The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-07-21
NEW SERIES, VOL. II. NO. O.

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blinds were stuck fast. | beat upo
them in my frenzy, and my horse an
swered with fierce stamping. / coul
see him with faulty stretched tethe
actually crouched down upon hi
cochere, trembling in every limb, ant
his eye-balls seeming as they would star
from their sockets. And the same far
OF light showed me as l gazed q gaun
white horse that shot noiselessly b.
going with the speed of the wind, will
neck and head outstretched, and hi
whole body flattened with running.
The Stats of the blind were turned ant
immovable, SO that l could only lool
down through them and saw no higher
than the flying beasts shoulder, and
had but a flying glimpse of him, but
knew too we'll who his rider was.-
| death on pale horse!' l cried aloud
and with a mighty effort burst open the
shutter and sprang out. The beating
of the rain upon my face refreshed me
and out there with my horse, which,
however, | had much trouble in quiet>
ing, felt somewhat restored to my nor
to spend the rest of the night outside.
No amount of reasoning, however, would
help me to explain the strange things
l had seen nor the hideous sounds that
now issued from the room had left.
There were low murmurings and stified
means followed by shrieks and cries that
made my blood run chill. don't know
how l managed it, but got the blanket
and saddle on my horse, led him upon
the gravel, mounted and gave him the
bit. Anything was better than a con>
tinuance of the horrors of the ghostly
house.
My horse stood moment irresolute,
but during that space, in the twinkling
of an eye, a lightning flash showed me a
sight the like of which | had seen once
before at Monaco. In grove Of stately
trees some hundreds of yards away two
men were fighting a duel. The one
whose face could see was tall and dark
with a long dropping mustache and
peaked beard. There was neither flash
nor fire from the outstretched pistols,
but the man whose back was turned fell
forward upon his face; two others came
from the shrubbery, picked up the life
less body, and the tall, dark man walked
swiftly away. My horse rose upon his
launches, with succession of wild leaps
he passed the grove, and we were out
upon the road.
The first faint streak of dawn brought
me a sight of my friends house, and
was never so rejoiced as when 1 saw it.
By and by comfortably seated in Johns
bachelor quarters, l related my expe-
riences of the night. | thought John
looked a little curious at the recital, but
he tried to laugh away my fears.
"There is an old owl that is said to
find a ghoulish habitation in the house,"
he said; maybe that will account for
some of your mysteries. And have
some loose horses that are brave enough
to browse in the swamp below; perhaps
there's white one among them"
Yes" said l, .'but have you one think
you, that could run over a stone pave
ment without making any noise? And
how do you account for the duel?"
John laughed confusedly. "Well," he
said, II am sorry enough you had such
horrible night of it. l experienced 1t
once myself. 1t was soon after l left
college and had made wager to lay
the ghost. You see, the house belongs
to me. 1t was built by my grandfather,
but he occupied it only one year Dur
ing that time every member of the fam
lily, except my father, died, and he aban-
doned the place. Father always said
the swamp was death breeding, but since
his day the place has been called
haunted. Years ago the grove was
famous dueling ground.