The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1873-01-11

j Ha@sANHHNH"HH
ws hsd Dot oaly vofksi ourselves
np - actual Panic, bot inoeulaied
FaHnis, so shs sHtfsslsd anele Dave,
the ssaefsble butler. Ia send q boat
20 Mf. Aliens. . distance Of ssven
miles. snd ash Mf. Willie, a cousin
" hers. 10 cone over. Uncle Dave
soon returned % cay that no treat
o. bfibs could isdacs Que Of the men
10 venture on the river at night.
"Thsy say bad speriis roama abroad
In storms, apolOgstically put In our
protector, "and even v the men I'D
bs wiIIin' 10 start. the boat would
sutinly eapsize. Bot never you fear,
young ladies, Ill purtsct you well
this night"
Il Is customary TO have servants
at the South sleep in out-buildings,
apart a little from the main dwell.
ing, but nj our entreaties Uncle
Dave consented to remain az prc.ec-
tor. We also decided TO occupy the
company room, as the enormous
bed could accommodate all three Of
us girls. Resolutely putting away
from US all ,ubjects Of terror, we en-
dsavored TO amuse ourselves, and sat
up very late, so as to make the
night as short as possible. Ii was
after midnight when we entered our
room. A large wood fire, burning
brightly, gave a feeling Of comfort
and security, 40 we speedily locked
the door and began to prepare for
bed. A heavy, massive bedstsad,
an heirloom, was 50 high il had to
be reached by mounting three or
four steps, and sort Of curtain at.
tached to the pretty cbint. spread
fell to the carpet, producing m inns
posing effect Of throne>likc charac.
ter.
Fannie was already in bed, and !
just ready to follow her, when Cecile,
who had knelt down to say her
prayers, started suddenly up and
bsckoned me to her. A
81 hear a stranger breathing un'
der the bed" she whispered, turn
ing as white as her night dress. ""
IWhat folly, Cecile!" 7" ! answered
laughing. at is Fannie in the bed
10 reassure her, ! raised the en'
, of the curtain slightly, aud, TO nj.
: horror, revealed paIr of thick
! black ankles, attached to hoav,
hob-nailsd shoes, With unite
! shrek of helpless terror, we burs
s the door open and rushed out, utter
: ly forgetting poor :Fannie, who fol
: lowed in blind amazement, Uncl
E Dave, armed with heavy poke
8 came speedily to our aid, and en-
g boldened by the regular breathing
y ventured to raise one side ofthe GU
IS tain and peer under. There we sa'
y enjoying her still unbroken res
II Lucy, the maid, who, tired Of wal
y ing for us, had, in darkey iashio
NJ cuddled herself up for nap.
p OF course this incident turned Il
5, tide, but we made Lucy do pena,
6 for our fright, by retaining her sci
D. imposed couch as additional guar
s, and pretty soon in refreshing slet
Q. lost all sense of fear. q as," =
,r The next morning rose so brig
l. and smiling that we all were asian
/. ed Of our senscless panic. AT moo
l. however, a reaction took place, an
% Cecile had just finished saying:
n "Fannie If you don't send oy
1t this moment for Willie Allen to st'
4 with Us, III take the boat and
es myself" when the young gentletni
G. came most opportunely. m
He declared his readiness 10 "a
k sumo the responsibility" and prov
to a very agreeable addition to our pa
ID ty. The evening was so cold th
ne we sat around the fire, and now,
ts longer afraid, discussed ghosts al
10 al. conceivable marvellous and ter
or fying stories. Among other thin
be Mr.. Allen told Us some wonderi
IS. phenomena he had himself witnes
in ed in the medium and table tippil
Id line. We dispersed at a very Ia
If. hour and found Lucy at her po
ek this time nodding on q chair IN T
ed view, AS she assured Us sbe cot
of sleep auite as well in the chair as
ed the bed, We accepted her offer
ne | remain with US during the My
"a more for appearance sake than fel
re We left 4 bright fire burning
%. the ample hearth, and were W
ell soon in the rosy, realm Of dreamlal
rn. How long I slnmbered / know u
an bnt I was suddenly possessed b,
10 vague consciousness Of somethi
yer wrong, and with great effort rou'
ny myself and looked dtcamily arou
% ~ .an,.ff asssea.,., i'sas