The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-06-10

the dark hallway, and heard the moan
ing wind through the distant trees, and
thought once more of the musty sheets
on the bed. My room, a sort of cavern,
in a distant wing of the building, with
its one dim kerosene-lamp, was
anything but cheerful. Alone in the
stiffness my conscience awoke and re-
minded me of those wedges of mince pie.
And then the story of the skeleton in the
flames began to assume grotesque forms in
my imagination. FumbEng in my vest
pocket for my watch key, drew out not
the key, but something hard and rough
which sent thrill through every nerve
in my right arm. 1t was only one of
the Judges buttons which l must have
absently thrust into my pocket. My
watch had run down-an ominous Incl
dent-and it had stopped at the very
hour when they said the judge had left
the hotel. These gloomy fancies made
me anxious to get under the bedclothes;
If only had not eaten the pie. There was
my brandy-fask, but, unluckily, it was
empty. 1t was too late to stumble down.
stairs through the dark, to replenish it
at the bar; everybody was certainly in
bed by this time. rummaged in my
valise for something to read, but finding
only pack of cards, and sat down and
played two games of solitaire ON the bed.
Then strong odor filled the room. My
lamp was going out, and there was moth
ing for it but to throw off my clothes and
jump into bed.
can not say how long had been
asleep-it might have been two hours,
perhaps-when became conscious that
somebody was in the room. 1t was too
dark to see anything distinctly, and /
only knew that the door was open on
account of the strong draught which
blew from that direction. Positive as l
was that somebody was approaching the
bedside, 1 felt powerless to stir, though
remembering with horror that the muir
dered official had passed in this hotel,
perhaps in this very room, his last night
on earth. With great effort, however,
rolled over, and to my unspeakable
terror, beheld the white and vapory form
of man, of about fifty years of age, it
seemed, bald-headed, chin-whiskered,
and wearing an antique dress-coat, with
ten button-holes, but no buttons. My
ghostly visitor did not, at first, seem to
regard me with any ill-will, until his
attention became fixed upon something
lying in the corner. 1t was one
of his own buttons. With a threaten
ing gesture the apparition advanced to
the spot where 1 lay, and though fear
had nearly paralyzed me, made a
mighty effort for the ghostly conflict.
There was a shudder and a shock, and
then-then found myself on the floor,
not in my own room at all, but outside
in the hall. Mince-pie, somnambulism,
1 said to myself, as 1 groped
along to my room, with that feeling of
relief which one has when awakening
from bad dream, and almost ready to
laugh over my combat with a ghost in a
dress-coat. Outside, in the night, the ele-
ments were at war; the hosts of
wind and rain which 1 had heard
from afar in the evening were
sweeping around the house. After
much cropping about, and trying of many
doors, 1 at length found knob which
yielded, and turned it quickly. Now
could sleep in peace until morn
ing, was my consoling thought,
when looked up, and there, in
the farthest corner of the room which
had entered, it stood, not distinct, as be-
fore, but barely defined in the darkness.
Then came a crash which shook the
earth and sky, and the room blaZed for
an instant, and was black again. A great
wind sinote me in the face, and the ap-
partition itself seemed suddenly to ad-
vance This was no dream l very well
knew, as l slammed the door, hearing a
crash behind it, and ran wildly down the
hall, and through the first open door that
l came to. Providentially, the room was
mine, and, leaping into bed, 1 dived into
its very bowels, as it were, where slept
until morning.
1t was late when 1 awoke. A warm
square or morning sunlight lay on my
coverid, while earth and air, cleansed
and freshened by the rain seemed to
laugh at my gloomy nocturnal visions.
A rusty old brass button lay harmlessly
in the corner. dressed myself and went
downstairs, where everything wore a
and everyday aspect.
began to suspect my senses. Perhaps the
second specter, like the first, was only
dream, and had no other foundation
than the pie-dish; but no, this could not
be. The landlord was not about, and
Lawson had disappeared. 1 heard one
Of the hostlers laughing at the mention
Of Sans stories. 1 ate my breakfast
excellent one-and grew more
doubtful concerning my apparitions.
The whole thing was only a nightmare.
would worry myself no more about it
Ind with this comfortable after-breal-
asst skepticism, concerning all spirit
world manifestations whatever, / was met
n the passage-way leading from the din
ng-room by the sallow, long haired
Senius of the night before, who beck
med me mysteriously aside into the par
or.
what do you want?" 1 demanded inn
sitting down on a hair-cloth
ofa, under a large steel-engraving of
Washington crossing the Delaware. The
1enius closed the door behind him.
You have beheld it, he said, in a
epulchral voice.
"Beheld whatl"
"A vision, a similitude of the great
md mighty dead" and the genius glared
It me rather fercely.
"Yes, have" said /, sharply, good
leal startled in spite of myself. Il laid
t to the mince pie"
"Mince piel Oh, what has that gross
in common with spiritual crea-
ions?" And the Genius wrung his
lands.
"The pie was good, said I, stoutly. |
But look here Mr.. Raphael"
Smith, " said the artist.
"Well, Raphael Smith, then, you seem |
o be posted in this matter; tell me about |
he ghost saw last night, the second |
me mean, when got into tle wrong |
oom?"
~Impious mani the first to venture ur-
hidden into the presence of my crea-
ions, and Raphael scowled again.
~Well, didn't stay long" said /, de |
,recatingly.
Long enough to complete the work of
uin. Look you," he grasped, clutching
ny arm. "By your foolhardiness, to use
ordinary language, you involved me in
yreat pecuniary loss, and now claim,
s a slight compensation, the sum of
., 600"
@And will you,n said /, with consider