The Lincoln County herald., 1873-03-12
Was Il q Prophecy I

siege OF Vlcksburg, was strolling
among the lofty pines Of Miss,s-
sippi. The army had passed on before
me, and I was leisurely making my way
in the direction it had gone. There was
On attractiveness 10 the wild, stately
looking pines stirred within me pleas.
ant thoughts. One day, l remember, the
scene vas Rrauder, wilder, and more
beautiful than any through which had
passed, and more thinly inhabited only
one or two dwellings we're passed during
the day. This made but little difference,
however, to q soldier, who, rolled in his
rough army blanket, could sleep beneath
the star bedecked sky with as much Sc.
renity as within the beloved haunts of
home.
1 walked long distance that day, for
I was anxious to overtake the command.
aud near the close found myself within
sight Of au oldish looking stone mansion.
A warm supper and cup Of steamiug rye.
coffee at once pictured itself to my imagi.
nation, Notwithstanding my haver. sack
was pleutifully supplied with coarse SOL
d,er's ratious. As l approached the
building, it presented the appearance Of
being unteuauted, which indeed proved
to be the case. I was tired, however,
and the shrubbery, scattered 10 wild pro.
fusion over the yard, with here and there
a fig tree, suggested to me that it would
he pleasant place to pass the night. l
stepped over the broken-down gate into
the neglected paradise Of flowers, took
a survey of the surroundings, and then
examined the 6g trees. Like those ap.
preached by our Savior while on earth,
they bore no fruit. seated myself be-
meath one Of the trees, opened my haver.
sack and partook of a cold supper.
Darkness was falling from the wings
Of night" so stretching out on my blau.
ket, l began counting unconsciously the
stars az they came forth, one by one, the
smaller or moro distant making their
appearance as the darkness increased ;
and 1 wondered If in my old Missouri
home there we're bright and loving eyes
gazing on the same twinkliug gems and
thinking Of the absent. know not how
long lay in this mood. Ere | was
aware the moon was moving along its sill
very way, sending down faint CLEANS Of
light through the trees and on the old
building, until the weird surroundings
presented a fantastic moonlight scene,
such as has but seldom been my fortune
to behold.
The building presented a sombre- like
aspect that had not before possessed it
1t looked the abode of those restless
spr,tes that legend tells US revisit the old
haunts Of lille and hold their nightly
revels. My thoughts at once reverted tc
.Alhambra, and followed Irving through
the weird halls Of that ancient castle
conjuriug up many of the strange stories
related by him. His ghosts Of antiquity
passed in column like review before my
now fancy excited mind. could almos
see the building assume new shape, unit
it stood before me an ancient castle, huns
with swords and spears and armors and
shields, aud all the inventions of de-
struction that the deadly strifes Of ole
could suggest. lived not in the pres.
ent, but the past. Desire seized my soul
and following tho promptings of fancy
| arose and went into the old building
now castle to me.
Peeriug ioto the wide open door, whicl
until now had been unroticed, saw tha
there was hall leading to the right AM
left around circular wall. was strucl
with the oddity Of its construction, au'
somewhat puzzled which direction +
: take in the hall. Standing in the door
way medita,iug, I imagined coul'
hear the low murmur Of distant voices
} Unconsciously l moved toward the sound
Proceeding . short distance. door glide'
gently open, as If my weight bore upo'
some secret spring. A step brought m
into dark room. All was silence now
The rays of the moon shining through
the outward windows into the hall, wer'
entirely excluded from this apartment
{ The silence was oppressive. l coul'
s almost hear the pulsations Of my heart
s Why | stood there know not. Th
place seemed euchsoted-I could DO
move. A stupor. IS Of sleep, cam
0 o,.. ma and ohlivioua of evervthenl