The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-02-24
frusgatory, be svidenft had a lat.
- suspicion that he reallyhad haunt

n The place at one time.
MY host had procured me some
partrideeshooting at a few miles dis
tance sol stopped onn though the
tower was no very agreeable residence
now. Fletcher was an odious snob,
md Nj. Bantyen, instead of kicking
him ont of the house, was 20 weak az
60 let him bully him.
at soon saw that the fellow was
smitten with his pretty cousin, and
hated me worse than ever fol- flirting
with her, which, of course, one was
bound to do a little and as she evil
IDENTIFY disliked and feared him, dare
my there was q little apparent cause
for his jealousy. Besides which, the
presencs of q stranger no doubt inter-
fsced With his designs upon Mr. Bant-
"My leave was drawing to a close,
however, and as I intended to spend
the last week of it in London, the
time came for me t quit Deadmoor !;
and on the last night an extraordinary
th;ns happenedlf saw the phantom.
at was wet and chilly night, and
via that anxiety to make me COM
Portable which had actuated the Bart
syens during my stay, a FIRE had been
Iixhted in my bedroom. The first
Ere Of the season Is always pleasant,
and 7 sat up fnter than usual to enjoy
it,. I wrote several letters, and then,
wheeling my chair round to The hearth,
stirred up the Goals, left the poker
between. the bars, lit a cigar, took up
. book, and made myself happy.
"rswas. sitting with my back to that
part Of the room where the bed was,
and consequently facing the Queer old
Inirror I told You OF, which was ashanti
1t the other end. At about one
o'clock, one of myocand1esA began to
sputter in its socket, and looking up
in consequences from my box, l saw
rejected IN the mirrers the figure OF
the Jesuit. i have no more faith in
spirits than a Sadducee, yet Twas hor-
ribly frightened so much 30 that l
was very nearly starting up. Fortu-
nately, however, / kept my presence
Of mind, and peither did that nor
stare at the glass, but put out, the
fiekering candle, brought the other
nearer to me, leaned back on my large
arm chair, ana had another surrepti-
tious look at the mirror over the top
Of my book. Itwasno fancy. There,
close to the foot of the bed, not three
Yards behind me. stood the figure, in
slouching cavalier hat, and wrapped
IN . riding cloak, with huff boots and
spurs, . mask on his face, and a pistol
In his hand. 30
"Why the mask? I was treasured
10 q moment; it was a burglar acting
the ghost, to frighten the household
into non-resistance-not the spiritual
Father himself. The poker which
had been left between the bars of the
crate, was now red hot ; Igrasped the
handle, and began stirring the fire, at
the same time whistling a tune. Then
I drew a common chair toward me
with my foot, as if meditating, put
ting my legs upon it, until l could
get hold ofthe back with my left hand.
These little preparations completed,
] suddenly jumped up, and turned
round, with the chair held before me
a. q shield, and the red hot poker in
my right hand.
"Now, my ghostly FRIEND" said I,
'just drop that pistol"
INSTEAD of Complying with this
reasonable request, he cooked and lev
eled it5at my head.
ar inst;nctiyely raised my chair,
and thrust the hot iron at him, touch
ing him on the left cheek at the mo-
ment the pistol exploded.
"I supposed he escaped through a
slidiug Ianel or a trap door I know
that I went over backwards, chair and
al. The bullet had gone through the
seat and then grazed my temple lot
doingzany serions damage, but stun
ming me for q minute or 60; so that
when1the household. alarmed by the
report of the pistol, arrived, they
found me and the chair lying all OF .
heap, and the poker burning burning
quiet a hole In the floor.
"Mr. Bantyen and his daughter
were excessively distressed and the
house was searched, and 5 deal of fuss
made-the most energetic member Of
the household being Raymond F1etch.
er, who did not indeed put in an ap
pearance, but whose voice was heard
ut the front door, intimating that he
was going forthe police. As he would
have good fifteen mile ride through
the rain and over a dark moor before
there was q chance of meeting with
any members at the force, this readi
ness inspired me with a suspicion.
which is now turned into a certainty.
Raymond Fletcher lost his head THU
morning, and I burned the left cheek
Of it that night with the poker"
"And did you leave Deadmool
Tower on the following morning."
Eyes, indeed; I was glad enough Il
get away. / hate q fuss"
"And what has become ofthe Bant
yens
"haye not the remotest idea. W,
went abroad that winter, and / forgo
al about them till this morning"
at was a queer adventure"
"Was it not? Well, / suppose vi
mug 90 and do the picture gallery
ShalSwe dine at the table d. hote 10
dayfn-C8Gm6er's Journal.
Little Nina Rausch, whose tranc
state at Burlington created SO mucl
E