The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-24

vestigate the matter. Rachel, 1 shall share

vestigate the matter. Rachel, shall share
your watch" -, O,
every we'll, sir. Where will you go?" j.
"Into Cecilia's room, while she and my wife
can make each other miserable down stairs
So the matter was settled and after while
we all separated too full of the one subject to
talk of ANYTHING else, and yet rather shy OF
that. lust as we were about to dare the dark
passages and dimly-lighted chambers.
AS remarked once before, am not cow
ard but in my opinion cowardice and the ter
ror that we feel whenever we are brought INTO
contact with the supernatural, are TWO dllIeT-
emit things felt none of the first; but felt
great deal of the last, when1 bolted the d0or {,
behind me on that night, and put my candle
stick down on the toilet table. All the fantas-
tic thoughts which sometimes come to us with
out any cause whatever, crowded over me then.
7 looked into the mirror at my own white face,
and still whittier one seemed dimly peerlng be-
hind me, The shadows that hung around the
corners of the room seemed gathering into
spectral shapes, and leaf scraping against the
window was enough to make me start and qulver
all over. When I got into bed, was so far
rome in this folly, that left the candle burn
inc. It was not long, however, before my calm
er sense re-asserted itself; told myself very
concisely that I would never be fit for the
emergency when it came, if gave way to
thoughts like these. So, after one tervent pray
er.-I think the vcriest scofer would nave
prayed then-I leaned out of bed to extlngulsh
the light. Before could reach it, there came
a sound which made me pause and start, LOT IL
was nothing more nor less than soft, mourn
full sigh, which seemed to be breathed into my
yery car. paused you may be sure did
not cxtincuish the light then-and looked
around. Nothing whatever was to be seen
nothing whatever to be heard, save once again
that soft wistful inspiration. Then, while
still waited, nv eye rested on little dog, one
of the children's pets, who had followed me in
to the room and lay curled up on the foot of
the bed. If l had needed proof of some strange
presence in the room, that dogs behavior would
have given it to me. He was wide awake, but
he Law perfectly motionless, his eyes wide open,
and fixed on some object to my right; his ears
pricked forward, his whole attitude one OF rapt
and painful intensity Whdterer 1ras present
there, the dog sa,c ii, .chile l could not. There
was something terrible in this, something which
I can scarcely express in words, and doupt II
I shall ever do braver thing. in all my lie
than to sit quietly there, while the animal
neered past me, with those strange, awe-struck
ewes. into the gloom and shadow. What he
saw God only knows-1 never did. :,
It was some time before any other sound
came. but at last there was faint rustling, an
other deep. mournful sigh, and then that which
I so much drcadcd-a grasp, but this time
very gentle one upon my wrist had made a
resolution to do whatever seemed required OF
me. and now rose at once to go wherever
1 was to be led. Then the hand left my wrist
and only the faint rustling, as if woman's
skirts went in front of me. l followed 1t!
marvel to think so now-but l was young and
daring then, and l followed it. The door
seemed to open of itself, and let me through, ana
II was only when heard it softly behind me,
that remembered Colonel Northrop, and my
promise to call him should anything. occur. L
| half turned back toward his door, but again
that light touch was laid on my wrist, that gen.
self to be led forward. Down the passage
went. following the lead of the rustling sound
that went before me, until suddenly 1t paused,
and stopped at closed door.
The door of Ann Blakc's room
Then it seemed as if l woke from sort OF
trance. as uncomfortable horror rushed over me
with one strong shiver, and broke into cry;
A cry not loud or piercing but still it reached
the ears of Colonel Northorp, who had been
startled by the closing of my door, and the
next moment I saw his light cleaning rapidly
down the passage. When he reached the door
of Ann Blake's room, he found me leaning
against it, looking almost as if were ghost
myself, and to all his questions had but one
reply, "The kcy?-the key? Where IS lt!"
| for ever since the removal of the body the door
had been locked, until at last he was obliged to
go for it. =, ,.,-
1t seemed to me ages until he came back,
bringing the KEY but entirely alone, for neither
nv aunt nor Cecilia could be induced to come.
Then we unlocked the door, and went in
| It may be that l had been wrought up to a
state that could imagine anything, hat it GER
tainly seemed to me as if a cold blast of wind
rushed over us as we entered and, ah it GER
tainly was no imagination that there, at the
farther end of the room, was to be heard the
same rustling sound l knew so well. Colonel
| Northrop's eyes met mine, and no words were
necessary to tell me that he heard it also.
Neither of us said anything, but we both ad,
vanccd straight to the place so indicated, and
then the sound suddenly ceased. We were
standing in sort of recess, formed by the bed
and large case of drawers. What did 1t
mean? We looked at each other again, and 1t
was very evident that neither of us could ina
cine. After a while the Colonel broke the
Silence, by saying impatiently:
at is all arrant folly. The best thing we
can do, in my opinion, is to go back to bed.
Nothing will come of standing here"
could not see myself that anything was to
he done. so I answered by slowly turning away.
Before / had taken three steps, the grasp sud
denly fell on my arm-not so gentle this time,
but tight and constraining,- it was not so
much sigh, as a sob that sounded in my ear.
II cannot co." 1 cried passionately. "Ihere
is something for me to do, and it is here that l
must do it. There is something for me to do
but what can it be-"
1 asked the question in sort of despair, but
w "To 't3 stand here and take bad cold, proba-
bly," said Colonel Northrop who began to re-
cover from his awe, and who had not ielt, as 1
had, the direct pressure OF that gnGst!y nana ;as
If the ghost does not choose 10 MAKE It's sIG MiSi