Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-08
DOLPH HEYLIGER.
Bv WARRINGTON IRVING,

on any ono who should affect the value
Of his property by exciting popular pre-
JUDGES. He complained loudly Of thus
being In q manner dispossessed Of his
territories by mere bugbcars; but he
secretly determined TO have tho house
exercised by the dominic. Great was
his relief, therefore, when, in the midst
Of his perplexitics, Dolph stepped for
ward and undertook to garrison the
haunted house. The youngstcr had been
listening TO all the stories Of Claus Hop
per and Peter de Groodt; he was fond of
adventure, he loved the marvellous, and
his Imagination had become quite ex-
cited by these tales of wonder. Besides,
he had led such an uncomfortable life at
the doctors, being subjected to the in
tolerable thralldom of early hours, that
he was delighted ct the prospect Of
having q house to himself, even though
It should be haunted one. His offer
was eagerly accepted, and it was de-
terlnined that he should mount guard
that very night. His only stipulation
was, that the enterprise should be kept
secret from his mother; for ho know
the poor soul would not sleep wink If
she knew that her son was waging war
with the powers of darkness.
When night came on, he set out on
this lut Oitt DlisCA
cook, his only friend in the household,
had provided him with little mess for
supper, and n rushlight; and che tied
round his neck an amulet, given her by
an African conjurcr, as q charm agaiast
evil spirits. Dolph was escorted on his
way by the doctor and Peter G., Grcolt,
who had agreed to accompany him to
the house and to SEQ him safe lodged.
The night was overcast, and it was very
dark whoa they arrived at the grounds
which surrounded the mansion The
sexton le,l the way with a lantern, AS
they wall;":l ale. .'. .'"nCf r"cciaS.
the ftful light, catching from bush to
bush, and tree to tree, often startled the
doughty Peter, and made him fall back
upon his followers; and the doctor
grabbed still closer hold of Dolph's arm,
observing that the ground was very
slippery and uneven. At one time they
were nearly put to total rout by bat
which came fitting about the lantern;
and the notes of the insects from the
trees, and the frogs from a neighboring
pond, formed a most drowsy and doleful
concert.
The front door of the mansion opened
with grating sound, that made the
doctor turn pale, They entered a toler-
ably large hall. such as is common in
American country houses, and which
serves as sitting room in warm weather.
From hence thsy went up wide stair
case. that groaned and creakcd as they
trod, every step making it's particular
ncte, like the key of a harpischord. This
led to another hall OH the second story,
from whence they entered the room
where Dolph was to sleep. II was large
and scantily furnished: the shutters were
closed, but as they were much broken
there was no want of circulation of
air. II appeared to haze been that
sacred chamber known among Dutch
housewives by the name of "thc best
bedroom" which Is the best furnished
room in the house, but in which scarce
anybody 10 ever permitted to sleep.
Its splendor, however, was all at
an end. There were few broken
articles of furniture about the room,
and in the center stood u heavy deal
table and a large arm chair, both of
which had the look of being coeval with
the mansion. The fireplace was wide.
and had been faced with Dutch tiles,
representing Scripture stories; but some
of them had fallen out of their places,
and lay shattered about the hearth. The
sexton had lit the rush light; and the
doctor, looking fearlully about the room,
was just exhorting Dolph to be of good
cheer, and to pluck up n stout heart,
when noise in the chimney, like voices
and struggling, struck n sudden panic
into the sexton. He took to his heels
with the lantern; the doctor followed
hard after him; the stairs grcaned and
creaked as they hurried down, increasing
their agitation and speed by its noises,
The front door slammed after them; and
Dolph heard them scSabbling down
the avenue, till the sound of their feet
was lost in the distance. That he did not
join in this precipitate retreat, might
have been owing to his possessing a little
more courage than his companions, or
perhaps that lie had caught glimpse of
dhe cause of their dismay, in ~ nest of
chimney swallows, that came tumbling
down into the fire place.
Being now left to himself, he secured
the front door by strong bolt and bar;
and having seen that the other entrances
were fastened, he returned TO his desolate
chamber. Having made his supper from
the basket which the good old cook had
provided, he locked the chamber door
and retired to rest on mattress in one
corner. The night was calm and still
and nothing broke upon the profound
quiet but the lonely chipping of cricket
from the chimney of q distant chamber.
Tho rushlight, which stood in the center
of the deal table, shed feeble yellow
ray, dimly illumining the chamber, and
making uncouth shapes and shadows on
the walls, from the clothes which Dolpl
had thrown over chair.
With all his boldness of heart, there
was something subduing in this dcsolat,
scene; and he felt his spirits flag within
him as he lay on his hard bed and gazeC
about the room. He was turning ovcl
in his mind his idle habits, his doubtful
prospects, and now and then heaving c
heavy sigh, as he thought on his poor ole
mother; for there is nothing ike the
silence and loneliness of night to brinl
dark shadows over the brightest mind
BY and by, he thought he heard a sount
as ii some one was walking below stairs
He listened, and distinctly heard
step on the great stair case. II ap
preached soicmnly and slowly, tramp
tramp-tramp! 1t was evidently the trcaC
OF some heavy personaSe; and yet how
could he have got into the house withou
making a noisef He had examined al
the fastenings, and was certain tina
every entrance was secure. Still tn
steps advanced, tramp-tramp-tramp
1t was evident that the person approach
ing could not be a robbcr-the step wa
too loud and deliberate; a robber woul,
either be stcalthy or precipitate. An,
now the footsteps had asccuded the stair
case; they We're slowly advancing alon
the passage, resounding through tn
silent and empty apartments. The YER
cricket had ceased its melancholy note
and nothing interrupted their awful dis
tinctncss. The door, which had bee
locked on the inside, slowly swung open
as if self moved. The footsteps entere
the room; but no one was to be seer
They passed slowly and audibly across il
tramp-tramp-tramp! but whatevc
made the sound was invisible. Dolp
rubbed his eyes and stared about hin
ha could sac m aVprv rprt of the Hinl