The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-01-14

ing TO arrest one or more OF these III Inelr
Nocturnal flight. they-all more or less
terrifed-had assisted on escaping with
out moments delay, assigning no other
| reason than they had seen ghost. Not
| that folks seem to get much harm by 1t,
| Colonel-not by the way they makes off
| without paying cent of money
Great indeed was the satisfaction evlnc-
ed by the victim Of unpaid bills on the
ColonePs declaring that the haunted
chamber was the very room for him. If
to be turned out of my bed at midnight
is all | have to fear, we will see who
comes off master in my case. So, MIR.
Landlord let the chamber be got ready
directly. and have good fire built there
at once.
The exhultant host hurried away to
conhde the great news to 10, and with
him to make the necessary preparations.
Come what will, .Jo Colonel Demarion
ain the man to make of without paying
down good money for his accommodate
TONS
In reasonable time, Colonel Demarion
was beckoned out of the public room. and
conducted up stairs by the landlord, who,
after receiving a cheerful good night, y
paused on the landing co hear his guest
push piece Of furniture against it. 'Ah,
murmured the host, as a sort Of mlsglv-
ing come over him, IF a appanshnm has
a mind to come there, faint all the bolts
and bars in South Car lima as Il kip Ell
away.
But the ColonePs precaution of secur-
ing his door, as also that of placing his
revolvers in readiness, had not the slight
70 ba u,,n
itual disturbances of such kind he feared
ducing ominous demonstrations in the
rooms below, For was it possible to con-
lecture what troubles these might evolve.
Glad enough to escape from the noisy
com pany, he t,ok a Survey of his evil
reputed chamber The only light was
that of the roaring, cracking, blazing
Wood-tire, and no other was needed.
And what storm-benghted traveller, when
fierce winds and rains are flashing around
his lodging, can withstand the cheering
influence OF glorious log fire? especially
if, as in that wooden tenement, that fire
be Of abundant pine-nots. 1t rivals the
glare Of gas and the glow of a furnace
it charms away the mustineSs and fustl-
ness Of the years, and causes all that is
dull and dead around to laugh and dance
In its bright light
By the illumination of just such fire,
Colonel Denarlon observed that the
apartment offered nothing worthicr of
remark than that the furniture was su-
peri0r to anything that might be expect
ed IN \ small Way-side tavern. In truth,
the landlord had expended a considerable
sum IN lifting up this, his finest chamber.
and had therefore sufficient reason to
bemOan It's unDrotitableness.
Having satisfied himself as to his APP
parent security, the Senator thought no
more Of spirits palpabie on impalpable;
but 10 the lar graver issues OF the conven
ton his thoughts reverted 1t was yet
early; he lighted a cigar, and III full APP
probation Of his retirement, took out his
notebook and plunged into the affairs of
state. Now and chen he was recalled to
the circumstances OF his situation by the
staggering tread Of unsteady feet about
the house, or when the b0isterous shouts
below ragged above the outside storm; but
even then be only glanced up from his
papers to congratulate himself upon his
agreeable secusion.
Thus he sat for above an hour; then
he heaped fresh logs upon the hearth,
looked again to his reyolycrs. and retired
to rest.
The house-clock was striking twelve as
the Colonel awoke. He awoke suddenly.
from i sound sleep, flashing as it were,
inlo full consciousness, his mind and
memory clear, al his faculties invigora-
ted, his ideas UndiStnrbed, but with d
perfect conviction that he was not alone.
He lifted his head 4 man was stand
ing u few feet from the bed, aud between
it and the fire, which was still burning,
and burning brightly enough to display
every object in the room and to define the
outline OF the intruder clearly. His dress
also, and his features were plainly dis
tinguishable The dress was travelling
costume, in fashion somewhat out of
dase the features wore mOurniui ana
distressed expression; the eyes we're fixed
upon the Colonel. The right arm hung
down, aud the hand, partially concerted,
might, for aught the Colonel knew, be
grasplng one Of his own reyoiyerS; the
left arm was folded against the waist.
The man seemed about to advance still
closer to the bed, and returned the occu
pants gaze with a fixed stare.
Stand or Il fire ~ cg!cd the Colonel,
taking in all this at a glance, and starting
up in his bed. revolver in hand.
The man remained still.
"WhaJ is your business here - de-
manded the statesman, thinking he Was
addressing one OF the roughs from below.
The man was silent.
leave this room, if you value your
life, shouted the Indignant soldier,
pointing his revolver.
The man was motionlcss
"Retirei or by heaven III send a bull
let through you'll
But the man moved not an inch
The Colonel fired. The bullet lodged
in the breast OF the stranger, but he
started not The soldier leaped to the
floor and fred again. TIE shot entered
the heart, pierced the body, and lodged
in the wall beyond; and the Colonel be-
held the hole where the bullet entered,
and the freight giimmering through it,
and yet the intruder stirred not As
founded, the Colonel dropped his revol-
yer, and stood face to face before the un
moved man
Colonel Demarion," spake the deep
solemn voice of the perforated stranger,
''in vain you shoot mel am dead al
ready.
The soldier with all his bravery gasped,
spell bound. The freight cleaned thro'
the hole in the body, and the eyes Of the
shooter were rivited there.
Fear nothing spake the mournful
presence | seek but to divulge ny
wrongs Until my death shall be aveag
ed, my unquiet spirit fingers here. Lis
ten.
Speeches., motionless was the states
man; and the mournful apparition thus
slowly and distinctly continued.
-Four years ago [ travelled with one /
trusted We lodged here. That night
my comrade murdered me- He plunged
L l,-,... L, .ln,,t L.