Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-10


affairs very important to me that I'm
afraid my attention sometimes wanders:
Won are very kind to offer me half of
your room | accept with many thanks
And we passed into the tavern, where
good supper was awaiting u.
"Therc were no other guests ut the
table. An gone to the wedding the
landlord said.
I'VE did not regret in the least having
the house to ourselves, and supper being
concluded, we went to the wide front
porch. where we spent the evening IN
pleasant talk.
d" / gave my companion sketch of my
life for the past three or tour years. lie
rcciprocated by telling me about his
family--his wife. and his lovely daugh-
ter, who was very dear to him.
Z" She is "A good girl, and very pretty
girl too; everybody says 50. Stay-l'vc
her miniature i'm my carpct-bag, and my
wifc's too. IN show them 10 you
"Ilc rose from his seat. when sud
den thought seemed To strike him, and
he resumed his chair. saying, I'd for
gotten. They have taken my carpet-bag
up stairs To the room. You can see them
nj bedtime.
About eleven. we rose TO 60 to our
room. Ny companion preceded me. !
sought the landlsrd 10 ask that | should
be called ut half-past four, so that !
might dress and breakfast at my leisure,
before taking the coach again.
II fingered. chatting, for ten minutes
or So with mine host When at last
entered the bed chamber. ! found my
room mate had made good use of his
time, and was already in bed, with the
eovcrlet drawn up 10 his very ears, rs il
:. 4 I - -
Making no comment, however, | was
soon occupying the second couch. which
stood in recess in the inner extremity
ofthcroom. on one side of the great fire.
place.
Il did not sleep well had a teasing
dream, which rccurred again and again.
Ii seemed TO me that some one was NOV
ing about the room with eyes fixed on
me. Once | thought this figure APP
preached my bed. and II hand touched
me.
Il rouscd with start. When my eyes
became accustomed to the darkness, ]
saw the old gentleman looking out OF
the window BY his bedside.
He said hc had been disturbed. and
he supposed the wedding guests were
just returning. Gay voices outside. pres
entity followed by footsteps ascending the
stairs, and mutual good-nights cN-
changed. corroborntcd this conjecture.
Soon all became quiet, and | again
fell asleep. and was again disturbed.
This time | was sure that there were
stcalthy feet creeping around the room,
and that hoarse voice was muttgring.
| listened, and distinctly heard the
words, IT he will Of Fate called out;
Who Is therc2'
", ,,,.,rs.r C.11.,,s.I I'll. ,-.,.44.,.-
ing ceased. | heard the feet creeping
away toward the other bed | could
not stand the suspense. md spTang up
and lighted the candle in m instant.
There was no person in the room but
the old gentleman. who WAS sitting up
in bed. looking startled.
- Did you hear that nOisc2 Wcrr YOU
walking about ! asked.
Walking about2" hc replied. I
am only Just this moment awake. !
heard you call out. and | reused to see
what was the matter
I'm sure heard footsteps and
voices. too. in this room"
49, Voices in the room You're surely
mistaken
"' I'm not mistaken, I repeated. tcsti-
ly. why / could even distinguish
.,ords. Something was said about the
MWlil Oi rate.
lie laughed confusedly as hcrrplicd.
I'm afraid I've been talking in my
sleep again. Ny friends sag I'm nd.
dictcd to that bad habit. and | suppose
say NIL sorts Of things. ! think ii is
very likely you heard me; and n to the
foOtst ps, perhaps our friends next door
have been restless
- listened. but could hear no sound.
This explanation did not satisfy me.
| looked at my watch. 1t WAS lust two
O'Clock
Sc II is very strange. hut those steps
were in this room | said. i will let
the candle burn for the rest Of the night.
1t will be daylight. now, i'm an hour and
n half, and |. for one. shall be glad to
see il. If believed in ghosts. I should
think this room was haunted I lay
down again. determined, If possible,
not to go to sleep.
THE noises were not repeated. ST.
lence pervaded the house. unbroken.
except by the breathing of the old gen
tleman, who. It was evident. was now
sleeping soundly. He was not fright
ened that was certain.
II unused on these things for some
fine. Those strange words, the will
of fate what did they mean2 just then
it occurred to me that my fellow -pass,n-
ger had used such an expression the
evening before. when I first offered To
share my room with him. fIemust have
been talking in his sleep. after all. I'm
fool to think so much about It,
q tossed and tumbled, and again
consulted my watch.
Only twenty minutes of three. Oh.
that morning would comet
glanced across the room. and fan
cied for an instant that | saw my com.
panion's eyes wide open, watching me
but when | sat up in bed to satisfy my
self about it. he seemed to be sound
asleep.
by this time, / began to be ashamed
of myself The house was so quiet II
seemed absurd to be keeping vigil.
Nature began TO assert her claims. too.
and settling back on my pillow again. I
presently lost consciousness.
when awoke again. IL was broad
daylight. My fcnOw-travelcr was al
ready dressed. and stood with his back
. 90 lxas xt~fs, al