The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-24
NUMBEt2 %.

~ JILL ~ y
but that wouldn't be half so charming as to be in a
house where Washington has slept Think of il Becky!
and cannon balls in the roof! 1t is said to be haunted,
we in luck ? A queer old woman. Miss
Eleanor Pyott, who had out-lived all her family. owned
this place, and died lately. A nephew used to live with
but they couldn't find any will, and all the com ctions
went to law about it. Of course, none Of then could
live in it until it was settled to whom it belonged, SO
papa has taken it for the summer, and here we all are.
It's the queerest place you ever saw, do come at once.
There is a portrait of Miss Eleanor here, and it looks
Just like you-she has the funniest nose
This is but an extract fir my pretty cousin rather
i%ncoherent letter, and by the time | had finished the
epistle, I was pretty well ~mysti6ed. But uncle Althorpe
soon made his appearance on purpose, he said, to escort
ne to Pinehurst and Hilly sent me a saucy message to
pack up my nose without delay
much curiosity to behold the old Revolutionary man
sion, l set forth with uncle Althorpe.
4 suppose said my uncle, when We were comforta-
to the portrait, it became quite a standing joke with my
cousins to call me Miss Eleanor Pyott. Now this was
not agreeable; l was very sensitive respecting my nose,
and Miss Eleanor's certainly was a little larger than
mine. When, therefore, they urged me to don some old
bonnet that had been discovered at the top Of the house,
and arrange my hair in pufs, l declined afording them
this qualification, for which they leased me daily.
The ~walled-up chamber, that was regarded with a
mixture of horror and curiosity, was soon pointed out
extreme end of the mansion, and looked out upon the
densest part Of the grounds. Being in the second story,
q narrow fight of steps led up from the outside to a low
door that opened directly into the room This was
never unfastened, and the one window was tightly board
ed up. regarded this spot with longing eyes, and Of
ten proposed an exploration of the haunted apartment
but this uncle Althorpe decidedly opposed, alleging that
as he was only a temporary tenant, he had no right to
penetrate into these carefully guarded recesses.
One day, my cousins had been more than usually ag-
%gravating upon the subject of my resemblance to Miss
Eleanor Pyott, and l retired to rest, at night, in no very
pleasant frame of mind. Matilda was soon asleep; but
l lay awake thinking of the former occupants of the
mansion, and wondering if Pyott Denmore would ever
be restored to what I considered his rightful position.
was restless; and finally, l rose from the bed, and
lighting a candle, proceeded to view Miss Eleanors
portrait. The more l looked the more 1 became con-
WINGED that I did look like it; and the desire came over
me to attire myself in that ancient dress, and then CON-
pare notes. Hily had caught q glimpse of some old
fashioned things in the back part of a closet, and thither
l accordingly repaired. A faded dress of stiff brocade,
that had evidently seen long service, soon replaced my
white wrapper; and having rolled my hair into puAs a
la Miss Eleanor, I donned a green caleche, and almost
trembled at my reflection in the glass.
l looked at the portrait again to be sure that it was
really I, and not the old lady stepped from her frame;
and then unhesitatingly directed my steps toward the
walled-up room, l determined to see if it were possible
to effect an entrance there.
It was a ridiculous expedition but I walked gravely
on through the silent passage, until l came to a little
entry that opened into a closet Carefully guarding my
candle, l peered around in search of some outlet, for I
knew that this closet was at the end of the house near
the mysterious chamber.
The narrowness of my quarters caused a rafting in
the capacious pocket Of my dress and drawing forth a
roll OF paper, grasped it tightly for future investiga-
ton.
Ny candle was not brilliant enough, or l should before
have discovered a sort of broad window at the end Of
the closet.
This was secured by hooks that were noiselessly un.
fastened and then l found myself in a small room,
rom the further end OF which seemed to proceed a light.
was staggered, and my first impulse was to turn
oack; but resolving to inquire into the cause of this
strange phenomenon, I proceeded tremblingly forward
j! could not have told what l expected to see, but / GER
tainly was not prepared for the sight that met my eyes.
and in this, seated by a table, was a gentleman, com
pletely absorbed in the perusal of some old yellow let
ters. His face wore an expression of sadness, as he sat
there but l could see that he was very distinguished
looking, and quite young.
The situation in which l found myself was extremely
embarrassing, alone there, at midnight but instead Of
retraciug my steps, l stood spellbound, staring at the
occupant of the mysterious room.
Presently, he turned and saw me. His face grew
white, as he exclaimed in a husky voice.
an 1 dreaming Mercnul heaven That nose J.
This unprovoked attack upon my much injured fea-
ture quite exasperated me and without stopping to con-
slider what | did, l threw the paper in my hand at the
speaker, and glided back to my closet. thought that
l heard a heavy fall; but now thoroughly alarmed at
my own imprudence, I fastened, ~breathless and painting
to my room.
My cousin still slept; and divesting myself of my
masquerading attire, I sat down and pondered over nv
singular adventure. As l had told my uncle, l did not
believe in ghosts, and the gentleman whom 1 encoun.
tered had given full evidence of being a living man. I
fully believed it to be Pyott Denmorc though how he
came there, and for what reason l could not tell. had
evidently impressed him with the conviction that he had
been visited by his aunt Eleanor; and with a sort of
mischievous glee, and a little inward trembling, l retired
to bed wondering what would come of it.
l half feared to GO to the breakfast-tablc but moth
ing 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 consins teased me, during the day, for being so
unusually silent; but my thoughts were wandering of
to the melancholy looking gentleman, and l wondered
what had become of him. It would not do to trust the
girls with my secret; for they would laugh at me, and
declare that l had been dreaming, and that l vas, after
all, as great a coward as themselves.
| stole off to the thicket that was Immediately under
the boarded window but all looked dark and deserted
a. before, and l almost asked myself if l had not i'm.
agined the whole affair. asfs
Uncle Althorpe went to the city every morning, and