The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-11-11

door heard or seemed to hear some
thing like slip-shod fOotstep passing
across the hall gathering more courage
determined to follow the sound which
proceeded 7frcm the doorway directly in
front of me, and at that instant a flash of
lig htning revealed to mY astoDished gaze,
an old man (who seemed to be entirely
unconscious of my presence) with long
gray hair and beard flowing In the wind
1 approached him as thought he was
still standing in the same place. but the
next fash showed me that was the on
lY occupant of the doorway, a position
which I kept until the light cleaned
from the opposite end of the hall, aud l
saw the shadows of my companions in
bold relief upon the rough stone walls
They informed me that in the third
story of the western tower, they had
found habitable room made cheerful,
by their lighting fire from the frag
ments of some oil rubbish which they
gathered up, and now zaited my pleas
ure to repair with them to this retreat; $
Immediately consented, carefully con-
ceallng my adventure in the hall, and
through many winding passages, up nu-
merops flights of old stone steps, we at
| last found our way to spacious room
now partly Illuminated BY the cracking
fagots here we spread our shawls and
were soon wrapped in the arms of sweet
Morpheus.
How long we must have sleptl cannot
tell, but l suddenly awoke from trou-
bled dream, aud upon looking cut OBJ
served that the storm. had ceased, and
the moon was slowly sinking in the
West; gazing across the plain l discov-
cred a company of horsemen approaching
the castle; upon arriving within the
court they halted, and l saw one dis
mount and advance towards man walk
ing in the portico, (whom l had not be
fore perceived, but upon more parheu-
lar scrutiny, found him to be the same
person l had encountered in the hail }
after conVersing a moment be returned
to the company. They then advanced to
the foot of the tower leading their horses,
90 within a place of shelter, and coming
round to the front entrance L soon heard
the sound Of their voices and footsteps
in the great hail below upon hearing
she noise my friends (who had been ig
norant Of what had. transpired) awoke
but the sound of footsteps conf ng nearer
and nearer told us that we were discov
cred and there was but one attentive
, that if they were robbers 1--WE having rs
weapons of defense, had only to submit
but the sound of their footsteps comm.
TO our room as we supposed, passed Oh
to the next.
Through a large opening in the dilapi
dated partition wall they were perfectly
> visible to Us, and from their address aut
manners were highwaymen, who wer
: constantly making depredations upOl
the villages and storing their plunder il
;, the old castle, which no one would er
ter, as it as reported to be the haun
and abode Of ghosts.
We consulted as to the best plan t
! adopt, and came to the conclusion to stes
noiselessly away and regain our cral
which lay but short distance hence
:, | took the lead and we gained the cute
! court undiscovered, as daylight wa
dawning in the East. Our little boat wa
= half filled with water, which it took bl
= few moments to bail, and we. wer
= soon rowing rapidly away.
:, The cool morning air gave a. keen re
~ ish to our appetises, which we cou
- hardly restrain until reaching the hOte
i, my comrades pulled faithfully at ii
,o oars as sat in the stern and acted pilo
~ the current looked as if it ran stronge
~ than on the preceding evening when v
a, started On cur pleasure trip Prese ut
"a the sun came slowly rolling above Il
mountains, as if lingering in his on
>, realm, preparatory to the performance
sd his ork In dazzling the world with q
re rY and beauty. SYBIL