The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-22
HAUNTED HOUSES.
by MRS. NJ. s. WHITAKER. AUTHOR OF ALBERT
HASTINGS.


HASTINGS.
Who has not heard of these with vulgar
and ordinary people. the bare mention OF a
haunted locality, to say nothing OF n verl-
table house with worm eaten floor, rickety
shutters, spider-ta pestrIed walls and weather
stained ceiling, causes indeiinable dread. But
a wiser and more enlightened class, without
contrasting II, regard u haunted field, forest
or house, after this fashion. We quote from
q great author: ~=M.. 49,. .@m. u. .-
Der all these hung shadow and fear.
A sense Or mystery tina spirit dauntei.
And said ~ plato ~ whisper In the ear
The place ~ haunted.
There the deserted garden reared Its rose
beside the briar. there the reedy pool was
frequented by the water rat aud heron, while
obscene frogs and moccasins crept amid It's
lilies and reeds, the coDt sat gloomiIy on its
stagnant surface and rejoiced In her isolation
the rabbit, timorous no more, frisked amidst
broken shrubbcry, turned his large eyes, sur
veyinR desoation, and slt In the immunity OF
Independence Tho canine friend Of man
was never heard to bark within this
weird locality. Sombre rs tho
tomb rose dilapldatod roof, through which
stray moonbeams Rlintcd. shedding vain
light on objects within. These told OF de-
parted men and manners. Old half-destroyed
arras fluttered over the stained and mould
detaced walls. whore spiders hung their frail
banners and centipedns travelled In freedom
earwiRs and cmmets feared no intrusion on
their occupancy, and bats hung in clusters
from the tall roof. Then there were creaking
stairs, long worn III former times by ,ise now
worm-eaten and sinking by slow decay.
The window Jingle Ia its crumbling frame
And through ~ many gaps II desttution
DOlOrOus means md hol Nv sighngs came,
Like those or diasouttpnl
Beetles ran along the floor and wall Spotted
stones and mnnycolored leaves were mingled
In strange confusion. But, amidst all this
historic annals might be traced On the tat
tered tapestry yet swinging IN thick and
tainted air.
Z The bloody hand. algninr ant of crime
That. glarinR % Tho oh haraldic banner.
Had kep its crimson. impaired by time
In most Wondrnns manner"
The author We anote from proceeds 10 mar
rate that this hlooiy hand WAS traced also on
the floor, and CORY status might be noticed
from the once sumptuoua couch towards the
nearest window III this Abandoned apart
mant Here II FOOD Tor conjecture, aud spell
OF mystery ENVELOPE ~ every adjunct Or house
and garden centres In this CHASTITY chamber
The death watch licked behind the paneled
oak.
Inexplicabla terror shook the arras.
And echoes strange and mystcnl aWoko
The fancy to omharras.'
We forbear To comment on these lines they
are HOOd's, and therefore pass III Ulster lm Dst
safe from criticism, With reference W houses
and localities supposed to be haunted We
have seldom investigated them: aud while
abjnrinK superstition. ia itself a cursn, we arc
willing to let poets and speculative people
dwell on the theme as they will, neither In
dOrSlng nor rejectng their luGubratiOns. So
much for haunted houses or domains.
"A friend sat with ns as we traced the fore
going lines, and looking up. exclaimed: II
don't like the conclusion, | tell you there are
things connected with that old idea exploded
II you will-which l cannot explain far less
understand. Now will tell you my own ex-
perience. Since the late war, was riding
near Springfield II was a grand old place In
the lowlands. It's owner, Il gallant young
General, was slain IN the war OF the States,
and q young lady, 10 whom he was engaged
broke her heart and died, when his body SER
want, Charles, came home bringing his cav
airy boots and knapsack, without any knowl-
edge OF where or when his master had fallen
That masters heritage was lost, all but the
house and lands which should have been his.
1 was travelling past his domain one night
and impell d by IA feeling which overcame
me, | went up to the noble old mansion, know
ing 1t wholly deserted A great round moon
was riding up the sky. Milder day than that
glory Ing In sunlight extended over every
tangible object and revealed calm scene OF
"Wide and sea-llke, field with its level and
slowly waving rice resembled the fluctuations
OF Atlantic waves far away on the bosom of
the deep. This grand area was fringed In the
distance by live oaks, the laurel of old re-
nown, spiky palmrttos. tulip trees in full
slower, catalpa with long pods resembling
those OF the tamarind tree nearer the eq,la-
tor, wild festoons OF vanished jasmine vines
hung with golden bells, and woodbinc embel-
ltshed by scarlet blooms In rich profusion.
These were far of, but their scent came on the
night breeze, waited To the spot, accompanied
ny the soft trll OF the whip-poo will, the oc-
casional whoop OF the large-eyed owl, and the |
chirp OF the marsh hen as she scudded along
an occasional emhankment. There In The, !
midst OF an extensive garden, stood the man |
sion, square and tall, and grim with age and so
distinctly defined in moonlight that clearly |
saw its lofty pilasters light parapets, arched |
chimneys and noble asem.nts.
freaktsh vine embraced its lofty portco. |
and wound about the gray old front with |
oinging tenacty. defiant OF time and change. |
It's Earlsh and trumpet-shaped clusters OF
olood-red Howers waved sadly in the bamy |
evening air, while a uuck-eyed III lrd glided |
amid dense green foliage. and frequent cry |
was heard from katytids on some near syca-
more or walnut tree. How C,.tiars tower there;
some spiral, Ike their neighbors the poplars;
some shadlng a iYrgectrcumterence tlickered |
over by wandering moonbeams,
"All the wide old house WAS dark within
save one room III It's centre, from the windows
OF which a light WAS seep-a cold, pale liyh
as though half eNtinguished-ani | looked
sno!e nai ioMiS. y White'lpueu Inquire, With
features hlanched to unearthly palorl |
knew 1t well before the grave had taken to Its
bosom the loveliest maid OF the lowlands,
sweet Ellie Moore She sat at a small table,
eagerly reading. letters apparently. for one
was taken up. perused and laii down; another |
succeeded, was read and placed beside Its |
predecessor. And now the lonely pearl white |
Lady looked up, gazing steadfastly ON The |
wall opposite where hung the portrait of our |
noble young General, all In his suit OF gray |
tender unutterahle love- Her |
dark Southern eyes spoke from the depths |
of an impassioned and devoted soul, which |
seemed wooing that stately image, alive or /
dead, to acknowledge its appeal. She arose, |