St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-01-18
The WHISPERED STORY
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

They told me the house was haunted.
Nothing had been Sc en- in the shape of an
apparitien by those who resided there |
there was no terrific disturbance, no
bright and mysterious light, but there
was a general belief that the house was
haunted. The ghost was we'll behaved |
ghost, and modest On inquiring of one
who had slept there, 1 learned that he
had heard nothing except confused
murmur, 8 sound of low, indistinct
speech, as of some one trying to speak
while Suffering under aphony. It was a
Iaborious whisper, of which word now
and then was audible. I asked him
what words, and he told NE that two he
remembered -"falls" and "boat,' 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, key to the matter,
and l smiled. 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 proftiess property
The house itSelf was comfortable man
sion, that cost $40, 900 to build, and the
ground, rather more than three acres,
mad been handsomely laid out in trees
and shrubbery, though now oyergrown
with brambles. The architect assured
me that 81 500 would put the house and
grounds in order, and add modern con-
veniences so I bought it for $4,000
down, and had the necessary repairs
made, their cost overrunning the estimate
nearly 5000. So that for $4,000 l
obtained a handsome and convenient
dwelling on the banks of a noble river,
with the tiny demfsne sloping to the
southwest, having picturesque views on
either hand, a in 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 stories l had heard,
though I had laughed at them, made
their impression on my mind. Such
things always do, in spite OF reason. A
vague feeling Of uueasiness fills us in the
presence OF mystery, even though oul
curiosity, or our pride, gets the better Of
our terror, and we probe the thing tc
the bottom, or try to. That may &C
count for my restlessneSs, for | was rest
less and wakeful. [ had been busy al
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 [ could not sleep
1t was ten clock when I turned dowr
the light Sc that it only gave fain
glimmer and lay down. Eleven o'clocl
: came, and twelve, and | still tossed Oh
: my couch with open eyes. When tn
3 last stroke of the bell of the churcl
? in the neighboring town of B.
3 died away, I felt thsre was some
t thing or some one in the room. 1spran
3 up, turned the light full on, and graspe'
7 the loaded revolver which lay on tn
2 library table. There was no one Their
j. certainly that could sec, and the doc
;, was locked, AID laughed at my alarm
J., The next moment, as I threw myself i
e the great arm chair, tt 1t there wss som
l.. one close to me. Just then there was
e low and labored whisper at my tight ca
r The words were distinct, though taint'
:. uttered:
= ''Let me tell you my story"
r sprang up and looked around. Notl
n ing there. 1t appeared to be imaein'
o ton, and yet felt terror Was Iawak'
e | wss, undoubtt dly. The whisper calf
is again:
"You must listen"
felt that to be true The thin, ic
forced .whisper--hel me by a spell.
could not have moved had flames bur
out around me. Body and mind SCENE
> stricken with palsy. I could hear, b.
Q nothing more. Then the whisper r
turned, and | can remember all that fc
e lowed, word for word, aud can write
> out, again and again, without varying
> word or letter.
:: "It was three miles above the catarac
AS stood upon the river bank | cou
J see, even at that point, with what swift
ness the Niagara was hurrying towa]
:. the fatal plunge. There was skiff til
g TO root on the bank, and as it affords
- me seat Istepped in and sat down
- the stern sheets. There I played vii
y my hand in the stream and listened
the distant, incessant roar of the boiii1
- waters. AS sat there thought Y
- young wife, hundreds of miles ava
whom [ had left few days before to a
:, tend to some business in Canada, al
whom was to rejoin the next day, ha
ing taken this point on my way HON
- ward. I sat there with my eyes ha
= closed, and then, throwing myself bac
W ward, was lulled to sleep by the monot
. nous noise. How long slept do N
~ know, but piercing shrek, rising abo'
r the du roar of the falls, awakened m
7 1ooked around The boat had broke