Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-29

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as though haf-inclined 10 shut the door in nv
face +; then his mind changed, and without a
word he took the lantern from his wife's hand,
and, signing TO me to follow. led the way across
bare and lofty hall, and along two stone pas
sages, to large kitchen, where fire was
blazing. Setting down The lantern on the ta-
BILE be turned round aud said You'll may
be see that this is the kitchen. If you're too
| proud to sit here there are other rooms in
plenty, but you'll find no fires or candles -
and without waiting for a reply he walked
away. / turned to the woman, who had fol-
lowed Us, aud now stood by the fire and ask,
ed some questions careessly but she answer
ed ne briefly, with hurried glance at her
husband and, weary of attempting to conci-
ate, said abruptly, that as my time was
short | would see the house at once.
There's very little you'll be able to see at
this time of night" old Pearce said grufly,
from the window where be stood.
AT least" answered, Il can go through
| the rooms and get some notion of their size :"
and | made move.
! For moment it seemed as though they
meant 10 let me go alone then Pearce step
ped suddenly forward, aud harshly calling 10
! his wife to bring the keys, caught up the light
Preceded by my unwilling guides | traversed
long passages, our footsteps sounding hollow
| On the stone floors, mounted saircaSes, and
crossed landings. We stopped from time to
time while the woman unlocked the doors of
! empty and unshuttered rooms, where dust ay
: tk::"E, G:!d ;hI .ueuie gilmmer Of The lantern
only served to make the gloom and deSolatiOn
more apparent. We went on in silence until
we reached The t, OF of narrow winding stui.
case Ny conductors bad begun 10 monnt it,
when | touched & door on ny right. aud said {:
Surely We have not been u iere = Tic
man, half way up stopped and looked down
! at me. NO." he said 1t is only Il lumber
room the key has been lost this long while :;
! if you wish to get in, you mast have fresh
! key made before you come again ;" and he
went on 1t was large rambling house,
where you came suddenly upon cupboards aud
| corners, aud bits Of Winding stairs, Or a step
up here aud down there, and passages with
such queer turns and twists that one wonder,
! ed whittier they woulI lead still there was
something quaint about it that took my fancy
greatly. Wneu at last We got back to the
kitchen man sat 10y the fire uniacing his
boots, and with bis back toward the door He
turned as | entered, and displayed muscular
form and heavy face, like enough to old
Pearce's to mark him as his son. He return,
ed ny greeting with sleut stare, resumed
his seat, and pulling at his fathers sleeves,
muttering angry And who On earth may
YOU be ?' | did not catch the answer, but
the grutf snort that followed was sufficiently
expressive.
Tue woman set about preparing supper, and
presently repaSt OF Uacon, eggs, and beer
was put before me and was engaged upon
it, she and her husband together. The SOL
sat on watching me in silence for q while, then
followed them, leaving me alone for the first
time since | had come into the house. He
and bis father soon came back, but change
bad come upon them their suiienne>s vas
gone, aud they seemed most eager to hear my
intentions about the place. 1t was evident
how much they feared that | might take il,
aud so ,prve them of their home and to
this fear they caught al every d0ubi of mine,
and tried TO foster it, From ;her account,
the place was hot iD SIMMER, cold in winter
it was even tumbIng TO pieces and it almost
touched me, when, turning to the son, said
" Aud yet YOU seem 10 like 10 live in it !" TO
hear bis curt answer I've been bred up
here, and that makes ? deal of difference" y
When the woman at last returned saw that
she had been crying very bitterly, and with
half-remorSeful feeling took candle from
her trembling hand aud followed her up stairs.
They had chosen for ME one of the old state
bedrooms, on the first floor, and long way
from the kitchen and hail. at the end of wide
gallery She paused at the door TO say that
She hoped | might God oil ! wanted, bat that
if not, there was a bell, giving nae 40 time to
answer, BARRED off. | sat long, noting down
in nay pocket book all / had observed, and
pondered on various things, until the dali tones
of the far of stable clock striking twelve,
aroused NE, and | began TO prepare for bed.
Before lying down went instiuc,vely across
the room to secure the door, and found, to my
surprise that | was without the means Of do
ing 80, for there was no bolt, and the key was
not in the lock For moment was startled;
then remembered that the keys of all the
rooms had been in one large bunch, aud no
doubt the woman had forgotten to take this
one off. Should | ring for it? | paused un-
decided but the hour was late, the people
must long suce have been in bed, aud | was
strangely unwilling to encounter those surly
looks again tonight. After all, it mattered
little. Travelling as did without luggage or
money and iE a simple, almost shabby dress,
| had nothing to lose, aud with bealth and
strength iu my favor none won choose light
y 10 encounter lie and so, without Dispute
tude, blew out my light and lay down IL
bed. Still L was not in Darkness for the moon
| shone full into the room, only obscured from
! time to time as heavy cloud swept across.
and passing, seemed to leave it more clear aud
beautiful than ever. Gradually my thoughts
turned into dreamy fauces, my faucies faded,
and l slept soundly-for how long, whether
for minutes or hours, cannot tell, but woke
in an instant, and with a sudden start aud
thrill. All was quiet--a cloud had veied
the moon, and the room was dark aud still as
death. No, not SO still-what was that which,
4 L l. f,;.,. ~, 2