Year: 1869

pearance on the scene, prayed, and read seven
chapters from the Evangelsts, winding up with


the following formula: "Whether you be spirit Or
|devil-whether you be from heaven above or hell
beneath-I command you in the name Of the


Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, to leave this


place forever" But it was no use. The next
night the spirit Of old Hu was more troublesome
than ever, 80 that the whole neighborhood were
terror stricken by the bowls and shrieks that issued
from the haunted cabin. The poor people, who
never had SO unmanageable ghost before, were
iu despair.


It was at this time the incident happened that
exercised such controlling influence over my fu-
ture life. A lot Of us young fellows had been ca
rousing at village tavern We had made good
haul at our herring fishing, and were spending our
money freely. The conversation naturally turned
to the subject of old Hu's ghost All were firm
believers in the apparition, except myself who
stoutly insisted that the whole affair was gotten up
by some interested person, in order to get posses
sion of the cabin ''Now will tell you what TIL
do" says Shou Cadwallader, captain of a fishing
smack, "Tll lay wager of five guineas that you
dare not go to the haunted hut, and stay there all
alone, from midnight till three in the morning,
had been drinking heavily, and promptly replied,


81 agree


The matter was soon arranged, the money was
put down, and I started for the hut, accompanied
by three Of my companions, who were to see me
enter. The night was dark and dirty-so dark
you couldn't see the length Of your arm. must
say felt q little uncomfortable as l approached
the haunted tenement; but walked boldly up to
the door, pushed it open, entered, and extempori-
zing light, (matches were not invented then,)
lighted a candle with which had provided myself
and took a survey of the place. 1t was misera-
bic thatched roof, mud-walled hut, with hard
earthen floor, nearly bare of furniture, and inex-
pressibly dreary. The air was close and dank, as
if the faint of the bloody deed enacted few weeks
before, still fingered. Everything remained as it
was when the murder was committed, thought
could even see traces of the struggle on the mould
ed walls. The floor in several places bore the
dark stains of the dead mans blood Altogether,
the sight was one to make even as hair-brained
fellow as I timid But sought to drive unpeas-
ant fancies away. threw myself down on bench
by the table, and waited the issue of my adven-
ture. lay quietly some time-so quietly could
hear my heart beat The stiffness was oppressive:
II grew nervous under the awful hush of the mid
night, and fancied thousand horrible sights and
sounds thought saw the old man as be lay in
his shroud thought heard the old familiar voice
pleading for mercy at the hands of bis assassin.
Little by little, however, my perceptions became
less and less distinct My evelids dropped, and I
fell into slumber. How long I slept have no
idea; but woke up suddenly, and became con-
scious that was no longer alone. / felt-for my
eyes were still closed-that there was something or
somebody that had entered while slept-near me.
Its presence was palpable to all my finer senses.
I seemed to be, as it were, enfolded by invisible
arms-wrapped in spell so absolute aud terrible,
that was powerless to resist But l knew that
to yield would be fatal and so, with mighty ef-
fort of will, opened my eyes, and looked in the d.
recion whence the strange influence came. On
the other side of the table, directly opposite and
not more than four feet distant, sat human fig
ure, or what seemed one. The face was in shad-
|ow, the side of the head turned toward me. That
lit was that of an old man, could see from the
stoop of the shoulders and the thin locks of gray
hair that dropped from the temples. He was
dressed in the quaint long socks and kneebreeches
of the Welch peasant. His hands rested on his
knees, his head was bent toward the floor. For
moment was paralyzed with terror; but, by one
of those revulsions of feeling We cannot explain,
the next instant had halfpersuaded myself that


my companions had been playing a trick upon me.


Zone Of these fellows" said to myself, ''has
dressed himself to look like old Hu Hirwan, has
come in while slept and means to frighten me in-


to losing my wager" Determined to be even with


the rascals caught up stout walking stick that
lay beside me and aimed blow at the shoulders Of
the mysterious intruder, Great God 1t struck
impalpable air. could see it pass through what
seemed a solid body without meeting the least re-
sistance, striking the floor with crash. The next
instant the figure rose slowly from the CHAIR turned
round and faced me. Shall ever forget the par
alyzing agony of the dreadful moment7 There
stood within few hands breadth of me what
seemed once the mortal part of old Hu Hirwan;


but how awfuly changed! The face had the livid
hue of death; the eyes were sunken and burned
with ghastly glare; the dampness of the grave
was upon the shriveled brow. The wound on the
side of the head gaped hideously. was too ter
rifed to speak-too terrified to move-but stood
helpless staring at the spectre. had not even
will enough to shut my eyes to the awful vision;
yet I had sufficient self possession to know that
the spell by which was held must be speedily
broken or I should die; and remembering what
had been so often told me Of the efficacy Of speech,
summoned all my energies for a last effort and
gasped out "In the name of the Most High, l
command you to tell me what your errand is. 1"


The clammy lips quivered, the shrunken face be-
came eloquent with horrible intelligence, and the


spectre spoke as follows: II fell by the hand Of


Owen Roberts, my kinsman, who came to rob me.


Denounce him as my murderer, see that he is


brought to justice, and I shall disturb you no


more" The light went out from the hollow eyes,


the form of the dead man seemed to shrivel and


fade away, and was left alone.


You smile, sir; you think I dreamed all this.


Wait until you have heard me through. Irushed
out of the hut, bounded over the garden wall, and
ran home as if all the fends were after me. Next


day called upon the magistrate of the town and
told him my story. Strange to say, he betrayed


little surprise, and remarked that facts had recent
" come to his knowledge which induced him to be-
lieye that Owen Roberts was the real murderer,
and that the order for his arrest was already
A few hours later Roberts was in the clutches Of


the law, and when told that he was accused by


witnesses both from this world and from the world


of ghosts, broke down completely and confessed
~ ,,d boDpod IN tho