Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-10-13

long dark Winter night. However, hav-
ing gained their chamber, they lighted
the lamp, and getting once more into
bed, waited uneasily for the dawn start
ing at every sound, and wretchedly ner-
vous; but the horrors we're over, aud
nothing more occurred, and at last day
broke and they fell asleep, too tired out
even to dream, and again we find them
at their late breakfast, eating with but
little appetite, and looking white and
| ill.
As Richard had resolved to give the
Lodge up, he did not care to keep the
servants ignorant of his reason for quit
ting it, and desired them to come in
one by one, and be and Henry closely
questioned them if they had ever heard
or seen anything strange !; but they were
evidently astonished, and answered
truthfully in declaring such an idea as
that the house was haunted had never
entered their heads, one or two adding
if they had thought so they would new
er have stayed in it so long.
"Then, Hail." said Hardwood, "it's
only the morning room, that staircase
and the two bedrooms that are troubled
in this way"
eyes, apparently assented Hal, but
as that is the best part of the house, I
don't see how you can spare those three
rooms to the ghosts, and I honestly ad-
wise your leaving the whole place to-
them. | would not pass another night
in that room for fortune"
mo more would I !; but if the other
rooms are quiet it's terrible bore turn
ing out Of the place."
"You had better go, Dick, neverthe-
less; besides, you won't get servant
to live here for love or money now"
"That's true Dick. wonder if the
story will ever come to light; there is
evidently murder in it do not think
that shall sleep at ease for a month to
come"
81 could not here" said Nicholson,
''but elsewhere guess my rest won't
be much broken when once l get that
horrid sight out of my head. 1t was
horrid being left in the dark. I never
felt so terrified in my life. That light,
too-how strange that was what could
it have been from ?''
depend upon it, Hal, there is no,
accounting for these things; we may
hear the history of the life of that aw-
full pair, and of her death, butts all the
explanation we shall ever get till we are
ghosts ourselves, then perhaps we shall
know all about it."
"Don't be SO unpleasant, Dick. I
never thought dying could be agreeable
but now, really, the thought of becom-
ing ghost is worse than ever"
"Be quiet, Hal. I am not up to.
joking about it yet. 1t was horrible"
$50 it was, old boy, aud think if
we stay here doing nothing but think
ing of it we shall go through n it again in
our dreams, though 1 devoutly hope not
in reality"
And SO on that afternoon the friends
separated, resolving to try and find out
the reason of the strange visitation they
had experienced. but this, however, they
never accomplished.
Richard, unable to summon up cour-
age to revisit the cottage, disposed of it
shortly afterwards Il seldom wanted
tenants, but they never stayed long,
and though few witnessed the CHASTITY
scenes depicted in this narrative, the
most skeptical never attempted to deny
that tie measured tread of footsteps was
heard in the midnight hours, and CHEST
ly forms were seen to fit from room to
room; but the true history of the dead
ly crime will never be revealed, and the
mystery of the Haunted Lodge will be
a mystery forever.-London Magazine.