Year: 1860

bt "A bOLblEh


When our regiment was quartered in Ireland,
some Of my company were ordered to town
within FIVE hours march Of where We lay. Ny
duty was to escort them there, and return by
the evening train from q station q few miles
from where my comrades were to be left.


We reached our destination in due time, and
arrangements were made for my departure;
but as the evening set in very inclement,
halted as long as possible in the hope that the
storm would absts. This, however, was not
the result; the storm grew more severe, and my
orders being nearly imperative, had to set
forth in the midst Of the blast. Making head
way against the weather took up more time
than had calculated on, and reached the
station only to learn that the last train had
passed. / spent little time in hesitation, as
had only one course before me if my quarters
mere to be reached that night; so, drenched
and weary, / retraced my steps.


When night began to close in, and the
weather grew dense and thick, / for the first
time thought that if darkness were once on,
and an inn should invite shelter, L would, under
the circumstances, avail myself of il and re-
main until daybresk. had not a very accu-
rate knowledge of the district, yet did not
doubt that was On the right road the length
i had gone; still slight hesitation arose, and
resolved to make inquiry the first opportu-
nifty. / continued to 60 on considerable dis
tance without sight or sound Of human exist
ence, but was at length fortunate enough to
fall in with an old woman driving a cow. When
she recovered from her surprise at seeing me-
/ was fully convinced by her that had gone
astray, and was farther from an inn than it
would be agreeable to travel. It appeared
there were no houses near but her own
where there was no accommodation-and
another one where / might have been
put up, but man having died there that
morning, and the widow being in the house
alone, it was thought that she might object
TO the presence of a stranger. L resolved to
try at any rate. and got such directions for
reaching the place as were seemingly intslli-
gibls, when my informant and / parted CON-
pany-


The house was not 50 easily found as 1 had
hoped, but L stumbled upon il after nearly
losing temper, and advanced considerably ele-
waited in spirits when its outline attracted my
bewildered sight. At first I knocked some-
what gently, not to startle the inmate, but no
notice being taken, I repeated it much louder.
A stir within followed this, and voice gruffy
inquired the purpose Of the disturber


4 began to explain my situation, but before
L had spoken dozen words was told / could
not get admittance, as there was a dead man
In the house. L demonstrated, and urged the
necessity of my case, Offering to sit in any
corner, and give no trouble nor annoyance
Still l was only told, in notes a key or two
louder, that l might as we'll depart at once.
This irritated me greatly, and I angrily
shouted, that unless she let me in quietly
would force the door and enter in spite Of her.


There must have been a tone of determined
resolution in my speech, for the voice within
modified considerably after the threat; some
party and grumbling followed, when the door
was opened and candle lit. The woman
eyed me very suspiciously, and appeared
either alarmed or annoyed, but urged her to
be composed and give herself no uneasiness
on my account


The house was miserably furnished, the
chief object that attracted my attention in the
desOlate abode being the figure in the dead
dress, which lay on a chest before the bed,
ard q table by the freside laid out with pro-
visions The latter were, to me, rather tempt
ing, but my newl y-made friend seemed anx-
ious that / should not be allowed too narrow
survey OF her premises, as she requested me
to follow her to an inner apartment would
have preferred staying where 1 was, but did
not consider it unreasonable that she should
have the choice of where was to DO located
so followed where she led the way.


In this place there was nothing but low
erection covered with straw, and an old
fashioned stool lying upside down. / was
told 1 could either take the stool or the 0bed -
and left alone; but she handed in a piece of
bread few minutes afterwards, with a sullen
remark that was not Ineligible.


Tired as 1 was, felt more disposed to watch
the woman motions than court slumber; but
this eventually grew tedious, and L began to
get drOwsy. therefore quietly lay down, and
10 prevent my being taken by surprise, put
my feet opposite the door, so that il could not
be opened without awakening me- In this Do
sition fell into slight sleep, but movement
In the other apartment made me start and lis
ten. Through the creyices in the old door, I
could only see indistinctly, but was still able
10 see my friend was listening behind it; and
when / saw this, dare say helped to con-
vince her that / was fast asleep, by certain
nasal sounds introduced at intervals


She soon desis.ed and slipped cautiously back,
and my inquisitiveness being aroused peered
sagely through the seams. She wrapped a
shawl around her, set lighted candle on the
table, and left the house, carefully locking the
door behind her, / confess to getting uneasy
at this, and feeling OF awe at the loneliness
OF my situation crept through my frame Not.
knowing what might follow, loaded INV mus.
ket, az / thought il better to be able to defend
myself, if that should be necessitated.


Iwaited anxiousiy for long time, but heard
no sign OF her return, nor any sound save the
first dull clicks Of an old clock, and the splash
ing OF the rain outside At length was seized
with a desire to inspect the premises and after
a slight hesitation ventured into the other
end. II was the most dreary position In which
1 had ever found myself, The solemn stiffness
impsrting feeling rs much akin to terror as
the grestest fear OF real danger could ever in
still within me; but my survey was almost i'm
mediately interrupted by rustling movement
IN the olrecuon Wnere the dead man lay.


started at this, and moved my piece into
better position, and 1 think L raised ID me-
chemically to my shoulder, whom i saw the
sheets moving on the lifeless body, as had
thought it. Ny hair, which was generally SO
short as to be always on end cannot exactly
be said to have stood erect at this, but per-
spired at every pore, and felt somew hat un.
nsrved, although am no slave to supsrstitious
b fears At this stage a voice from the sheets
addressed me in a low tone saying, Slowly and
distinctly" Sodger, sodger, sure an ys wont
shoot me =" ~. Ff


This partly convinced me that he was still
an animated being, but I was not by any
means at ease, and could only respond by q
= searching yet tremulous stare. ala1sftsrs
20 'Sowl an I'm living as ys are,p' he said,
/, turning round; "but II yen plaise to take the
pins out Of them binders and cut the cord from
my toes afore that woman returns, I'll till ye
the howl about il, an drink my own health
wild ys in the bsrgsin.n = "a z,s &. ~.
- There was nov no reason for being concerned
20 much, although my curiosity ran on ahead
, while eonjecturs followed hard to oyertaks il.
com pli Cd with his wish, and he ciyilly asked