St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-06-08

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Ing them take their leave.
shall briefly pass over the first part
OF the night. because nothing remark
able then occurred. had selected a
front room in the second story for my
watch. and, pistol in hand. had sta
toned myself by one of the windows,
whence could make my exit to the
ground below. in case of dire necessity,
without any serious risk. Here wit
messed the night gradually shut in the
scene. and felt the first lonliness of
the solemn, heavy hours, as they
dragged on toward the mid-watches.
Occasionally I took a bite from
my basket and . sip from the bottle.
more for the purpose OF having some
thing to do than because I felt the
need of food or stimulants. 1t was
very tedious keeping watch there all
alone in the dark. in an empty build
ing. afar from the sound or reach of
human voice, and l almost began to
wish for a ghost Of some kind to break
the dull. dreary. gloomy monotony.
At last-somewhere about midnight.
l judge-I began to grow very drowsy;
and as keeping awake was no part OF
my agreement or wager, sat down on
the floor, a Ia Turk. braced my back
against the wall, and soon began to
nod and dream, and finally lost myself
in sleep.
How long slept I do not know; but
in my sleep. none Of the soundest,
fancied l heard human voices. speak
ing in low. guarded. steady, mouoto-
nous tones. that came to the ear like
the distant fall of water; yet. when !
awoke. which I did by losing my bal
ance and coming down with a shock
and jar. the sound of the voices
seemed suddenly to cease. Was it
fancy? a dream? or had heard some
one or more persons speaking?
Not being in the least bewildered at
suddenly awaking and finding myself
in my novel situation. but remember
ing all that had gone before and why ]
was there, now lay still and listened.
keeping my eyes wide open. prepared
to hear and see whatever sound and
sight might be presented to the two
senses. and act accordingly.
Presently heard what seemed to be
whispers. and feet moving cautiously
in the room below, and l must admit l
had some rather strange feelings and
reflections. What If. after all, there
should be some truth in ghosts and
haunted houses?
Another short silence succeeded the
sounds l heard. or fancied l heard.
and then suddenly, bang! bang! bang.
went three different doors in the story
below, followed by several groans and
a noise as of some person walking
heavily and dragging a chain along
the floor. There was no mistake this
time; and If l did start up rather
quickly, grasp two of my pistols very
tightly. and feel my hair rise. and
heart beat faster. think. all things
considered. neither felt nor exhibited
any more fear than the bravest would
have experienced and displayed under
the circumstances.
The sounds of the heavy footsteps
and the rafting drag Of the chain still
continued, moving toward the stair.
case, until it was reached. and then
ascending deliberately to the second
story-a blue light seeming to precede
the nocturnal walker, and. through the
open door, steal into the room where l
was.
snow for it," thought /. compress
ing my lips and steadying my nerves
with all the resolution at my com.
mand.
The sounds advanced, the light grew
brighter. and, with eyes half-startine
from my head, l stood staring at the
open door. prepared to behold some
awful apparition. Nearer and nearer
sounded the heavy steps and the rat
Ting chain. and presently, what
seemed the form of a man enveloped
in a white sheet and holding before
him a small. iron vessel. burning q
blue light, appeared to my astonished
gaze.
..In Gods name!" cried I; and then.
crack! crack! went both pistols in
quick succession.
A yell of terror followed. down went
the light, and away went apparition
and chain, laundering and Gathering
down the stairs. Then heard quick
and excited voices speaking together,
q rush of several feet, and a noise Of a
number Of persons running across the
grounds outside.
I stood my ground and kept my
watch till morning. but was not dis
turbed again. A little before sunrise.
my friends appeared. anxious to know
how ! had passed the night. They
were surprised to find several pieces
of silk, lace and other valuable goods
scattered over the main apartment OF
the lower story. On my giving them
q narration of the facts, We all came
to the conclusion the house had been
made the rendezvous Of thieves,
who had previously prepared them
selves to work upon the superstitious
fears Of any strangers they might
chance TO encounter; and that, having
heard my fall, they had dressed one Of
their number in q ghostly garb. and
sent him over the house to make a
search. Ny two shots had unquestion-
ably convinced him and his compan-
ions that sudden leg-bail was their best
security, and they had taken it accord