West-Jersey pioneer., 1878-06-20

| Recovering my nerve, I rushed into th'
hall, which was partially illuminated by th'
light of the moon, but my mysterious visitan
had vanished. Returning forthe lamp hat
brought with me, looked into the various
apartments, the floors of which were nov
chequered with various colors for the moon
being high in the heavens, shone full through
the parti-colored windows, but they were
silent and deserted. My courage was rap
idly undergoing the process experienced b,
that of "Bob Acres, when a sudden though
struck me. Opening one of the windows,
looked out into the clear frosty night. A
white figure glided slowly down the avenue
of lindens, and then stood out in marked re-
lief against the evergreens which bounded
the lawn. 1t turned toward the cottage in
habited by the old nurse, and then, opening
the garden gate, disappeared from my gaze
The mystery was explained, the riddle
solved. Henrietta Selwyn was somnam
bulist.
| l replenished the fire, and, drawing my
easy chair close to it, soon fell into sound
sleep. l was awakened by loud knocking
at the outer door. 1t was morning, the glo
rious sunlight was shining through the crew
ices of the shutters, and the church bells
were ringing merrily. ''Rap-rapp' re-
sounded impatiently ON the oaken door; so,
hurrying to open it, 1 found the disturbance
was caused by the worthy host of the "Three
Trouts," who had came, as he stated, to see
if all was right.
"Did you-have you seen any thing-the
ghost, l mean?" inquired the worthy man,
evidently surprised to see me alive and we'll
"No,' replied; 81 should like to know,
my good fellow, who, at the present period
OF the nineteenth century, except stupids
like yourself believes in them ?''
"But th' Methodist parson and tn school
MASTER" he persisted.
''The school-master and the parson be
botheredo' | exclaimed, sand all believers
in ghost stories into the bargain. Ghosts
indeed! bah! what are they? A mere chi.
meIa, an optical delusion, the creations Of
an unhealthy mind, the Will-o-the-wisps of
heated imagination and disordered stom
ach.''
''May be-" responded Boniface, looking
rather puzzled, ''may be; and now thinkt
on it, tn school-master often had drop in
tn other ee; and as for tn preacher, he
tucked in his grub uncommon
A visit to the old nurses cottage satisfied
me Of the identity of my nocturnal visitor
l related to the good old body my adventure
OF the previous night. She heard my story
with unfeigned surprise not to say alarm
but it is unnecessary to weary the reader
with further particulars, or to state more
than that she said she would take every pos
sible care to prevent similar excursions fol
the future, on the part of her unfortunate
charge. I may add that as 1 was wishing
her farewell, my eye fell on rusty key,
which, from its peculiar make, at once
recognized to be the one had seen in the
hand of the somnambulist.
"To be sure it is!' said the good woman,
upon my directing her attention to it; s'it
opens the little door in the western wing.
Poor thing! Many and many's the time, in
happier days. she has passed between it and
my cottage; for the young people-her and
poor Mr.. Percy, l mean-loved to come and
gossip bit with a poor body, for I-'
But time would allow me to hear no more
so l shook her heartily by the hand, and in
another half hour was rushing by train to
the city, with the intention of eating my
Christmas pudding with my brother John
and his amiable but rather extensive family.
need scarcely say my adventure formed the
gist of capital after-dinne story.
I am sitting as write in my own peculiar
room in my new abode; and comfortable
cozy, old-fashioned place it is; for all that
builders, carpenters, paper-hangers, paint
ers, plasterers, and upholsterers could do,
has long since been done to beautify and
renovate the interior and exterior of Ashley
Manor. 1t is haunted now, but it is by the
Spirit of Contentment and Happiness. l
hear the joyous, ringing laughter of my
nephews and nieces down stairs, as they
revel in the rollicking fun of Christmas
family party. But I must lay down my
pen, for little fairy of some twelve years
with head running over with curls, and
eyes all mirth and sunshine, has just skipped
into the room, and asked me to tell her and
the rest of my juvenile friends the story of
the "Haunted House,
In conclusion, I may state that I have
never had cause to regret my purchase.