Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-07-23
alton and digestion.

The two conspired to make his life a tor
ment to himself and others, and he hung
himself to his bedposl in the blue room,
where, it was said, his ghost walked for
many years
It was rumored that he had killed a man
in duel, and that his spirit would not rest
on that account.
The room had naturally been avoided, but
the story had nearly died out when sudden
ly strange noises were heard at midnight,
and one of the maids, who ventured in the
room late one night bad been found in con-
WILSON'S, and as. soon as she was able to
speak, declared that she seen figure lean
ing over the writing-desk.
1t was clothed in a long, black cloak, she
said, and had come toward her with mena-
cling, angry gesticulations.
She had screamed and tainted, and knew
no more till she found the family around
her.
The stable boy also declared that he had
often seen dim, blue light burning in that
room at night, and that once he had seen
the fguresof man In black cloak pass be-
fore the window.
All this terrified the household so that no
one of the servants would venture into the
room.
Mr.. and Mrs WILDER laughed at the
stories, but Laura was evidently secretly
terrified, and it was to allay her fears that I
had volunteered to sit up all night in the
blue room, and, if possible, to ''lay the
ghost
AS entered the apartment was some
what struck with the desolate appearance of
it, but my thoughts were so occupied with
the letter [ was about to compose, that |
did not give the ghost a single thought.
Drawing my easy-chair to the table and
arranging my writing materials before me.
soon became completely absorbed in my oc-
cupation. s....s.e II I
Gradually the house became entirely still;
the distant slamming of doors told of the
final retirement of the family.
The old clock on the stairs tolled out
twelve in long, solemn strokes, and then
nothing was to be heard but, the scratching
of my pen as [ sometimes hastily, some
times slowly, filed page after page, only to
be destroyed when -written-for it was no
easy matter to write this letter.
Too mnch depended upon it to treat it
lightly; every word must be weighed =
every sentence duly considered and what
dictionary on earth can furnish the proper
words for such letter? S5a IA.
And what man on earth can know what
will suit the woman he loves, when she
treats him forty different ways in as many
minutes
Hang it p I at last exclaimed ''Ill
speak to her tomorrow | can't write; it's
best to speak but no-she will laugh again
as she did this evening But then, again,
her sweet eyes told some tales this evening,
too Yes, I'll speak tomorrow, and go to
sleep now, It's late; my light is nearly
burned, and to confess the truth, writing
love-lctters is sleepy business"
So, leaning back in my easy-chair, [ be-
gan to think over the best way to offer my
self
Gradually a dreamy feeling overpowered
me. and although was desperately in love,
I found I could sleep, which was, of course,
out Of all rule; but l was punished for it.
began to wander through the loveliest
gardens in all dreamland, and Laura walked
by my side.
Her hand was in mine; stopped to gath
er rose and gave it to her but what
strange odor the flower had Where had I
ever perceived such before?
It surely was not like rose
Never mind.
Oh, how soft Laura's hand was
[ raised it to my lips.
Hark what noise was that :?
Nothing nothing How delicious
the sunlight was, how lovely Laura's blue
eyes how soft the pressure of her arm with
in mine But why did she suddenly grip
me as with hands of iron
Ha! felt strangled! Help, help oh,
help!
Struggling with an invisible power, felt
my strength depart; an overpowering pres
sure on my heart held me back some sub
tie essence seemed to pervade my entire be-
ing, and controlled it q dreamy recollection
of the haunted room foated across my brain !;
I struggled again, sank back again and
again, but still the dreamy languor that held
my eyes closed kept me back, while the pres
sure on my chest and the throbbing in my
head, and the wild beating of my pulses in
creased each instant;
Gradually I began to collect my senses
[ opened my eyes.
There before me, standing motionless in
the dim gray light, was figure shrouded in
long black garments et4,
For an instant my senses reeled, the hair
of my head stood up; I shiyered as though
in an ague then, suddenly rallying, I cal
led out
"Who are you? Speak p
There was no answer.
''Speak p [ cried again Il know you
are no ghost, but fellow mortal, trying to
play upon my fears do not think you will
succeed continued and with an intention
of hinging myself upon the figure, and dis
covering who it was, I made spring for-
ward H =
But I was held back forcibly, and, look
ing down, saw in moment that | was
fastened into my chair.
My hands and feet were tightly tied.
A band around my waist, and another
round my neck, completely secured me.
A faint sickly odor pervaded the room,
my candle had burned out, but in the gray
dim light of an early summers dawn, I saw
the motionless figure still before me.
Instantly thought flashed through my
mind
Richard Wilber," said I, II know you.
You have drugged me with ether, in order
to terrify me you have carried your joke
somewhat too far in fastening me to my
chair it was towards trick to prevent me
from administering the chastisement that
your insolence deserves. Release me in
stantly, or by my SOUL you shall repent it p
The figure moved slightly, and held out