The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-05-31

| covered with wood, seemed 10 smut me
in on every side. was beginning to
think seriously of looking out for some
sheltered spot under thicket in which
TO pass the night, when the welcome
sound of footstep behind me fell upon
my ears. Presently, man, dressed in
the usual long, shaggy coat of shep-
herd, overlook ME and hearing of my
difficulty, offered TO conduct me TO a
house at a short distance from the road,
where might obtain a lodging; before
we reached the spot he told me that the
house in question was an inn, and that
he was the landlord of it. lie had not
much custom, he said, so he employed
himself in shepherding during the day I;
but he could make me comfortable, and
give me good supper, also; better than
| should expect, to look at him; but he
had been in different circumstances
once. and had lived in service in good
families, and knew how things ought to
be, and what a Signore like myself was
used to.
"The house to which he took me
seemed, like its owner, to have seen
better days. 1t was a large, rambling
place, and much dilapidated, but it was
tolerably comfortable within; and my
landlord. after he had thrown OIL his
sheepskin coat, prepared me good
and savory meal, and sat down to look
at and converse with me while ate it.
/ did not much like the look of the
fellow but he seemed anxious 10 be
sociable, and told me great deal about
his former life, when he was in service,
expecting to receive similar condolences
from me. | did not crafty him much,
but one must talk of something; and
he seemed TO think it only proper TO
express an interest in his guests, and To
learn as much of their concerns as they
would tell him.
81 went to bed early, intending to
resume my journey as soon as it should
be light. My landlord took up my
knapsack, and carried il to my room,
observing, as he did so, that it was a
great weight for me to travel with. |
answered, jokingly, that it contained
great treasures, referring to my coins
and relics; of course, he did not under
stand me, and before | could explain,
he wished me a most happy little night,
and left me.
1.-The room in which found myself
was situated at the end of long pas
sage. There were two rooms on the
right side of this passage, and a window
on the left, which looked out upon a
yard or garden. Having taken sur
vey Of the outside of the house, while
smoking my cigar, after dinner, when
the moon was up ] understood exactly
the. position of my chamber-the end
room Of long, narrow wing, projecting
at right angles from the main building,
with viii ch it was connected only by
the passage, and the two side rooms al
ready mentioned. Please to bear this
description carefully in mind while |
proceed.
Before getting into bed, drove into
the floor, close to the door, small GIN
let, which formed part of a complicated
pocket-knife which ! always carried
with me so that it would be impossible
for any one to enter the room without
my knowledge. There was a lock to the
door, but the key would not turn in it
there was also bolt, but it would not
enter the hole intended for it, the door
having sunk, apparently, from its pro
per level. | satisfied myself, however,
that the door was securely fastened by
my gimlet, and soon fell asleep.
How can | describe the strange and
horrible sensation which oppressed me,
as | woke out of my first slumber? |
had been sleeping soundly; and before
| quite recovered consciousness, | had
instinctively risen from my pillow, and
was crouching forward, my knees
drawn up, my hands clasped before my
face, and my whole frame quivering
with horror. ! saw nothing, telt moth.
ing but sound was ringing in my
ears which seemed TO make my blood
run cold. | could not have supposed
IL possible that any mere sound, what
ever might be its nature, could have
produced such revulsion of feeling, or
inspired such intense horror as | then
experienced. Ii was not cry OF terror
that | heard that would have reused
me TO action nor the moaning of one
in pain; that would have distressed me
and called forth sympathy, rather than
aversion. True, t was like the groan.
ing of one in anguish and despair, but
not like any mortal voice. 1t seemed
too dreadful, too intense, for human
ulleTdnCe. ne SOunu Hdu begun,
while was fast asleep, close to the
head of my bed, close to my very pill
low; it continued after | was wide
awake-a long, loud, hollow, protracted
groan, making the midnight air rever-
berate, and then dying gradually away,
until it ceased entirely. 1t was some
minutes before could at all recover
from the terrible impression, which
seemed to stop my breath and paralyze
my limbs. At length | began to look
about me; for the night was not entirely
dark and | could discern the outlines
of the room, and the several pieces of
furniture in it. then got out OF bed,
and called aloud, Who is there? What
is the matter? Is any one i'll q | re-
peated these inquiries in Italian and in
French but there was none that an.
swered. Fortunately, | had some
matches in my pocket, and was able to
light my candle. ! then examined
every part of the room carefully, and
especially the wall at the head of my
bed, sounding it with my knuckles. 1t
was firm and solid there as in all other
places. unfastened my door, and ex.
plored the passage and the two adjoin.
IN rooms which were unoccupiad and