Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-27

: hair in puffs, declined affording them thi
, qualification, for which they teased NE daily
The walled-up chamber, which was re
. garded with mixture of horror and curiosi
ty. was soon pointed out to me. 1t was il
a sort OF wing that joined on at the extremt
end of the mansion, and looked out upoI
the densest part of the grounds. Beng in
the second story, narrow flight of step
led up from tie outside to low door -tha'
opened directly into the room. This was
never unfastened, and the one window wa
tightly boarded up. Iregarded this spot
: with longing eyes, and often proposed az
: exploration OF the haunted apartment; bu
this Uncle Althorpe decidedly opposed al
leging that as he was only a temporary zen
ant, be had no right to penetrate into lbose
> carefuily-guarded recesses.
One day my cousins had been more than
unusually aggravating upon the subject ot
my resemblance to Miss Eleanor Pyott, and
| retired to rest at night in no very pleasant
frame of mind.
Matilda was soon asleep, but lay awake
thinking OF the former occupsnt of the
mansion, and wondered if Pyott Denmort
: would ever he restored to what considered
his rightful position.
was restless; and finally rose from the
bed, and, lighting candle, proceeded Il
view Miss Eieanor's portrait. The more
looked, the more / became convinced thai
: did look like it; ard the desire came ovel
; me to attire myself in the ancient dress ant
then compare noses. Hiliy had caught &
, glimpse of some old-fashioned things. in the
} back part of deep closet, and thither l &C.
. cordingly repaired. A faded dress of stiff
5rocade, that had evidently seen long ser.
| vice, soon replaced my white wrapper, and
having rolled my hair into puffs, la Miss
Eleanor, donned green caleche, and al.
most trembled at my reflection in the glass
looked at the portrait again, to be sure
that it was really l, and not the old lady
stepped from her frame; and then unhesita-
tinglv directing my steps towards the wall
ed-up room, determined to see if it were
possible to effect an entrance there.
i 1t was ridiculous expedition, but
walked gravely on through the silent pas
sage, until | came to little entry that
opened into closet. Carefully guard ing
my candle, | peered around in search OF
some outlet, FOR knew that this closet was
at the end of the house near the mysterious
chamber.
The narrowness Of my quarters eau ed a
rafting sound in the capacious pocket of
my dress, and drawing forth a roll of paper
| grasped it for future investigation MY
candle was not brilliant enough, or should
before have discovered a sort of board win
dow at the end of tie closet. This was Sc
cured by hooks, that were noiselessly un-
fastened, and then found myself in small
room, from the further end of which seemed
to proceed light.
was staggered, and my first impulse was
to turn back; but resolving to inquire into
the Cause of this strange phenomenon,
proceeded tremblingly forward. could not
have told wha; expected to see, but Ger
tainly was not prepared for the sight that
met my eyes.
The room into which l entered led to a
larger one, and in this, seated by table,
was gentleman, completely absorbed in
the perusai OF some old yellow letters. His
face wore an expression of sadness as he
sat there; but could see that he was very
distinguished-lookng, and quite young.
| The situation in which | found mysels
was extremely embarrassing-alone there,
at midnight; nut instead of retracing my
steps, stood spell-bound, staring at The
occupant Of the mysterious room.
Presently he turned and saw ne. His
face grew white, as be exclaimed in bus-
ky voice, Sam dreaming! Merciful Heay-
en-! that nose!"
This unprovoked attack upon my much
! injured feature quite exasperated me, and
without stopping to consider what did, |
threw the paper in my hand at the speak
er and gIided back to my closet. thought
that heard heavy fall; but now thorough
ly alarmed at my own imprudence. l hast
ened, breathless and painting, to my room.
My cousin still slept; and divesting my
self of my masque.ading attire, sat down
and pondered over my singular adventure
As had told my uncle did not believe in
ghosts, and the gentleman whom | encoun-
tered had given full evidence of being a
living man, tully believed it to be Pyott
Denmore; though how he came there, and
for what reason, could not tell. | had
evidently impressed him with the convic.
ton that he had been visited by his Aunt
Eleanor; and with sort of mischevous
| plee and a little inward TREMBLING I retir
ed to bed, wondering what would colns of i.
half feared 10 60 to the breakfast-tabe
but nothing was said Of the performance OF
the night before; Uncle Althorpe looked
perfectly unconscious of the scene that had
been enacted and began to breathe freely
My cousins teased me during the day fol
being so unusually silent; but my thoughts
were wandering off to the melancholy
ing gentlemsn, aud wondered what had
become of him. 1t would not do to trus,
the girls with my secret; for they would
laugh at me, and declare that ] had beer
dreaming, and that was, after all, as grea
coward as themselves.
!, | stole off to the thicket that was i'm
mediately under the boarded window; bu
all looked dark and deserted as before, and
almost asked myself if had not imag nee
the whole affair.
=, Uncle Althrope went to tow neverv morn
; ing, and returned every night; and always
, on his appearance, he was besieged with
: host iof questions respecting Pyott Den
more's case. The usual reply was that J:
| l..