The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-31
rHu HORROR IN TIE HOUSE,
IN TW O PA rs.


like an evil destiny 10 'het ho"S' 80 g.. $50,
-, :, ,,non her the smallest aims the par
ish f,und means 10 resist her ctaiIA the boys
in the street re-chrisiened her, without cefe-
,nonv as Mol Marder; invited her TO sup
,Iy Them wi IN pen'orth OF arsenic on credit
and. in return, pledged themselves faithfully
TO attend her approaching execution But APP
pareptly these suspicious were ans uNicieht,
and the law suffered her 10 starSe on unmo-
.In good truth, the weight ofpublic opinion
inclined 10 the supernatural Siae ana sueh
extraordinary tales began to gain credehce,
that the agent deemed IL his duty TO appfise
the landlord, Mr.. Archboid, OF the character
attaching TO MS house, ana Inc lmprooaoiny
of it, eating another tenant, unless some
thing could be speedily done to redeem its re-
"Nota week elapsed before Mr.. Archbold,
without commenting on his agents report
laconically announced that an eligible tenant
was on the point OF repairing TO the spot, ana
would take immediate possession.
"An excellent idea HAD occurred 10 the shfeWd
old merchant. His fayorite nephew, Charies
Anpesley, had been guilty of an act of which
he thought II highly 10 disapprove; had, in
fact taken to wife the beautiful daughter OF q
village schoolmasier. Mr.. Arcnbold, who
was man of the fewest words, limited the ex
preston of his Indignation TO curt note in
which he informed the deiin,. aent that TO
avoid any future misapprehen s'hS, ne feit IT
right 10 state frankly that he, ries, would
never receive one farthIng OF -" fortune ne
had destined for him.
"Charles was young man q high spirit.
He looked al his wife, ana thought that the
united uncles of Great Britain &C Md never
have amassed a treasure equal in value To that
he had discovered and appropriated 10 himself
In the secluded hamlet OF Little Gliding,
Hants. Upon The whole, he thought he loved
his Mary, if possible, n trifle better for the
price he was likely 10 pay for her. The change
In Charles's pros poets II cooled lew Irlenos,
warmed others into more cordial life ana so
much sympathy was felt and shewn Tor the
young compile, thus set rudely afioat on the sea
OF life, with scarce ballast enough TO secure
their little bark from daily capslZe, that Un-
Gle Archbold became uncomfortabty conscious
of his ungracious position, and, casting about
for some means 10 redeem himself Into the
good thoughts OF the world again, ,, oethought
him ofhis vacant house in Gayiand Terrace
Money he could not give-a home he might
and here was splendid opportunity at once
10 confer an act OF kindness on his nephew, and
10 rescue his property from the Ill name ihat
was daily becoming worse
HE wrote accordingly to Charles, pro1ter-
ing the loan OF his furnished mansion IN Gay
land Terrace, until the couple should have had
time TO consider their future plans, or, indeed,
for any period they chose, provided they took
instant possession, and We're careful OF the
costly furniture; and, on Charles's grateful
acceptance, signited the result 10 his agent, as
l have mentlo
Sc, early in February, No. 3D. now in the
full enjoyment of 4 haunted fame, opened It's
doors 10 new tenants; and Charles ADnesiey,
n Young man of twenty five, with good, frank,
intelligent features, aud resoiute bearing-one
with whom no ghost of any sense would for
moment dream of contending-escoried his
charming little wife across the first threshold
OF which she was the declared mistress.
Very much frightened she looked, the little
country belle, as the magnificence of her do
main opened upon her! As Tor Charles, he
could hardly forbear hearty laugh: as they
passed from room TO room, furnished with east
ern spiendor, his pretty companion setting
her little feet apologetically on the yielding
carpet, or laying humble white finger on
,intn tn a IN
that these objects We're material, and no fairy
vision.
THE Young people brought but one servant,
q country girl and their entire resources, III
elusive of a little dover of thirty pounds,
boarded for his darling by the thrifty Old
schoolmasteT, amounted TO no more than
seyenLy.fYe pounds. Charles, indeed, who
had taste for. and already some proficiency
in medical science intended TO turn this TO ac-
count; but how the war was TO be carried on
until the necessary license was obtained, and
patients came to be killed in sufficient num-
bers to keep the sportsman alive, was an entire
enigma.
