The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-26

said, We'll, sir, I'm agreed if you are;
! then. with IN almost solemn tone, Kc
member, sir. the proposal came from
you. and if fate should
The aStoniSllmcnt expressed, no
doubt, upon my face nj this peculiar ad-
dress, caused him to stop. Then he
laughed pleasantly, and rcsuming his
usual manner, said, Excuse me, but
my mind. Just now, is SO occupied with
affairs very important to me that I'm
| afraid my attention sometimes wandcrs.
You are very kind to offer re half of
your room. | accept with many thanks.
| And we passed into the tavern, where 4
good supper was awaitn : us.
There were no 9th, guests ut the
table. All gone to the wedding, the
landlord said.
1--WE 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.
&" | gave nv companion 4 sketch of my
| life for the past three or tour years. tie
rcciprocatcd by telling me about his
family-his wife, and his lovely daugll-
ter, who was very dear to him.
(" She is Il good girl, and very pretty
girl, too; everybody says so. Stay-l've
her miniature in my carpct-hag, and my
wifr's too. I'll show them to you
"lIc rose from his seat, when 4 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
at bedtime
About eleven, we rose to 90 to our
room. My companion preceded me.
sought the landlord to us k that should
lie called ut halEpaSt four, so hat |
might dress and breakfast ut my leisure,
before taking the coach again.
II fingered. chatting, for ten minutes
or so with mine host When at last |
entered the bcd-chambcl. | found my
room-matc had made good use of his
time. and WAS already in bed, with the
covcrlct drawn up to his very ears, as If
il had been December instead of June.
Making no comment, however. | was
soon occupying the sec md couch. which
stood in u recess in the inner extremity
nfthr room, on one side of the great fire
place.
Il did not sleep well. | had n teasing
dream, which REQUIRED again and again.
|; seemed To me that some one was mov-
ing about the room with eyes fixed on
ne. Once ! thought this figure ap-
preached my bed. and Il hand touched
me.
Il reused with start. When my eyes
became accustomed to the darkness,
SAW the old gentleman looking out Of
the window by his bedside.
lie said nc 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-nishts cX-
changed, corroborated this conjecture.
soon all became quiet, and again
fell asleep. and was again disturbed.
This time | WAS sure that there were
Str,lthy feet creeping around the room,
AID that 4 lur;r>c Voice w:ts muiitrilS.
listened. and distinctly heard the
words. The will of Fate. I called out:
"Who is thcrc?"
NO answer followed. The muttcr-
mg ceased. heard the feet creeping
away toward the other bed. | could
not stand the suspense, and sprang up
and lighted the candle in IN instant.
There WAS no person iii the room but
the old gentleman, who was sitting up
in bed. looking startled.
-" Did you hear that noise? Were you
walking about" asked.
Walking about?" he replied. L
am only Just this moment AVA ke. |
heard you call out, and reused to see
what was the matter
I'm sure | heard footsteps and
,..,;.,, +,, -, tb;. r,npr
"'Voiccs in the room. You're surely
mistaken
Pm not mistaken I repeated, testi-
ly. why, | could even distinguish
words. Something was said about the
will of Fatc"'
"IIe laughed confuscdly as he replied,
I'm afraid I've been talking in my
sleep again. My friends say I'm ad-
dictcd to that bad habit, and suppose |
say all sorts of things. | think it is
very likely you heard me; and us TO the
frotst ps, perhaps our friends next door
have been restless
Il listened. but could hear no sound.
This explanation did not satisfy me.
| looked ut my watch. 1t was Just two
o'clock.
"'It is very strange, but those steps
were in this room | said. L will let
the candle burn for the rest of the night.
1t will be daylight, now. in an hour and
Il half, and |. for one, shall be glad to
see it. fl believed in ghosts, / should
think this room was haunted | lay
down again. determined, if possible,
not to 90 to sleep.
The noises were not repeated. ST.
lence peryaded the house. unbrOkcn,
except by the breathing of the old gen
tleman, who, it was evident, was now
sleeping soundly. He was not fright
cncd; that was certain.
Il unused on these things for some
time. Those strange words, the will
of fate what did they mean? Just then
it occurred to me that my fellow-passcn-
ger had used such an expression the
evening before. when | first offered to
share my room with him. 'Hemust have
been talking in his sleep. after all. I'm
n fool to think so much about it,
Il tossed and tumblcd, and again
consulted my watch.
"'Only twenty minutes of three! On,
that morning would come!
Il glanced across the room, and fam
cicd for IN instant that | saw my COM
panion's eyes wide open, watching me;
but when l 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 it
seemed absurd to he keeping vigil.
Nature began TO assert her claims, too,
and settling back on my pillow again, l
presently lost consciousness.
when awokc again, it was broad
daylight. My frllowtravcler was al
ready dressed, and stood with his back
to me by the open window near the
dressing table. I was about to say.
Good morning" when l heard him