The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-20

much ;nL "onb away with
Inc spirits than 1 felt at See
lug mem take their leave.
shall briefly pass over tho 8
VI os tne night, because nothing remarkS
sue then occurred. 7 had sa,eotad
'front.' roasn in the second stow ~"
Ma1cn' and pistol in hand, had Sta.
.oneam myself by one Of the windows
~nence ! could make my exit to the
ground below, in case of dire neoess;t INC
"l'nout any serious risk. Here + v,;t,
nesseo the night gradually shut in the
scene ind felt the first lonliness NJ
sne solemn heavy hours, as thew
dragged on toward the m~id.watcbas
occasionally I took Ia bite from
NY oasket and a sip from the bottle.
more for the purpose of having some,
1hing to do than because I felt the
need OF food or stimulants. It was
very tedious keeping watch there all
alone In the dark, in an emntv b,ild.
ing atar from the sound or reach Of
human voice, and I almost began to
@lsh for a ghost of some kind to break
'he DULL dreary, gloomy monotony.
"A. iast-somewhere about midnight,
JUDGE began to grow very drowsv:
ano as Keeping awake was no part of
my agreement Or wager, / sat down on
the moor, a la Turk, braced nv back
against the wall, and soon BEGAN tn
nod and dream, and finally lost myself
in sleep.
How long slept I do not know: but
In my sleep, none of the soundest. !
1ancled l heard human voices, speakq
ing IN low, guarded, steady, monoto-
nous tones, that came to the ear like
ths distant fall of water; yet, when
awoke, which I did by losing nv bal
ance and coming down with a shock
and a jar, the sound of the voices
seemed suddenly to cease. Was it
fancy? a dream? or had l heard some
n 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, l now lay still and listened,
keeping my eyes wide open, prepared
to a and see whatever sound and
sight might be presented to the two
senses, and act accordingly.
Presently I heard what seemed to be
whispers, and feet moving cautiously
in the Rpom below, and I must admit /
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 | 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, I think, all things
considered, I neither felt nor exhibited
any more fear than the bavest 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 ]
was. @
"Now for it," thought I, compress
ing my lips and steady,ag my nerves
wsh all the resolution my com
mand. "
The sounds advanced, the light grew
brighter. and, with eyes half-startEe
from nv head, I 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
y seemed the form of a man enveloped
in a white sheet and holding before
him a small, iron vessel, burning 9
blue light, appeared ~astonished
gaze.
.sTn Gods name!!' cried Z; and then,
crack! crack! went both pistols Il
. quick succession.
A veil Of terror followed, down went
the light, and away went apparitlor
and chain, laundering and clatterine
down tie stairs. Then | heard qulcf
and excited voices speaking together
a rush of several feet, and a noise 0
number of persons running across Tn
grounds outside.
I stood my ground and kept no!
watch till morning. but was not dls
turbed AGAIN. A little before sunrise
NV friendb appeared, anxious to know
|. how I had passed the night. Ihe!
were surprised to find several PIE e
of silk. lace and other valuable gooo
scattered over the main apartment 0
the lower story. On my giving then
: a narration of the facts, we all cam
: to the conclusion the house had pee
, made the rendezvous OF thieves
who had previously prepared them
: calves to work upon the superstitlou
. fears of any strangers they mign
? chance to encounter; and that, havln'
heard INV fall, they had dressed one 9
: their number in a ghostly garo' an
? sent hia over the house 70 llaae