"?How, upon earth, Charles, are we to keep
ali these lovely things OF your kind uncle's
clean, with only Hephzibah = asked MARY
And, indeed, L shall be half afraid as It Is, to
trust them to her determined hands. And, .
Charles, there's anot her thing. I'm SO ashamed
OF lnyself!-I am. l can't-oh! what have L
been doing wasting my time with French and
singing, when l can't even co-coo-'-
Goo, my child 2 said Charles, laughing,
and kissing oil a tear-'why should you coo ?
'''Co-ook, Charles sobbed the poor bride.
Ill could have done that-and Hep zibah the
house work think I'll try.'
you'll do no such thing! Tejoined Charles,
seriously alarmed. You'll make mess OF
il, burn your pretty fingers, and poison us both
with all sorts of unearthly preparations! No,
no! Bnrlesque is very amusing IN Its way
but the caricature OF puddIng-the
distorted phan tom of fricandeau-s no fun
at ALI Move must manage another servant
somehow
.sThe agent, when consulted on the matter
looked grave, hemmed, didn't kLow-wheth
in short he might as Well inform MIR. An
nesIeY at once, that there existed an unac-
count table prejudice agant the house, and that
it was quite likely Charles might experience
diffic ultes of kind he did not expect III aug
rnenting his establishment. These auguries
were perfectly correct Not soul could be
found in the vicinity willing TO take service
al No. %; and the young couple, reluctant TO
incur the expense of sending to London for a
domestic, sat down 10 their first meal a little
depressed in spirits-Charles, who had con-
cetied from his wife the cause OF the difficulty,
secretly resolving TO extract some further in
formation from the cautious agent on the NOR
row.
They were sitting after dinner, with recov-
cred spirits, bat III deep consultation, when
there came low knock at the door
"BIdden TO enter, dirty old woman made
her appearance. 1t was no other than old
Charlotte, who had come TO offer her valuable
services in default of better.
"'She loved the house. she said, 'and all
that was in il. Old as she looES she could do
as much as twenty-was very d cook, and
would work her fingers TO the lie for her
dear little ladyship. As for wagee, she didn't
want none OF heH.'
"As these terms seemed reasonably cheap,
and they were really in difficulty, Charles,
after moments d ubious con temptation OF the
old woman's squalid figure gave utterance 10
the assent he saw in his wife's clear eyes, and
engaged the strange attendant, enJoining her
in the first place 10 have recourse 10 soap and
fhA4S tn cal a
Though the old woman's eyes glistened like
those of famished wolf, at the mention OF
food, she paused at the door, and hobbling
back said in a sort of hoarse whisper: Please,
sir, and my lady, don't say that you've taken
old Charlotte into your service. shall never
sc abroad ; and nobody will know, if you don't
tell EN-
"Charles smiled at the idea of the old crone
fearing that the dangerous reputation of the
house might damage hers but, unwilling to
explain before his wife, hastily gave the re-
quired promise and summoning HephZbah,
dismissed the new cook, under that young
lady's charge, 10 the sphere OF her future du-
tier.
affairs for few days went smoothly enough.
Charles commenced course OF study prepara-
tory 10 the regular carrying out OF his profess
sional project, while the little bride busted
herself perpetualiy in the direction of their
economical household, and was never tired OF
watching over the weIlbeing Of uncles beauti-
iui things. Old Charlotte, who seemed tc
possess The faculty OF Frightening up consid-
erabiy at VIII, had shed her SO ualid slough
and come out a rather venerable, but stll eff.
fectiye moth. She really proved to be a very
good cook, preparing ali their meals without
assistance, and often, OF her own impulse pre-
yidiEg little supplementary refreshments for
me mistress she protested 10 adore.
One morning, Annesiey having gone GU.
aioie, Mary-attended by old Charlotte, who
was wen acquainted with every drawer, shelf
ana CUPBOARD in the pIace-made a regular
pIogfess OF inspection throughout the house.