Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-17
AN AWFUL NIGHT


$50 you want me to give you an
incident in my experience" SAID a
well-known drummer, while par
ty of the commercial hustle" craft
sat around a stove at country
hotel in ArkansaW, where the late
ness of a train had, and greatly
against their will, it may be truth
fully said, caused them to cOngre-
gate.
"I've been on the road long
| time" he continued, 'fand a great
many accidents have befallen me,
but little experience / had recent
| in the northwestern part of this
State, steps few feet in advance of
/ anything which has ever been viSi-
tea upon me. One evening, at the
close of the day whose loweringskies
| and damp atmosphere made me feel
uneasy least l should have to re-
main out all night. | reached
small house situated near beauti-
full little stream, just comfortably
settled on the graceful slope of one
of the many picturesque valleys
which render that country the per-
lection of magnificent aud change
full scenery. The owner of the place
was very courteous, asked me to
get down and linger at the short
neck of long jug-which i did,
you knOw-but when / referred to
the coming of a dismal night, and
recounted the many dangerous
stumbles which my horse had made
even in daylight, and asked him if
he could accommodate me with
place to sleep, regardless of white
sheets and pillow shams, he shook
his head negatively. When / pres
sed my entreaties, he shook his
head oninously. At last, consid-
ering the gathering gloom of a night
amid whose blackness any courage
would quail to wander, he then
said: ar
"Mister, no man more than am
is disposed to accommodate a stran-
ger more than do, but the truth is,
there are but two rooms to our
house, both of which are occupied
by the family, and there is no place
for you to stay except"
Except where ?" / asked, ca
getty.
Except in the old stone mill
down by the creek"
"Why not stay there?" L asked.
"Not because you would fail to
find comfortable quarters, for there
is II pretty good bed in a room that
is far from mean, but because
because what ?'' / asked, very
impatiently.
because the place is haunted"
Nonsense" l replied. sit is
the old story. Give my horse
something to eat and show me the
place."
81 do not advise you to take this
STEP" he said, while an almost
deathly pallor spread over his face.
81 was once incredulous, but am
convinced now. Why, sir, in the
very room where you would seek
rest, three men were murdered du-
ring the war. Since then the ghosts
of these men visit the room every
night"
"He complied reluctantly and
led me down the hill to an old stone,
tOwer-like house. He seemed to be
in great dread of something, for, as
he opened the door and heard the
rats running away he shook viO-
lently. / laughed at his fears and
followed him up to a steep stairway !
into large room containing bed |
made mostly of cOrnsacks. A large |
fireplace gaped at one end of the |
apartment, and piece Of boiling |
cloth which served as curtain for |
the high, narrow window, tremDled |
in the spears of wind which came !
through broken places in the glass. !
'1'll take care of your horse. l /
hope the Lord will take care of you |
were my companions parting
words.
81 heard him stumbling down
stairs, and when / heard the down
stairs door close, looked around for
ffrewOod for the air of the room was
chilly. Finding a broken beam
and few pieces of frame work, | |
kindled a fire and lay down for the
night, smiling at the superstition of
my ignorant but kind host. The
fire blazed brightly, and even after
my little piece OF candle had burned
away, l lay there watching the spi-
der webs shiver at each fresh blast
of wind. Gradually everything
grew indistinct and dozed. A fall
ing chunk awOke me with some
thing of a start, confess, and again
L lay looking around. Again /
dOzed. Suddenly l sprang up.
cold had touched my
face. The fire was burning low,
and getting up raked the chunks
together and soon had bright
blaze. l lay down again and had
persuaded myself that / had been
when whack something
sfPnRk !
but could see nothing. | sat on
the edge of the bed, when suddenly
my blood ran through my veins
with a shock as though the blood
had been withdrawn and ice water
introduced. A white shadowy
thing hung before me, and extend
Ing from it, Il cold hand came and
rested on my head, sending a shiv-
er over me. Two more figures sud-
denly appeared and walked to and !
rO in front of me. The first figure
lid not remove its hand, but press
Town upon me and rendered me {
Dowerless to stir or cry out" !
1t was all Dream" said one of
he drummers, moving away from
his shadow reflected by the window :
glass.
mo, boys; I'll swear it was not
/ dream" continued the narrator. {
1.-The hand pressed harder and {
harder, and in vain did / try to cry
or assistance. One of the figures 9
dashed something cold over me, and I
shivered convulsively. Another
me danced before me in a horrible c
and then the two enacted !
! tragedy, showing how the trip I
lie murder was committed. Then |
became unconscious and knew no L
more until morning when the sun, y
treaming through the little window
nd its gauZy curtain, restored e
o consciousness. | was sitting upon l
he bed. Looking up among the
alters / saw a hand covered with e
Hood" e
look here" said one of the g
"are you certain that =
vas not a dream ?" y
eyes" 9
"Can YOU account for it ?" II
eyes" u
"HOw "
EASY enough. The hole thing o
7as lie! Ii
" Oman-PrOelam Freedom
for Women.
What is the right of the ballot 10 Il
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