The Delta independent., 1897-11-26

A brisk breeze was piping down the
valley. Through cracks and crevices
II crept into the old attic with soft wall
ing and moaning. There was homesick-
ness in the mournful tones, and a sad
meas. as though the spirits of the de-
parted were signing for q return to old
familiar scenes.
What was there about my old place
that produced such q depressing effect
upon my spirits?
The happiest moments of life have a
slight shadow to them, as though to
warn US that all joy is fieeting. Per
haps it was only this shadow which
caused the .nndefinable feeling of in
security. But there was q quality, also,
which breathed of events to come Of
dire import. ] seemed like the mariner
on . dark SEQ, conscious of breakers
ahead, and knowing not which way to
steer. Even my dreams in the restless
slumber of the past night seemed pre-
nionitions.
That vague forebodings should come
when my mind was filed with thoughts
Of the beloved one who had given me
her heart, was most strange. / could
not shake on the depression. The dark
ness Of the attic deepcned it.
/ was about to retrace my steps to
the stairway. when sounds reached my
ear which caused me to pause and listen
"a series of raps. alternating with n
tasping noise, but so feeble and indis-
tinct that was unable to form an opin-
ion Of the cause. All could determine
was that they seemed to come from
above.
A loose shingle or piece of timber,
rattling in the wind, would have made
q dull, heavy sound, while the gentle
raps heard had a clear. mellow ring,
like that produced by the vibrations Of
tuning fork.
After lighting all the matches had
with me and making A. thorough an
examination Of the roof as the brief
Aickering lights would allow, I groped
toward the stairs.
Probably half the distance to the
landing was passed when upon my ear
fsll Tie voice, the unearthly voics, tAs
weisd tones Of which had Aest hsard
in my room downstairs.
II could not possibly be heard up in
the attic. when speaking in my cham
ber. So then It must have the faculty
Of being able to change from one apart
ment to another just ~ the whim seized
It.
Like the voice which had sounded
downstairs, the tones were intermit-
tent; in the present instance they A.
ternated with the rappings.
After standing motionlcss, with hear
ing strained to the utmost, I noticed
that at no time did the voice and the
rappings sound together.
The few detached words I distin-
guished had no possible reference 10
myself; nevertheless the voice seemed
to follow me. was unwilling to at
tribute the sounds to supernatural
causes, for I was not a believer in the
supernatural. It might be that the par
ties who had walled up the cellar found
some of their plans, whatever they
may have been. upset by my advent,
and had taken this way to frighten me
and cause my departure.
On second thought the idea did not
appear tenable. For IL the purpose was
to frighten me, fiercer and more ter
rifying demonstration would be used.
Was there only one voice which in
some way sounded both in my room and
in the attic, or were there various voices
all over the place, each independent Of
the other?
I hnstened downstairs, but when
reached my room no sounds were heard
there.
While in my bedroom, I had no way
OF knowing il the voice in the attic was
still sounding.
The remainder Of the evening I spent
in rushing from my room to the attic
and back again, and quietly stealing
through the vacant rooms. in the hope
of laying hold Of some explanation Of
the strange voice. did hear il again
10 the attic, but there was no sound In
my room, though had Immediately
hastened there.
Finally I gave up the quest for the
time, and, thoroughly fatigued, un-
dressed and went to bed.
Ny head had hardly touched the Dill
low when the report Of . pistol reached
my ear. The sound was muffied. as
though coming from . distant apart
ment. Indeed, Il seemed to come from
underneath, as had the sound Of the
siamming door; but yet not directly be-
meath: Il would undoubtedly have
sounded much palmer had the shoot
ing taken pIsce in the walled-up cellar
below my room.
There was no answering shot, and no
more unsccountsble noises, though
intently.
All through the night lay vainly
trying 70 And rspoes. but slesp would
not eoDs. was resolved TO leave no
Btoas untuFned 70 unssvel these mys-
lesies. Yoe tie events, trivial - they
Deemed and - hey psobably would
peovs wAen exp1ained, were certainly
irritating. asd thrsassasd wholly 70 T.
stroy the rust an6 peoca la exuaeenA