Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-02-01
A Terrible Night.

:
morning revealed under the most painful
ly distressing circumstances, and the mourn
full results OF which could have been so
easily prevented had it not been for neg
ligence on my part, that / have never
ceased to blame myself for the horrible
death that occurred.
A rich trader from the interior called at
the consulate to transact some business IN
regard to the shipment of hides and tai
low, and as he came bringing letter OF
introduction from an old friend of mine, l
extended to him the hospitality OF my
residence
He was sociable, well-informed man,
had been engaged in the cattle trade, both
in California and Australia, and could re-
late thrilling incidents by the hour, and
so interested me by his conversation that
l forgot an important business transaction,
and found myself compelled to make my
excuses after tea for the purpose of attend
ing to it, leaving the trader on the veran-
dah to enjoy his smoke. | was absent
longer than / had intended to be, and re-
turned to find my guest had retired Tor
the night.
also found upon my table, a bottle.
accompanied by note; but supposing it
to be some present of wine or other drink,
which l was the daily recipient Of, left
it to be examined, and perhaps tested by
my guest and myself at the breakfast ia
bic next morning, and retired.
The weather being very warm, 1t was
my custom to leave the inner doors of my
residence all open for free circulation OF
air; but this night l retired, feeling an
unusual oppression from the heat, and
there seemed to be some strange influence
acting upon me; some foreboding of fear
that held me in wa9efulness until far into
the night; and then when sleep came to
me it was in fitful starts, filled with hide
Gus dreams. from which | would awake
with cold perspiration on my brow.
1t was perhaps 2 o'clock when l was
aroused by most unearthly groan, and,
sprlnging up in bed, saw the most fearful
sight that ever I beheld, almost freezing
the blood in my veins-a hideous form
robed in white, with It's mouth and cloth
ing all feeked with bloody foam, each
hair seeming to stand separate from the
other upon its head, andits eyes deathly
clarn- as 1t came towards me with out
stretched hands, utter!ng the most unear'h
" groans. Inhoror splang out OF bed
ana rdn, pursued by the awful form as
or uched here anu there locscaPe II out on
itcame. growingmore fearful as itapproa h.
ed. Atlast thought Of the lattced closet
in the adjoining room, and Aedf5r It, ny
very k,ecs no.hngwlth car reaching II
and closing the doora my giostlypu sijer
put his hands through! The broad lattice
work. reaching ann .acr Nc ont "ss
safe from pursuit. at .ea.t. sn.t la iI.f. i...-
ine Of security ICY suength al gaEc.na,.
and there lay upon the floor ln hep.os--
ness, as stared oul at tao iea"CI form
thai was clincing 10 The lattice ,yllt
reach re while ii uttered tAe la9st pit.a
means
The excitement h2d heen i4a laUeii ..'.
my weak frame, as | lad OILY resaYe
from en- cXhaustmg illness,
away ,ndcr it How long
sensible condition ! knew NJ
revived. the horrible form
but ii lad fallen by the doc
pg still, with IT'S face upt
"ves liked IN a deathly glai
On, heavens, what couid
no phantom ol ar, ana ye
''ellHve 1t TO be a hulllah 1 10,
victim OF premature D'
plague that had torn away
prisonnicnt OF the coffin: ana come 70 pui,
sue me with It's deadly eontaslon
shrddered to think It; ara then was
forced TO remain III my iNgnt and ven
ness within reach OF The fearful ana g;i"si-
y iorm visloie from .iic "iHl i'en.S q.
ways kept burning III my rooms at nlgh';
The moments dragged by IKE hours, ana
hours seemed like ages, anu SUI Gay would
not come:
Again | swooned away, and when heX'
revived the broad daylight was streaming
in on the stark, still form lying at The
door.
Oh, heavens it was the trader ana
yet it was difficult IN those ieariuliy dis-
torted and foam-covered features TO re,
copniZe him but vet 1t was my guest, ana