The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-11-03
NEW SERIES, VOL. II, NO. "a.

ghostly enough. The deep wooded va
ley, the trees masscd into unshape b
night; the grim. gloomy, shattered, S
tent house outside; and inside, wit
faint CLEANS of moonlight falling, an
stealing here and there through tt
| rooms.
over all reigned that dead stiffness
house acquires that is not lived in. Ii
stlnctively we walked softly, as one doe
in the presence of death.
When we had gone over it, l sale
And which is the chamber?"
The one where the handsome oal
bedstead is" answered the owner.
Then, if you please, that is the one
shall sleep in"
"Sleep in? Surely you will not 60 t.
bed?''
Surely SHALL When man goes GU
OF his natural habits to see a ghost-tha
Is, sits up in his chair, to doze, an,
awake at.every cinder falling, or othe
sound-the odds are he will see a ghos
OF his own creating. l shall pass tn
night here as should at home"
They looked at me curiously. | evi
IDENTIFY surprised them. But it wal
agreed; and, returning to the inn, who's,
inmates were by this time all eager ex.
element, bed and bedding, besides 9th
er necessaries, were carried to the house
and arranged, numbers giving courage
By ten all was prepared and was es
corted by little crowd to the house. Al
it, the owner, drawing me aside, said
Il don't like your doing this alone, sir
Shall we not see if someone will not bear
you company"
Surely not!n laughed. "Had l the
least belief, might accept; but, you
see, have not. Good nightr'
Bidding them all the same, entered,
and closed the door in their faces.
First, carrying the lamp, l searched
the house, and examined the doors and
windows, then retired to my sleeping
ROOM This, too, searched carefully
then locked the door,
1t was by no, means an uncheerful
room, and the lamp gave a good light. l
knew that the best way not to conjure
up imaginary specters is not thinking of
them. So sat down and wrote long
letter to Gertie, which soon so absorbed
me that | forgot everything.
1t was half-past eleven before it was
completed, when, undressing, 1 retired
to bed, as little disturbed in mind, l de-
clare, as if were getting into my own
at Whitechurch.
1t was custom of mine always to
read myself asleep; therefore l had bor-
rowed book, which proving interest,"
ing, | was soon immersed in its pages.
Suddenly a peculiar sensation came
over me. 1t was not fear. 1t was indie
scribable; and a cold air passed between
my face and the book.
My first thought was that the door or
window had been opened. PRAISED my
eyes quickly, then started more erect.
was no longer alone. Near the table
stood a man.
did not attempt to accost him, for it
did not require his costume, which was
of the period Of George III, to tell me
l was looking upon one no longer of this
world
He was thin and spare; his garments
plain, dark and worn; his cravat was of
plain muslin, unlaced His features
were not i'll favored. The eyes were
earnest, the hrows well marked, the
mouth oompressed; yet there was an
expression repellant over the whole.
Walking to the door, he seemed to
turn the key; then approaching the
CRATE, held his hands towards it, as if
the fire burned there. After returning
to the door he opened it.
Yes; though had locked it, l saw it
open.
Perhaps, in his spirit voice, he called,
for another shadow, which at once rec
ognized as the servant, entered.
They seemed to converse awhile; then
Evan Royston walking first, as if lead
ing the way, advanced and stood look
ing up at a portrait on the wall
All this while the clumsy features of
the man had worn half-smile. Now,
abruptly, it changed to an evil express
sion, and l observed he trailed behind
him rope with a moose.
Even as l gazed, to my horror the
scoundrel flung it over the head of his
master, who the next instant, the rope
having been drawn swiftly taut. was
choking on the ground.
Until this had remained paralyzed,
the fear upon me was not of that de-
scription usually termed so.
Now, overwhelmed with horror, I
spEang out on the ground at the oppo-
site to that where were the shadows,
and was about to fly, when my feet
were transfxed by terror yet more aw-
full.
The murderer had thrown the rope
over the bedstead eorniee, and dragged
his struggling victim up, up, until the
limbs Strengthened, became rigid, and
knew that life was extinct.
Sick with horror, and strangely still
not aware of fear, leaned against the
wall, gazing at the shadow and its mur>
derer.
Was dreaming?
Was after all in my bed, the victim
Of nightmare?
Could rouse myself?
Could force myself awake, and make
the CHASTITY scene before me vanish?
No!
felt l was as much awake as any
man in broad day
l was solving the mystery that l hat
heard that evening.
Not all the mystery.
What had become of the assassin?
Why did his spiritwalk heres
Had he stolen the miser's hoard?
While these queries passed through
my mind, had, half, it seemed, uncon
sciously been watching the servant.
He now advanced to the table, seemed
to take something from it, which h.
held like one would carry a light, ant
crossed to the door.
An impulse | could not resist made M
follow.