Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-01-11

~ } ou SSe gott may StTep an peace
and by the way, where have they put
you?'
In the West room-the best one. l
did not want to disturb Mrs. james, Just
for to night tomorrow my own will be
ready, and shall move into *"
But you won't like this-of course not
"A great, dark, rambling place Let ne
speak to the gir $
No, no-don't Victoria IS such
good houseSeeper it would not be polite;
and besides. | don't mind for only once;
| shal do very we'll there
81 Il sec you to the door then said Pa.
"and look in to see that all is right, before
l leave you; our precious visitor must not
come so far, and be so long expected, to
be frightened out oG her delr little senses
after all. And my room IS buta few steps
off, you know; SO if any Invaders come,
I'll be at hand to disperse them"
He fe't his little cousin tremble on his
arm as they passed the long gallery, and
wisely chose more cheerful topics~sf con
ISOLATION.
Could you but guess how have missed
you Alice, and how anziously have been
looking for YOU lately this term has
seemed at least four times as long as any
other. I was regretting oil the time not
having told YOU something you must know
before I 90 back to college, next
"0h! bark r she cried shudderins.
We'll what IS it dear?'
"Oh, don't know-that dreadful noise
Only a rat, child: We abound in rats ;
but they are up in the garret, and can't
get at you; 50 now wish me good night.
and may your dreams he SWEET
But Alice was already within her room,
a large long, and lofty apartment, where
the erander Carriers Of a century AGO, had
been wont to lodge their honored guests.
1t had its ghosts, as what empty room in
an old country house has not? butauthor-
tiles differed rs TO its origin TWAS Lady
Madeline Clifton, heirosS to the noble fam
ilv of that name, who had run away to
America with her Puritan lo-er, to the
great wrath Of her high-brcd connections.
and built this house with her fortune -
But her parents curse and the penalty
pursued her. She never throve, most Of
her children died vounr; her husband fell
In duel; (stran@e ending for disciple
oc Cromwell y she followed them. diving
of sow decline in this very room. which
her sad, unquiet ghost had haunted eser
since. Ni-ht aGterni.h alta certain period
Of the year in which her heaviest misfor-
tunes bad fallen. or her greatest error
committed. She was said to walk wearilv
up and down the long apartment, wrincinE
her white hands, and mourning with face
and gesture that unrorciyen sin None
Of the present race of cool incredulous
Carriers had been admitted to the SIGHT of
this aristocratic spectre; but an Cd fam
4 lily servant, who nursei Alice in her child
hood, was quite certain of the fact, and
had known many re liable and respectable
+ persons who had seen it times without
number One Glntaudiror she had, who
. heard believing and had never grown out
Of the fear Of ghostIy Lady Madeline.
] Or there was the legend which tradition
disputed with this, of a certain Dame
Nariorv. whose ruling passion was avar-
lee. and who had hidden treasures to a
. great amount somewhere within the limits
Of the guest chamber. which she still
walked to watch. Could she but lie
addressed by q human voice. she must an.
sEser and te I the secret Of their conceal
mcnt. which she died without revealing
and many lissipated young Carter had
hidden himself in the West Room with
sword and Bible, TO surprise the phantom 5
guarded mystery. and restore her boards
. to general circu alton. But no success
had apparently attended these desperate
attempts, the miserIy apparition was sup
posed to keep its vigils yet and Alice was
+ quite sure that should it appear 70 her. she
wou ID die of fright before she remembered
+ to ask after the treasures.
+ She glanced fearfalIy around the room
. As soon IS She found herself alone IN It.
and trembled to think what shadowv com
rany shc might have locked in with her
Victoria and Matte had always before ac-
companiej her to her chamber. when they
did not share It. hut had indiciouslv re-
tired TO night during her conference with
Paul. whose partially was we'll known
among the elder cousin.. Il was too late
TO hope they would return; they were
probably both asleep by this time and
drawing deep breath oF apprehension.
Alice walked hurr;elly down the long
room.
There was nothing chostlv in is appear
ance now; a bright fire sparklei in the
wide chimney, its glow reflected on the
marble mantle and hearth, and in the
great mirror that hung above lamp
burned brilliantly on the handsome cen
ter-tahle the dark old maho-ony furni-
ture was rubbed and polished till it too