the past; no care of
the present; no dread Of the future troubled
me. But now, sickening memories of the
past, loathing of the present and supreme
dread of the diabolical and never-to be-forgot
ten, unearthly vision that nearly wrecked my
miserable life, years ago, haunt me like the
Furies of old. AS write l hear the wind
signing through the pines and as it sweeps
along in slow, measured cadence, it seems to
bear with it the voices OF the dead, which
seem in voices of the deepest melancholy, to
beseech me to quit this life and wing my
viewless flight with them. Eighteen years
it seems only yesterday No wrinkles in my
face, no lines around my eyes, told of the
passage of years. No frosts of winter. but
only the dews of Spring had fallen on my
head. was then living on the Sacramento
river, ten miles above where it mingles its
waters with theee of Suisun Bay. Most of
my time was spent in hunting. The hills and
tules abounded in game, and sometimes for
days I would be absent from home with my
rifle and dog. Often have slept among the
hills and on the plains, my faithful dog my
only companion. He was a large, noble fel
low, full of determination and courage with
him and my rifle 1 did not fear anything in
mortal form.
1t was near the close of Winter. There
had been but very little bad weather. My
horses had given me no trouble. If, at any
time, they failed to come home. few min
rtes walk would find them and Danish the
fear felt on their account. To the best of
my recollection, it was one evening in the
last week of February that missed the band
as returned frop, hunting. The sun was
too near down to think Of going far in search
of them besides, the wind was blowing from
the Southeast, the sky heavily over cast, and
all signs portended q bad night. In fact as
it closed in, rain began to fall heavily and
did not cease until near dawn. At daylight
I was off with rife and dog, and examining
the trails that the horses usually followed,
at last struck their tracks. Perceiving that
they had taken the line of tules that fringed
the river and bay, struck out due West to
intercept them before reaching Suisun Val
lev. On arriving at the arm of the bay
where Suisun City now stands became con-
vinced that was ahead of the band for no
-: 30 ho in nf &ha
trails that led into the valley. As it was
now verging towards the afternoon. and be-
ing somewhat apprehensive that, if / follow
ed the bay in all its windiugs, 1 would be
caught out in the night. and it had every
appearance of being a very stormy one,
concluded to 60 only short distance and then
cut across the hills to an uninhabited house,
remain there until morning and then resume
my search. The soil being soaked with rain
was very soft, so had frequently to stop and
unclog my boots of grass and clay. 1t was
such heavy walking that soon perceived
up my mind to pass the night, with the wind
and rain, on the hills.
On rounding a point my dog started an
antelope and as he passed l killed him.
Singing the hind quarters over my shoulders
i StIuCk HCTOSS Iuc Hills lOE bu0 Olu dcUUO.
known as the Montezuma House. Day had
fed and the darkness had settled so close
that could hardly distinguish its outlines
when reached it. Cropping my way in, I
placed my gun and meat beside one of its
damp walls and proceeded to search material
to build FIRE. Feeling around ] found q
board, and in few minutes had light suf-
fcient to reveal its interior. In exploring it,
found the flooring in one of it's rooms part
ly gone and tearing up portion of what
remained, soon had enough fuel to answer
all purposes. The old house had mournful,
deserted and ghostly appearance. 1t was
fast going to decay and had the very look
about it to arouse all the superstition there is
in mortal. Feasting myself and dog upon
portion of the meat, came to the conclu-
sion to pass the night in the room where |
had bailt the fire. So, after supper l spread
my overcoat on the floor and lay down.
l was restless and could not sleep. The
wind surged against the house in ftful gusts;
the rain would sound at times as if hands full
OF shot were thrown upon the roof: and, at
intervals when it would lull, could hear
plainly the beating of the surf upon the
beach Az fsrnoa also eko rflnd hv hear.