American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-05-29

tinued L; and with an intention of
fiinging myself upon the figure, and
discovering who i VAS, | made a
spriHg forward.
Bit i was held back forcibly, and,
looking down, | saw in moment
that | was fastened into my chair.
My hands and feet were tightly
tied. a,- .,-,.
4 band around iny waist, and an
other round my neck, completely Sc
cured me.
! faint sickly odoT prevailed the
room, my candle had burned out, bat
in the gray dim light of an early
summers dawn, | saw the motionless
figure still before me.
; 1nstahtiya Thought flashed through
my mind.
'Richard Wilber,' said |, Il know
you. You haEa drugged me with
ether, in order TO terpify me; you
have carried your joke somewhat too
far in fastening me to my chair; it
was a towards trick to prevent me
from administering the chastisement
that your insolence deserves. Re
lease me instantly, or by my soul,
you shall repent itr
The figure moved slightly, and held
out its arm; so doing it uncovered its
face, and | recognized the cleaning
eyes of Richard Wilber.'
Look said he, holding up small
bottle q have here what may per
haps be the means of introducing
yon TO some bona tide ghosts, my
: friend, who mag possibly be able to
dismay your brave soul that you
swear by. | hare drugged you, you
are in my power, for | have but to
hold this small bottle under your
handsome nose and in minute you
will be dead. Now listen to my
terms, to which, II tett agree, wifi
give you your liberty again. Give
lip 9H idea of Laura promise not to
see her again, or reveal the transac-
tiOns Of this night, and you are free
but swear on this Bible to keep Your
word, or else take awhitf of my smell
ing bottle to refresh your SOUL
'Insolent fool y l cried, you have
not even wit enough to play. the vii
liam. Do you thipk tha We are liv-
iiig iii the dark ages, OF in the castle
Of Otranto where man may be muir
dcred and done away with mysteri-
ously, and no questions asked Why.
| have but to raise my voice, and the
family wO,,ld be af3iind us in an i'll
; slant. Mysteries are scarcely the
order of the day i'll jolly old house
Ike this. l am inclined to think you
forget that we are civilized beings
| in this part Of the yorldt'
. And | laughed as the absurdity of
: the position struck me.
r Il don't see the joke returned
9 nnhard, there is no mystery about
: the matter. You are well known %
have disease Of the heart any sud
den fright might easily kill you; my
f bottle tells no tales. | shall confess
f to playing ghost, as a joke, not anti
clpating the fatal effect; | shall be
| frantic with despair at the thought
}, of what | had innocently occasioned,
l and it will be all that pretty Laura
I can do to comfort me hit she shall
=, yes, by George! and your fortune
: shall be the salve that will heal my
o wound, Come, now, you see you arc
helpless: 6gree to my terms, anC
o away with you3
e Never | exclaimed, struggling
l. violently, but hopelcssly. Il despist
II your terms and you, and | will nevel
S consent to your cowardly proposal.
Take the consequences them sail
" he, calmly advancing to me. : L dom
5, object, my boy; your MOI e is mine
It for Laura shall be my wife
tIndeed, Cousin Dick said a saf
l. voice behind me; did you ever hea
t that it took two to make a bargain
- And to my infinite surprise Laufi
is herself stood before us, holding
4r light in her hahd.'
Il Be kind. eaough to RELEASE, yQu
v, friend,' she continued; it woul,
" scarcely be possible to murder tw
n of us before the household could b
is reused. Would it, cousinP
Then, suddenly changing her mar
=, ner- --
~ Away said she, away, before
follow my impulse and call on til
II servants to seize YOU. 'Oh,' sh
as cried, her eyes cleaning fire as sh
Id fastened them on his faltering face
Ill oh, l could see you dragged to go;
like a felon, and witness against 80
he withottt mercy, were y0ts.nOt of III
d, own blood. Since it is 80, | spa1
you. But do not think that Robel
ed will be 50 mercifgl. The papers tia
: you lave stolen from this room hav
er been missed the ghosts errand
ed clear to me now. Away, Instant,
and never see my face again. :,
AS Laura stood thus, in her whit
dress, her golden hair unbound, he
1.-the figure raised to its full heigh
and her graceful arm Outstretche'
she looked Ike q beautiful angel {
ii justice.
,ly Richard glanced at her, and h
ns- eyes glared like those of a wild beast
tut but he saw his game was, up, an
as drawing his cloak around him, l
swiftly glided from the room, an
y. crept down the stairs.
The house door closed softly, an
ar. after awhile we heard the clatter {
rr- his her e's hoOiS die away.
Id But Laura did not wait to hear a
m this before she released me.
nd Her little white fingers bad hal
on time with the rough knots; but 81
,ss united them with wonderful speed.
nl AS she loOscd my hands lastly,
he clasped hers within them, and in
-eS moment all was said that | had
es- vainly tried to write, and all was a
llg swered That | SO fondIy hoped.
Of We agreed that it Wa, best not
, .. mention the nights adventure 'l
M Dick $ sake said Laura, and adde
can easily get the papers from ]
on desk. aud no one need know Il.
5 only suspected him, and don't wa
ar mother to know ! sat up all mig
waiting to hear you scream, and t
ed, in when did hear your voice.
Il L 1 4 =.