Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-05-02

one in pain; that would have distressed
me, and called forth sympathy, rather
than aversion. True, it was like thu
groaning of one in anguish and despair
but not like any mortal voice. 1t seemed
too dreadful, too intense for human utter
apce. The sound had begun while was
fast asleep, close to tho head of my bed
close to my very pillow; it continued
after | was wide awake--a long, low
hollow, protracted groan, making The
midnight air reverberate. and then dying
gradually away, until it ceased entirely
Ii was some minutes before could at al
recover from the terrible impression
which seemed TO stop my breath and
paralyzed my limbs. At length | began
to look about me. for the night was not
entirely dark, and | could discern the
pieces of furniture in it. then got out
OF bed. aud called aloud. Who ia there
Is any one il9' repeated these in
qliries in Italian and in French; but
there Was no answer. Fortunately had
some matches 10 my pocket, and was
able 10 light my candle. then eXamin-
eel every part OF the room carefully, aut
especially the wall at The head oil my
bed. sounding i, with my knuckleS. II
was - firm and solid there a. in all other
/ places. | uniastened my door and rX-
| p ored tie passage and the two adjoining
rooms, which were uuOccupied, and
/ almost destitute oI furniture. Tney had
evidently rot beer used Tor some time
) a.ch as | would. | could gain no clue to
! the my stery. Returning To my room, /
sat down upon the bed in great perple Y
| ity, and began to turn over in my mind
whether il was possible | could have
been deceiyed-whelher the sound that
caused me such distress nigh, be the Off
spring of some dream or nightmare.
/ But to that conclusion | could not bring
myself at all, much as | wished il; Tor
the groaning had continued ringing in
my ears long after was wide awake and
conscious. While | was thus rejecting,
having neglected TO close The door, which
was opposite to the side OF my bed where
| was sitting, heard soft iootstep at
distance, and presently . light appeared
at the farther end OF the passage. Then
| saw the shadow OF man cast on the
opposite wall. 1t moved very slowly,
and presently stopped. | saw the hand
raised, as il making sign 10 some one
and knew from the fact Of the shadow
being thrown in advance, that there must
be second person in the rear, by whom
the light was carried. After q short
pause they seemed TO retrace their steps
without my having had glimpse Of
them. but only OF the shadow which had
come before, ard which followed them
as they Withdrew. II was then . little
after one o'clock, and | concluded they
were retiring late to rest, and anxious 10
avoid disturbing me. Ihave since thought
it was the light from my room which
caused their retreat. felt halt inclined
TO call TO them. but shrank, without
knowing why. from making known Whist
had disturbed me; but while hesitated
tn were gone So fastened my door
again, aud resolved TO sit up and watch
II little longer by myself. But now my
candle was beginning 10 burn low, and |
found myself in this dilemma l must
either e1tinguish it at once, or | should
be lett without the means of procuring
light in case should again be disturbed. q.
! | regretted that bad not called for an
other candle while there were people set
moving in the house; but could not do
So now without making explanations, 80
grsspec my box of m4tchcs, put out
ny light. and lay down. not without a
shldler, in The bed.
For an hour or more lay awake,
| thin6iug over what had Occurred; and by
that time had almost persuaded myself
that had nothing but my own morbid
| imagination - thauk for he alarm had
suffered" 1t is an outer wall" said
To myself: they are all outer walls. and
! the house is built of stone, il IS lmpo>si-
ole that any sound could be heard through
such thickness. Besides, it seemed 10
be in my room, close 10 my ear. What
an idiot | must be to be excited and
alarmed about it," So turned on my
side with a smile (rather forced one)
at my own foolishness, and composed
myself TO sleep.
"At that moment heard with more
dislinctness than | had ever heard any
other sound 10 my lie, gasp. voice
less gasp. as if some one were in agony
for breath, biting at The air, or trying
with desperate efforts to cry out or speak.
1t was repeated second and third lime {;
then there was pause; then again that
horrible gasping; and then q long drawn
breath, an audible drawing up of the air
into the throat, such as one would make
in heaving deep sigh. Such sounds as
these could not possibly have been heard
unless they had been close to my ear
They seemed to have come from the wall
at my head, or to rise Up ont OF my pi.-
low. That fearful gasping, and that
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