Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-05-21

. HNtA'EuSl nv SuW uGar tnc
scene of the murder, strange lights dancing,
and heard distinctly tho noise as of a chain
dragged over a pile Of stones. A yonng meu
who had been visiting his sweetheart, tes,..
lied that while passing the place he heard his
namo called three times, and looking toward
the hut saw itlighted up md the murdered
Hu~ beckoning him to come in.
! The ghost became the absorbing theme Of
tho town. Nothing else was thought or talk.
CD OF. 1t was made the subject of a special
meeting of tho local authorities. The Rcy.
Hugh Reese, pastor of the dissenting church,
Illuminated against it in two Of his most DOW.
erful sermons. The select committee to which
l have above referred, visited tho haunted
premises, and although armed with q COPY of
tho Holy Bible, two swords and a braoo of
pistols, were so appalled, by tho appearance of
tho spectre that they fed in terror, and dis.
banded to meet no more. Finally, a messcn.
ger was dispatched to Carnarvon to summon
the Rev Didymus Davis, tho famous exoroi-
sor, who made his appearance on tho scene,
prayed, and read seven chapters from the
E~vangelists, winding up with the following
formula: whether you be spirit or devil
whether you DC from heaven above or hell
beneath-I command you in tho name Of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, to leave
this place forever" But it was no use. Tho
next night the spirit of old Hu was more
troublesome than ever, so that tho whole
neighborhood were terror stricken by the
bowls and shricks that issued from the haun-
ted cabin. The poor people, who never had
80 manageable a ghost before, were in
despair.
1t was at this time the incident happened
that exercised snch a controlling influence
over my future life. A lot of us young fel
lows had been carousing at a village tavern
had made a good haul at our herring fishing,
and wcro spending our money freely. The
conversation naturally turned to the subject
of old Illus ghost. All were firm believers
in the apparition, except myself, who stoutly
insisted that the whole affair was gotten up
by some interested person, in order to get
possession of the cabin. CHOW, l tell YOU
what I'll do" says Shou Cadwalladcr, cap.
tain of q fishing smack, an lay : wager of
five guineas that you dare not go to the haun-
ted hut, and stay there all alone, from mid.
night till three in the morning." I had been
drinking heavily, and promptly replied, 81
agree"
The matter was soon arranged, the money
was put down, aud I started for tho hut, &C..
companicd by three of my companions, who
were to sec me enter. The night was dark
and dirty-so dark you couldn't sec the
length Of yourarm. I must say 1 felt a little
uncomfortable as l approached the haunted
tenement; but I walked boldly up to the
door, pushed it open, entered, and extemp ri
zlng a light, matches were not invented thcn,)
lighted a candle with which I had provided
myself and took u survey of the place. 1t
was a miserable thatohcd roof, mud walled
hut, with hard carthcn floor, nearly bare of
furniture, and inexprcssibly dreary. The air
was close and dank, as if the faint Of the
bloody deed, enacted q few weeks before, still
fingered. Everything remained as it was
when the murder wac committed, I thought 1
could even see traces of the struggle on the
moulded walls. The floor in several places
bore the dark stains of the dead mans blood.
Altogether, the sight was one to make ever
as hair.braincd, a fellow as / timid. But /
sought to drive unpleasant fancies away. /
threw myself down on a bench by the table,
and waited the issue of my adventure. lay
quietly some time-so quietly I could hear
my heart beat. The stiffness was oppressive.
grow nervous under the awful hush of the
midnight, and fancied a thousand horrible
sights and sounds. / thought I saw tho old
man as he lay in his shroud thought 1 heard
tho old familiar voice pleading for mercy al
the hands Of his assassin. Little by little
however, my perceptions became less and Less
distinct My eyelids dropped, and + fell into
slumber. How long I slept / have no idea
but woke up suddenly, aud became con,
scious that | was no longer alone. I felt 70,
my eyes we're still closcd-that there wal
something or somebody that had entered
while J. slept-noar mo. It's presense was
palpable to oil finer senses. I seemed 10 DO
as it wore, embodied by invisible arms-wrap
ped in a spell 80 absolute and terrible, that ]
was powcrless to Icsist. But 1 knew that te
yield would be fatal and so, with a might,
effort of will, oponcd my eyes, and looked in