The union Democrat., 1869-08-28


He, too, appeared to be wa,chful and uneasy.
l must confess that had an indefnable feel
ing of uneasiness, and hardly understand to
this day what it arose from. For have less
Of the leaven of superstition in me than most
men.
As near as I could judge. it was almost
midnight when was aroused b. low growl
from the dog. | listened atteutively for a
minute or so, but could not hear any other
sound save the raging of the elements. l
then arose. threw on the FIRE portion of the
boards, and spoke soothingly to the dog who,
looking wistfIlly in my face, uttered growl
more akin TO fear than anger and crocched
at nv feet. Up to this time / had felt no
real alarm; but observing closely the actions
Of my dog, and knowing that heretofore he
had been stranger to fear, l Was led
to believe to a certainty that there was
danger approaching, but in what form,
could not tell. Instantly, as my mind gave
way to terror, thoughts of all the stories that
had heard concerning the old house flashed
upon my mind. 1t had been reported, and
was generally believed, that it was rendez'
yous for horse thieves and escaped couvicts.
A report was also current that three men,
who had stopped in it over night the year
before, had been murdered and their bodies
thrown into the river. Iagain renewed tie fire,
put fresh cap on my rifle. frightened my belt
and placed my hunting-knife in easy reach.
then sat down 10 the darkest corner Of the
room, with the intention of remaining up the
rest of the night. For I had become SO
aroused by the strange and unaccountable
question. The fire gradually died out to q
II .hoI
light over the room. My fear had,
to certain extent, given way to a tancied
security. / had fallen into half doze, or
that state which precedes sleep, when the
dog again aroused me. This time there was no
the feeling that controlled him
shall never forget as long as have life, the
look of fear that he wore, or the low, wailing
howls that he uttered as the poor beast
paid no attention. and continued to keep his
eyes fxedly staring in the direction Of the
door. Suddenly felt as if cold, icy wind
surged through the room and pierced me to
the marrow. l became so benumbed and
chilled that could not move from the posi-
ton was in 5ut looking in the direction
where my poor dogs eyes were rivited, l
encountered the gaze of pair of the most
malignant and deadly orbs that ever expect
again to see and survive! Oh, the dreadful
horror that I endured l endeavored to
reach my rifle, but my limbs were powerless.
The eyes foated slowly forward and ap-
preached the dog. I could see no head, no
body-nothing but those fearful and deadly
eyes. My poor dog lay with his head be-
tween his paws-his eyes fixed and glaring
upon the hideous object that was slowly
approachings i appeared as if an age
passed while lsy benumbed and rem
dered powerless by the profound sensation of
fear that had taken possession of me. Gazing
at those appalling eyes, on they came, nearer
and nearer; until at last, having attained a
position Immediately above the dog, they
began slowly to sink down. l must have
tainted; for some time elapsed before | re-
where / was. pinched myself to
see if I were not dreaming; but on casting
my eyes around l soon became convinced
that it was no illusion, for encountered the
eyes-their gaze this time fixed on me. l
felt strange feeling as of madness coming
over ne. My hair fairly writhed, as if
charged with electricity-my eyes felt as if
force was prying them from their sockets
and my flesh as if crawling on my bones
whilst my blood seemed draining itself from
oil the extremties of the body and settling
around my heart. l have an indistinct rec
objection of springing to my feet, reaching
the door and feeling the wind and rain in my
face but there all consciousness ceased-I
knew no more for hours. When l came to
my senses again was lying close to deep
gutter or wash, near the foot of q hill, miles
away from the adobe, benumbed with cold
and drenched with rain. Some time elapsed
before I could realize my position. 1t sp-
peared that had bad hideous dream, but
after rising to my feet, and walking short
distance, fully realized everything that had
transpired and the recollection came so viv-
idly over me that even then, although it was
broad daylight, I could hardly control my
mind and allay the fear that shook me like an
ague.
On reaching home found that my horses
had returned, and giving way to the drowzi-
nesss that overcame me, lay down and did
not awake until it was broad daylight the
following morn. After breakfasting, | sad
died horse and started to see what had been
the fate of my dog. On nearing the old
house, everything wore the aspect of peace
and auietness-wild ducks were swimming
in the river-sails were glistenipg on the
bay-a spider had wove web across the
door-a little lizzard was lazily summing him
self on the door sill. Dismounting l nerved
up all my resolution, and entering l found
my poor dog cold in death. His eye balls
were forced out of their sockets-his hair
singed-two holes burnt in the foor-a
strong smell of birthstone in the air l seized
my rifle, made hasty exit and, mounting
my horse, fed from the place.
W. l.. BARRY, of the Lebanon (Tennessee)
Herald, is eighty-nine years old, and the
oldest printer in America. lie sets his
10000 "ems" from sun to sun. and handles
his composing-stick with as much ease and
accuracy as when be set up the obituary OF
Washington.
Too GRAxMArIcAL.-" Tommy, my son,
fetch in a stick of wood" "Ah! my dear
mother" responded the youth, the gram
matical portion of your education has been
sadly neglected. You should have said,
Thomas, my son. transport from the recum-
bens collection of combustible material upon
the threshold of this edi6ce one of the cur
tailed excrescences of q defunct log"