The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-16

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observation, until Thomas, whose eye hsI
pened to be directed towards a sma
printed paper affixed to the wal, notice
that the words gradually became leglbIe-
Its q coming said Thomas. Don
be afesrd. Mrs Mortimer, but, when l S.
Now blow out your candle. So will
Now
Oat went both lights. 1t made no dii
ference in the steadily sugmenting spler
dor. The room became IS radiant q
though six lustres were burning within il
For half q minute or so, the awe strickel
servants sat dump and mOtionless In thei
chairs, when the light began TO diminish
and, much more quickly than it had come
disappeared altogether.
Another consultation was nov held
Mrs. Mortimer, whose courage was scarcel-
equal to that Of the high race whose nam
she bore, insisted that mistress should b.
told, without more delay. The counsels O
the cooler Themas, however, prevailed, e.
far IS TO give the "the thing" as he affected
20 call it, q still further trial; and this wa
done. 'saV -s -'-1d
Twice more had the incident required
when Nj. Mortimer, ''wore out" as sh,
expressed it, finally struck her colors, and
on the fifth appearance, Mr.. Gsuntreli wa:
warned, 81 described. 10 17-
It further appeared that, this last time
the light instead of exhibiting q steady in
crease, had somewhat vsciilsted, waxing
and waning, withdrawing almost entirely
then returning with greater power, yet
never attaining its maximum brilliancy,
until before Mr.. Gauntrell descended, II
vanished altogether. Such was the his.
tory.
The most minute examination of the
room, extended to the scullery adjoining,
revealed nothing to Mr.. Gsuntrell that
could in any wise point to q solution OF
the singular ~phenominon. The window,
secured with one huge strong shutter, offer.
cd no PereePtible- ~eTevice through which
even q thread of light could penetrate, still
less the mighty food that had been direct
cd int the apartment. The CONSERVATION
of the female eervsnts was too genuine to
be mistaken. The integrity of Thomas
was beyond suspicion.
All that could be done was to be in read.
moss for the next recurrence of the event ;
and for this purpose Mr.. Gauntrell con-
trived an apparatus by means of which he
might be warned at any instant, from the
kitchen, of the approach of the phonome-
non. This was next day continued to
other apartments above, for Mr.. Gsuntrell,
aware Of the irmness and calm good sense
which characterized the members of his
family, made no scruple of relating 10
them 1T breakfast all that had occurred.
By reason of the early habits of Grise-
wood Cottage, the expected signal, when it
was at length given, found the master Of
the house alone in his study. Hastily tel
egrsphing to his son, who was reading,
sill dressed, in his own apartment and
joined him in an-instant Mr.. Gauntrell
descended TO the haunted precinct.
Thomas was there alone. One candle
was burning on the table; but already its
light wss Ovefborne by the mysterious
glow, and when Mr. Gsuntrell ~extinguished
it the sole result was to give the glowing
lustre a purer and more silvery tone, clear
and lucid as 8 beautiful dawn, and strange
splendor grew into the room, lighting up
every speck and creviee with q ray as
seaching, though not as warm in color as
that of noon. :.
Young Guantrell rushed to the shutter
and drew it down. all without was
darkness, nor (strange to say wal
any portion of the lustre that prevailed
within projected into the obscurity.
In vain did the two cool Investigators
search in every direction for q possible nu-
cleus for this strange feunt of light. 1t
was dispersed, with one uniform power,
the room. After the lapse of q
minute or q minute and a half the rsdi-
began to diminish, first slowly, then
vanishing at last with q start, 30
10 speak, as if some one bearing a lamp
had suddenly closed the slide.
1t would be needless to dwell upon the
efforts made by Mr.. Gsuntrell, aided by
family, to srrive at some solution Of
his enigma, which, puzzling as it was,
hey one and all believed 20 lie within the
province of discovery. Philosophical con-
ecture, no more than material ~investigs.
.lon, Was A9Ie 70 sIggess TUG shgnIesI CIue'
to the agent proved that the phe.
lomenon described was identical in char
Icter with those which had cost Grisewood
its good name. Still, Mr.. Gaun.
rell did not Kbandon the hopeof dispelling
he singular mystery.
The incident began now TO occur 80 fire.
that the domestics-Mrs. Morti.
ner exeePted-grown familiar with il, dis
.srded their terror and even began TO re
,sld it as q curious performance, provided
or their amusement. Mrs. Mortimers
lerVee, however, were notproof against the
train. The kitchen was hers she was
responsible for all that happened there ;
nd 70 have this "queer fire" burning |
when it wasn't wanted, and making her
lair stand up. on account of the kitchen
was more than cook could bear. As,
loRever, Mrs Mortimer was sn excellent
and attached to the family, an ar.
sngement was effected by which leave of
would be granted to her for the
emainiHg months of Mr.. GsuntrelPs ten
ncy, and her place temporarily supplied.
rhereupon Mrs. Mortimer departed.
Now became manifest the disadvantages
f an evil reputation. The party who had
zen relied upon to discharge the offices
f cook positively declined 10 remain in
he house later than nine of the clock,
This being attended with in
she was dismissed in q day
two, and another substitute was sought.
The inquiry seemed 1ruitless. Far or
lear, no one coald be found willing to
Undertake the culinary department, with
esidence, ct Grisewood cottage. -
During this state of things, q cu.ious
Incident occurred. Yoong Richard Gsun-
rel, who had somewhat over-fatigued his
brain, one day resolved upon q
walk 80 far as Abergsvenny, and arrived
here, in due course, about noon. In that
own there stands q small, quaint, quiet
of the temperance persuasion,
Known as the directing Hands" and in
he clean, fresh parlor Of that house there
on the day in question, q little old
with clear, busy eyes and q cheek,
which, though no longer young, looked IS
it would be pleasant and comfortable to
kiss. That she was also 8 careful and
old lady was proved by her
rather sharply. for her-reproving another
guest who, on entering, had nearly tripped
q bundle she had placed on the floor.
"That's sill the property I have in the
world, young man. said the old dame,
lsndi if you'd broke your nose over it, IL
Wouldn't have done any good to you or
ne" =
The guest admitting that there was an
of any pereeptible advantage to
either in such a catastrophe, begged re-
lpectfully to ask why it was necessary to
place her property qate SO close to the
threshold.
"Why, to be ready for a start, young
man. Wss the reply. 81 don't know what
moment 1 may become for, you see"
al think Whoever's coming treats you
very bsd," said the lsndlady. "Here you've
heen With vonr bundla naekad and vour