Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-05-31

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h.n,.ned 10 disturb u. Mary also ossIl
. small chamber on the same landing - oafs.
We took long walks, sketchsa sad rsad e
| n,ayed and sang in tho evening, and wrsss
~'~ A'swssu. -. ,..,-
make the house - .cbeerfei - ose.lb,.
Mrs. Raynes manner, however. b.sA->
more strange, her eyes looked more VIVA ~
sne passed hours in the library, mutterine i
n'fse'i' rssssn new whim sei.ed her; che
would come up to me earnestly, begin 70 cob
and cry. and then leave the reom abruptly.-
Her mysterious behavior made us dreeafullv
nervous, and We longed for the hour Of oar d.
parture.
Time passed on, and il wanted but three
days to Christmas. Berthe was to come for NJ
on the morrow, and We were busily packing.
laughing and talking - We did 80, when The
housekeeper entered the room, she approaehsa
me and whispered in my ear, Lady, will yea
come to the library with meT'
"Oh, certainly" replied, wondering what
she could want with me.
In the passage she took my hand and hur.
ried me along without speaking. At The Ii
brary door she paused.
"You said you did not believe in spirits-
come here !" she said dragging me to the win
dow. y
'There! look 1T him-do you sesr'
did see, in the dusk, figure amongst ths
trees.
'That is Sir Egbert, said she, Il il The night
and nearly the hour" Her face was rigid
and ashy white as she continued solemnly.-
"Young lady, have warned you, Mr.. Ernest,
you will soon be free."
The housekeeper moved away, and : feeling
Of terror seemed to paralyze me. I did mot
move from the window until Edith came and
drew me gently away, and said Mrs. Rayue
had sent her.
We turned to the parlor. pleaded sud-
den indispositiou, and suppose fright really
did make me i'll. did not tell Edith what
Mrs. Rayne had said, for fear Of fmaking her
nervous again, and then thsught Berthe and
Edward would soon make us brave. Oh how
did long for the next day.
To my great relief, We saw no more Of Mrs.
Rayne during the evening and Mary said ~
was asleep.
We retired to rest - usual, about eleven,
and Edith was soon in sound slumber.
listened with envey to her soft and regular
breathing, wishing, I could follow her exam.
pie, but . restless ft seized me, could not
~1nao NV nvaa fnr rno~n 49, - 49,. %
fell into slight dose. A noise, % ifthe door
opened, awoke me, started up-all was still
but IS laid my head again on the pillow, .
hand cold IS ice, was placed upon my fore.
head. The moonbeams family glimmered into
my room, and, to my intense horror, saw .
tall dark-robed form standing before me, Ed
it'll slept on undisturbed. could not move
my terror was 50 great.
s'It is tho time, said deep and hollow voice :.
The curse shall be removed from this hour"
Another instant, and was lifted from The
bed as if had been . feather. I was in the
grasp Of iron arms, chill as stons-held -
in . vice.
In my frantic terror tried to scream, but
my voice failed and was like . whisper.
felt myself borne swiftly away.
"Edith! Edith + cried but how could she
hear that choaking cry?
Again tried to struggle, but all power vas
gone, and then my senses left me-
I awoke as from frightened dream and
found myself in darkened chamber BERTHE
my dear husband, was beside me, and gen.
tleman in black held my hand and was feeling
my pulse.
s-She is sensible now said the latter.
"My darling-my Carap said my husband
then he turned away, covered his face with
his hands, and heard him sob. Presently
Edith glided forward and drew him away.
"Hush" said the doctor. aDo not speak
When you are stronger you shall know all."
"You have indeed been nearly lost to us,
dearest Cara; but thank heaven your life 10
saved" murmered my friend, as she held .
composing draught to my lips.
suppose the reader will consider that ny
'ghost story needs explanation, and think
SO too; but it was not until had almsst en-.
tirely recovered from my dangerous illness
tnat knew the facts myself.
It seems tkat Mrs. Rayne had been for some
years insane, and one Of he fancies vas, that
if life were not sacrificed in exchange for
this, that Ernest Congreve would fall . victin
to the traditionary curse. Her mind dwelling
on the same subject, she imagined she held
communion with the spirits, and that they had
bidden her to take my life instead Of the young
heir. It was her fitting form which had 90
alarmed Edith that first night in the haunted
chamber. She had carried me across the lone.
ly moor on that terrible night and LEFT me
stabbed, and in dying state, in the lonslisst
part of it,
When Edith awoke and found me gone and
not in the house, her amusement and fright
were indiscribable, and when BERTHE with Cap
Wollaston, arrived few hours later, there
was quite scene, so Edith told me. The be.
wildered trio, in the greatest distress, search
ed the neighborhood for the missing one.
was found BY some country people, lying on
the moor, wrapped in pail, and perfectly In.
sensible, just IS poor Berthe in lis distraction
was going to have the ponds dragged for his
little wife.
Mrs. Raync is now confined in an asylum,
and to my dying day shall never forget the
terror experienced through that poor mad
wnmou