Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-12-17

D rupu0n. Presently there came thre
3 more raps. This time opened the door
. but everything was quiet. The silenc
' was almost mbearable for afew min
utes, and then came those three raps.-
2 The silence grew more oppressive, anC
the clock on the mantle seemed to h0lC
its breath as it ticked away the haltine
minutes. L began to feel weary. ]
could not understand those rappings, al
ways three, and seeming to be at the
door, but perhaps somewhere else. Fl
nally the elock-not chimed-but fairly
shrieked out the hour of eleven, and the
sounds wandered restlessly around the
corners of the room; some of them ven
tured into the hall, and a few started up
the lonely stairway, but these hurried
back as if they dreaded to leave the light.
Then came that dreadful silence again;
then a low, wailing sound started from
somewhere in the upper part of the
| building and wandered from room to
room, growing more lonely as it adj
vanced. Then those three raps came
again; then more raps were heard, doors
seemed to open and close violently, a
| damp breath swept through the house;
the three raps seemed to change to three
steps, which ever and anon seemed to is
sue from some one Of the many closets;
then they would hurry back Agaip
that damp, unearthIy breath swept over
us, and a heavy blow was heard as if
some one had been struck; an agonizing
wall was heard, and sound as Of some
one gasping for breath, then came those
footballs again. Then came that awful
silence again. l could feel my heart
beating wildly, and wild fancies whirled
through my brain. Minutes seemed
heightened into hours, the fire ceased to
flicker and the burning logs turned grey
with ashes to me it might have been with !
years, the fire shovel looked as if it had !
not moved fer ages, so slowly did time I
pass away.
The clock struck twelve, and while the !
frightened tones, epdeavoriug to find |
4 hiding place, awoke the echoes sleeping
in ths I'D piano, and wandered amid the
clothiig in the wardrobe; u creak.ng
noise was heard over head, one Of those
sounds onr 50 often hears about an old
house, and which are cau-tl by beams
to long pressure or by conHac-
ton from cold. At that lonely hour It
seemed an omen Of tyii Again Tie
damp breath swept through tie hovse
like the motion of a spirit. thought l
noticed mist-lilye form g';Ga through
he hall and up the stairway -, . 'sa~
have been my faacr. Rapid footsteps
seemed coming down the stairs then
rightful struggle cnsued, IN which blow
Ipon blow was heard, and Groan ae,er
,roan resoyu.ded through, the enntv
'Ooms; they were Wail;n~, h0vlirg
ounds, wlsic!I pierced far into the depth
# the soul, and there Touched the chords
# deepest melancholy; in them were ali
gony, suffering and pi,eous pleading
They came down lie old-fashioEcd
chimney wandered up and down the
tairway and mingled with the hundred
Whispers floating through the house TIL
hey changed TO gasping sounds rs OF
ONE one dying. Then came = thunder
ne blow, final gasp, and all was over.
Again that dreadful silence lowered
round us, becoming more and more in
ense, till the clock was heard no longer,
nd the wild Walashee rumbled only in
he distance. At last, being able to
ear it no longer, asked: 'fMulford,
7hat does all this mcan.'' The old man
rembled violently, looked hurriedIy'to-
-ard the door, and replied; 81 cannot
FL" The old colored woman moaned
sumpin dreadfuls going to happen
know sumfin dreadfuls goin' to hap !
en-" l seized the candle and started
rom the room and up the dark stairway.
Iy heavy boots made such noise and
le bare walls give back such a mooking
)und that in madness 1 ierl1ed them OF >
nd yentureI on. Even then to every =
'otstep came back the whispered echo, !
death" On the second floor the rat
ing Of vindow-shutter startled me; :
ut pressed on. When 1 reached the
lird floor, heard those FOOTBALLS on the
cps be1ow me. ] caught my breath,
loking sensation came over me, and |
lied the railing for support. The cold
yeat stood on my brow, and in despera-
on hurried on, those footsteps follow
e me. On the fourth and last floor /
lshed into a room aud closed the door,
I'd then those footsteps came to the door /
ID knocked. ! could scarcely breathe; =
1t rushed to closet in one corner Of
e room-this was my only chance; the in
'or was partly open; jerked It wide W
en, and there lay the cause of all - -
ose groans and shrieks, There in that =
rk closet, whose gloom the light efmy
sble candle could scarcely penetrate; %
; wasted limbs rigid in death, his +.
snched teeth cleaning still with baffied ~
ge, his ghastly grey eyes still gazing
ward with u longing, beseeching look, 4
ere IL that l0Ilely place, lay the dead
ey Of dog.
He had wandered into the room and
door had been closed; he had slowly
,sted away with hunger, till death re-
sed him on the night of my visit.--
G poor creature in starving had utter
those piercing walls which only ca
ie can utter. Those raps and steps WI
re the fllltterings Of a shutter, which ait
+ excited flncies attributed TO super ish'
-ural agencies Andtie damp breath =.
S bat q fluctuating breeze from.of the 5aT
llasbee The breeya 1clfatsl- the sllnf- -