The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-22
The WHISPERED STORY
BY THOMAS DUNN ENeLIsH.

Iney bOlu INC thac uOunc WEE AduHtcu
Nothing had been seen in the shape of an |
appariSion by those who resided there;
there was no terrific disturbance, no
bright and mysterious light, but there
was general belief that the house was
haunted. The ghost was well behaved
ghost, and modest. On inquiring of one
who had slept there, ] learned that he
had heard nothing except q confused
murmur, 9 sound of low, indistinct
speech, as of some one trying to speak
while suffering under aphony. 1t was .
laborious whisper, of which word now
and then was audible. ] asked him
what words, and he told me that two he
remembered sffalls" and "boat,D but no
others. The only thing remarkable about
that was, that Others who had slept there
had heard the same words. That gave
me, was quite sure, a key to the matter,
and smiled. i concluded the purchase
of the house that very day. 1t was
cheap enough. Nobody would live in
it, and it was rotting through disuse.
The owner, who needed ready cash, was
glad to get rid of his proftless property.
The house itself was a comfort man
sion, that cost $4,000 to build, md the
ground, rather more than three acres,
mad been handsomely laid out In trees
and shrubbery, though now overgrown
with bfambles. The architect assured
me that 81 800 would put the house and
grounds in order, and add modern con-
venienees. So i bought it for $4,000
down, and had the necessary repairs
made, their cost oyerrunning the estimate
nearly 5000. So that for $4,000 /
obtaine3 handsome and convenient
dwelling OH the banks of 9 noble river,
with the tiny demesne sloping to the
southwest, having picturesque views on
either hand, and in a good neighborhood.
The night before my family were to
remove to it, / took up my lodging in
the house alone, having had pallet laid
down in the library.
suppose the storiesssI had heard,
though / had laughed at them, made
their impression on my mind. Such
things always do, in spite OF reason. A
vague feeling of uneasiness fills US in the
presence of mystery, even though oui
curiosity, or our pride, gets the better o.
our terror, and we probe the thing te
the bottom, or try to. That may &C
oountfor my restlessness, for ! was rest
less and wakeful. / had been basy all
day in arranging furniture, and IN direct
ing the men at work on the grounds, il
the latter case handling the spade anc
mattock myself quite, and was tho
roughly tired. Yet 4 could not sleep
1t was ten {, o'clock when i turned dow
the light so that it only gave TAIN
glimmer and lay down. Eleven olclocl
came, and twelve, and still tossed o.
my couch with open eyes. When tn
last stroke of the bell of the churcl
in the neighboring town OF b.
died away, j felt there was some
thing oD.some one in the room lspfan
up, turned the light full on, and graspe'
the loaded revolver which Lay on go
library table. There Was no one ther
certainly that 4 could sec, and the ldo0
was locked, and laughed at my alarm
The next moment, A. I threw myself
the great armchair, I felt there was som
one close to me. just then there was
low and labored whisper at my right 60
The words were distinct, though faintl
uttered:
Let me tell you my story
j sprapg up and looked around. Not
ing there. 1T appeared to be imagin
tion, and yet I felt terror Was iawsk
WAS, undoubtedly. The whisper eau
again:
s.You must listen"
i felt that to be true. The thin, ic
forced ,whisper;held me BY . spell
could not have moved had flames bu'
outaround me. Body and mind seem
stricken with palsy. 4 could hear, 2
nothing more. Then the whisper
turned, and j can remember AL thap !
lowed, word for word, and can write
out, again and again, without varying
word ~ Jaifar