Year: 1866

was ca PSiASeSSN So


commodation.


This was not very agreeable news for
Anna, tired as she was However, she pur-
sued her way to the house of the clergyman,
where she had, in passing that way before,
been Hospitality entertained, hoping that
there she might be able to procure lodg.
ing, however humble. But in this she was
disappointed ; for though the good clergy
mau and bis wife received her kindly, they
could not offer her shelter for the night as
they had already more guests than they
could conveniently accommodate. Anna
would have been contented and thankful
for bed of straw by the kitchen fire but
even this they could not give, as the lower
apartments were wanted by those who had
been obliged to give up their beds. ~


At length, after some hesitation, the cler.
gymau said, 81 know of but one place where
you could at this hour find lodging. You
appear to be woman of good courage, and
if you dare venture, you may occupy room
in that house you see from this window. 1t
is uninhabited, and has been so for some
years, as it has the reputation of being
haunted"


Anua looked in the direction indicated,
and saw large, two-storied house standing
at some distance from the high road. "The
last proprietor of that place." continued
the clergyman, "was vicious and dcpraved
man, whose very existence was curse to
the neighborhood in which he dwelt. His
life, as far as can learn, was one unmixed
course of cruelty, lust and impiety. He
died suddenly, in the prime of life, in the
midst of one of his riotous midnight orgies,
and the house has ever since been deserted.
1t is said, and believed by our good towns
folks, that there he still holds his revels,
with fends for his companions and many
affirm that they have. heard the sound of
their unearihly merriment borne upon the
night breeze. For myself, I am no great
believer in the supernatural, and have no
doubt that Imagination, united to the lone.
illness of the spot, and the strange freaks
the wind plays through large, uninhabited
house, have originated reports which We
are sure would lose nothing in the recital
so if you are Inclined to make the trial [
will see that what is necessary is provided,
and I think I may venture to promise you
an undisturbed nights rest"


Anna, as I have before said, was remark
BILE for her fearlessness. So she thanked
the gentleman for his proposal, saying "that
she had not the least fear of spirits, good or
bad; that the former, if, indeed, they we're
ever visible to mortal eyes, could be but
messengers of mercy; and for the latter,
she could not conceive that Being infinite
in goodness would ever permit them to re.
visit this earth for the sole purpose of ter
rifying and tormenting innocent individuals
like herself; that she far more dreaded
evil men than evil spirits; and that as,
from the estimation in which the place was
held, she should feel herself secure from
them, she would thankfully accept his
offer"


As soon, therefore, as the necessary pre-
paratious we're made, and Anna had parta.
ken of the good, substantial fare set before
her, she begged leave to be allowed to re.
tire to rest. Her request was complied
with, the clergyman himself insisting upon
seeing her safely to her destination, when,
having ascertained that proper provision
had been made for her comfort, and told
her that refreshment should be provided
for her early next morning at his house,
he bade her good night, and left her to
her repose.


AS soon as he was gone, Anna proceeded
to take a more particular survey of her
apartment. 1t was large, but not very
lofty room, pannelled with oak, and having
two windows looking across wide lawn to
the main road The bright fire in the am.
pie fire place illuminated the richly-carved
cornice, with its grotesque heads and fauci-
ful scroll-work 1t had evidently been a
dining-room, for some of the heavy furni-
ture, in the fashion of the period in which
it had been last Inhabited, still remained.
Taking her Bible from her bundle, Anna
read chapter, and then prepared to retire
to rest, first examining the doors, of which
there were two; the one by which she had
entered. opening into the front hall she
found to be without lock, or, indeed, any
fastening at all; the other, leading in an
opposite direction, she was unable to open.
As, however, she was quite free from ap-
prehension, she felt no uneasiness from this
circumstance; and in prayer commencing
herself to the care of her Heavenly Father,
she composed herself to rest, and soon feel
souudly asleep.


How long she had slept she could not
tell, when she was awoke by what seemed
to her the confused sounds of song and
merriment. She raised herself iD bed and
listened. All was silent, save that the
night, having become rather gusty, the
wind at intervals swept moauingly around
the deserted mansion. The fire was almost
out, but the candle in the lantern which
stood by her bedside shed feeble light
upon the oakeu floor, and the moon, though
occasionally overcast, was still high in the
heavens. Soon the same sounds, low at
first, but gradually becoming louder and
more distinct, broke in upon the silence
The noise appeared to her to proceed from