The mysterious sounds had been
heard by people in the street as they passed the house, and the
poundings now commenced in the morning and were to be heard all day
long. Esther always felt relieved when the sounds were produced by the
unknown power.
Dr. Caritte called every night, and sometimes during the day, but could
not afford her the slightest relief. One night, about three weeks after
the doctor's first visit, as he and the family were standing around her
bed listening to the loud knockings, Esther suddenly threw her arms up
towards the head of the bed, and seemed to be seized with a spasm, for
she became cold and perfectly rigid. While in this state she commenced
to talk, and told all that had occurred between herself and Bob McNeal
on the night of the fatal ride. This was the first anybody knew of the
affair, for she had never told of it, and Bob had never been seen in the
locality after that night. When she came to her senses again, they told
her what had been said by herself during the strange state from which
she had just emerged. Upon hearing this she commenced to cry, and told
them that it was all true; that he had threatened her with his revolver,
but becoming frightened by the sound of wheels in the distance, had
driven her home without offering her any further show of violence.
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