The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-09-20


| She was in earnest. The stranger saw
/ this plainly, and never guessed the double
meaning which lay beneath her words, He
only thought her wild and singular, and er.
tered in with many thanks. Beside her Ia
bic she was once more the wel-b bred naughty
lady Of the olden time and when her guest
had supped she took the light and went be
fore him up the stairs to the highest chan,
Der of the house-a little room with on.
high narrow window and a strong door, with
bolts and locks upon the outside--a room
where it was said the first owner of the hous,
kept his poor mad wife prisoner for ter
long years /; and the tale seemed likely, fol
there were two strong iron bars upon the
outer window.
Into this room the lady ushered the young
soldier, and there she left him, pausing only
to say, hoarsely, "Remember that I shelte,
you for the sake Of my sonny son, who
was soldier, and who died of three crue
wounds upon his bosom. Remember that,
whether you live years or only moments u
and speaking thus she turned and passed
down stairs.
In the kitchen the old servants sat whis,
pering together, and she came upon them
like ghost. "Margery," she said to the
woman, stake the old brown horse and ride
into the village to your sisters, and stay
there until send for you"
Tonight, my lady ~ gasped the old
servant, in terror at the white face and
strange voice of her mistress. "To-night v'
This moment {" answered the lady and
old Margery dared not ask another ques-
ton.
Take care of her If you can," whispered
Margery to the man, land take care Of your.
self also, for I think my lady is going mad,
William" -
It seemed 40, truly for when the woman
was gone the poor woman sat brooding and
lnutterins to herself for two weary hours,
and at last sprang to her feet with loud,
shrill laugh. "Come with me, William
she said, "an1 bring the hight" @ i:7
The old man followed her up the stairs
until she came to the room where the stran-
ger slept, and there he saw her fasten every
bolt, and bar, and chain upon the door, as
| though the mad lady were still within its
walls. Afterwards, on her way down, she
locked every other door, AMI hung the keys
together upon a ring she carried at her
belt. EH9fr s4sau =g @
The only open room vas the old kitchen
with its mighty Fireplace, where few logs
smouldered. Beside these. the lady sat for
few moments, and then she turned toward
her servant. "Bnih me Are," she said,
81 am chilly-I am freezing. Build me q
Are upon this hearth, William We must
make the house warm for the stranger The
stranger with fair hair and black eyes, and
red stain upon his cheek. Ha ha.! /
knew him." --...,r t.-s- ,,.f.-s.z .r-t !
The servant trembled, but he dared not
disobey, and soon the logs burnt, and spar,
kled, and roared, as though it were, night
in January instead Of one ia June. ~.
Then the lady turned towards her servant
and said slowly William, the man in that
upper chamber killed my son ~
There was strange look in her eye that
made the old man fall upon his knees and
cry7-"Oh, lift be 50, forgive him forgive
him, my lady even as God will forgive us
when we stand before Him -
can neither forgive nor forget !" she
answered, and before he knew what she
was doing, she had scattered the blazing
logs right and left over the floor, and pushed
him out into the cold moon light.
My lady ! my lady p he cried, "oh, my
lady what demon Is whispering to you this
blessed night p And he strove to stay her
but she burst from him, and locked the last
door with her wrinkled hands.
"We'll have bonfire soon," she cried
"come to the hill and see it. Ha ha!
have done it for my sons sake-my son who
was killed by man with black eyes and
fair hair, and red stain upon his right
cheek. "T'!l cal that to him when he strug-
giles with those iron bars, and feels the tor
turing flames climbing about him."
Again the old servant sunk upon his knees
and plcaded-"For the love of God, my lady,
have mercy on the man -
She broke from him, and rushed to the
side of the old well--"Y You may conquer me,
she said. "or his cries may move me. / will
put it out Of my :power to be merciful.
will avenge my son p and with one con-
vulsive movement she tore the bunch Of
keys from her waist and flung them down
into the deep. dark water. asa - =.
When the old man saw this, and saw toe
the bright flames bursting through the walls
Of the dwelling where the stranger was Q
prisoner, he left her and rushed wildly of
toward the village for aid and succor. But
the way was long, and he was old and feeble
and, long ere he returned. there was nothing
on the spot over which the house had stood
save pile Of seething ashes, and mad old
woman who CROPPED amongst them scream
ing like demon, who died before the morn.
Ing dawned. a sE,
The story of the stranger who had slept
beneath that roof, and the lady's vengeance
| was doubted more and more as time passed
on, so that it had grown to be fable; when
long years after, a workman, clearing out ,
.,ou fo,,rd AZ tie hotto,v, a hupch cf Eays